By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Missouri State Highway patrol cautions drivers to be cautious during the first major snowstorm of the year.
Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says the key as you get out and travel is to be prepared for the worst.
"Make sure that you have water in there, nonperishable food, a cell phone charger, we always recommend maintaining at least half a tank of fuel during these type of conditions, and any medications that you may need," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Extra blankets, extra coats, hats, gloves, shovel, a bag of kitty litter in your trunk, all of those things will be useful."
Hux adds if you do find yourself in an accident or off the road, the safest place you can be is staying in your vehicle.
Hux says with the snow you probably won't be able to travel the speed limit.
"You're going to have to decrease your speed, increase your following distance," Hux points out. "And don't crowd the snowplows, every year during this time of year we work several motor vehicle crashes involving snowplows where they get rear ended and people pass them whenever they're throwing snow."
"There's going to be some reduced visibility, I also believe they're calling for some high winds out there."
Hux adds there may also come a time where travel may not be a possibility.
"Zero visibility out there, sometimes it's safest just to stay home, and if you are out on the roadways and you get caught in it, you may just have to find the nearest exit where there's facilities and get a hotel room for the night, rather than becoming stranded," Hux says.
Hux says you can always monitor roadway conditions on the MoDOT traveler information map to see how your route is impacted.
If you do become stranded during your travel, you can contact *55 to get in contact with your nearest troop headquarters for assistance.