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Term
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Description
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Chain Law
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Click here to view the two levels of restriction associated with Wyoming's chain law.
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No Unnecessary Travel:
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The road is open but travel is not recommended due to hazardous driving conditions.
Generally, this advisory is posted during winter months due to
extremely icy conditions, when visibility is limited due to blowing snow,
or when a combinations of conditions makes travel ill-advised.
Only the most urgent of situations should warrant travel in a No Unnecessary
Travel advisory. Drivers who attempt such travel should be familiar with
local conditions and be very experienced with winter driving.
Please keep in mind that by choosing to travel during hazardous conditions,
you may be interfering with maintenance personnel and their efforts to improve highway safety.
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No Light Trailers:
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WYDOT will post a No Light Trailer message on the information systems when the wind gusts are
greater than 50 mph with ANY road conditions.
This advisory pertains to trailers of any size (commercial and non-commercial) and to other
vehicles such as recreational vehicles which are loaded with light materials (or are empty) and
have a profile that is subject to wind gusts. Drivers of such vehicles are advised not to travel
when a "no light trailers' advisory is posted as they can anticipate strong gusts of wind which
may result in the loss of control of their vehicle or the potential for their vehicle to completely
blow over.
Blow-overs of light trailers are very common in Wyoming. Controlling a vehicle during a strong
wind event can be even more difficult when slick road conditions are present.
There is no specific research that has been done to study at what wind speeds and what load
weights trucks will blow over. Therefore, WYDOT cannot provide a specific weight or wind
speed that will cause a trailer to blow over.
Any driver who fails to comply with the "no light trailer" advisory and who is involved in a
crash may be subject to a fine and can expect to pay the cleanup costs and fees associated with
repairing any damage caused to public and/or private property.
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Closure to Light, High-Profile Vehicles:
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A closure to light, high-profile vehicles occurs any time wind gusts are 65 mph or more. This
closure is targeted at vehicles that are prone to being blown over such as recreational vehicles,
moving vans and lightly loaded commercial vehicles but smaller vehicles pulling trailers are also
included in this restriction. Drivers of vehicles that fail to heed this type of closure will be
considered in violation of Wyoming Statute 24-1-109 and 'shall be subject to a fine of not more than
seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) or to imprisonment for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days,
or to both such fine and imprisonment.'
Research shows that when wind gusts exceed 65 mph, there is almost certainty that multiple vehicles will
be blown over or be involved in a loss of control type of crash. These crashes most often result in debris
on the highway that results in a road closure to all vehicles.
It is important to note that the closure to light, high-profile vehicles is being tested between Laramie
and Cheyenne on Interstate 80 and between the Colorado State Line and Orin Junction (mp 126) on
Interstate 25. Additional sites may have wind gusts exceeding 65 mph and pose a significant risk of blow
over but WYDOT does not yet have roadside information systems in place at these wind prone areas to
provide adequate warning to the public. Special caution should be taken by the public when wind speeds
are high between Laramie and Rawlins on Interstate 80; between the Colorado State Line and Cheyenne
on US 85; between Farson and Lander (South Pass) on WYO 28; and on WYO 258 (Outer Drive) in Casper.
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Black Ice:
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A thin coating or glaze of ice on the road that is particularly dangerous as it may appear to be a film of water or may not be visible/discernable at all.
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No Trailer Traffic:
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The No Trailer Traffic restriction is used exclusively on WYO 22 (Teton Pass) and is used at times when
snow and ice combine with the terrain to make stopping of trailers difficult or impossible.
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Falling Rock:
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The falling rock advisory is used on sections of roadway that pass through rock cut sections. Such sections are
prone to scaling of rock during freeze-thaw periods though rock falls may happen at any time of year.
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Dry:
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The road is free of puddles and standing water.
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Wet:
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There are puddles and standing water present; spray coming off cars.
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Slick:
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Long, continuous sections of icy or snow packed roads. Greater than 50%
of road section is icy or snow packed.
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Slick in Spots:
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Short, non-continuous sections of icy or snow packed road. Less than 50%
of road section is icy or snow packed.
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Drifted Snow:
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Drifts of any size that cross the white line and cause a driver to feel a bump
or a pull on the steering wheel.
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Snow:
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Snow in excess of an isolated or occasional shower with the potential to stick to the road surface.
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Rain:
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In excess of light showers with potential to make the road surface wet.
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Strong Wind:
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Wind gusts of 35 mph with ANY road condition.
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Fog:
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Fog that may impair visibility.
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Blowing Snow:
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Snow propelled by the wind across or along the road surface at least
1 foot above the ground.
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Reduced Visibility:
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Visibility less than 400 feet for any reason.
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