DOTD warns motorists to drive with caution during inclement weather, heavy rains
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 3:33:24 PM
DOTD warns motorists to drive with caution during inclement weather, heavy rains
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development strongly urges motorists not to drive during inclement weather and heavy rains, as flash flooding can occur suddenly.
DOTD reminds drivers that low-lying areas can flood quickly, and it’s often difficult to judge the depth of water that is covering a roadway. A passenger vehicle can be swept away in as little as six inches of water during a flash flood.
It’s also important to remember that during heavy rainfall and rapidly changing conditions, a roadway may become inundated and unsafe for travel even without a ‘road closed’ barricade in place. These barricades are placed by numerous agencies during emergencies, but motorists should always proceed with extreme caution and heed the warning: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
If a ‘road closed’ barricade has been positioned, remember that it’s unlawful and extremely unsafe to disregard the barricades and drive onto a closed roadway.
Motorists are encouraged to check the status of road conditions prior to beginning commutes to impacted areas by utilizing the following resources for the latest information regarding conditions:
- 511 Traveler Information: Travelers can find information regarding road closures by visiting the 511 Traveler Information website at www.511la.org or by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region about which they are seeking information. You may also download the Louisiana 511 mobile app. Out-of-state travelers can access the system by calling 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).
- MyDOTD: Motorists can receive automatic and up-to-date information on local projects, lane and road closures, and other DOTD activity by signing up for MyDOTD at www.dotd.la.gov.
- Social Media: Additional informatoin can be found at DOTD's Facebook and Twitter pages.