When you go on vacation in New Mexico, having a vehicle is a must. Public transportation is limited in many areas, and the distances between regions are often filled with open country that is not developed. The hills, valleys and mountains of New Mexico can be treacherous for the driver, and one must be mindful of the wind gusts that can reach very high speeds. Car travel in New Mexico requires some preparation and knowledge. Here are some tips if you are traveling by car in New Mexico on your vacation:
1. First of all, pay close attention to speed limits. With many of the roads not having shoulders to rely on, slipping off the side of the road in New Mexico can be devastating. In some cases, the roads drop off the sides of mountains. Pay close attention to the signs and warnings as they can be the difference between life and death.
2. Dirt roads and gravel grade roads in New Mexico are common. Some are on reservations and some can even be found in Santa Fe. These roads are yet another reason to drive safely as you can never be sure when a road might switch to dirt or gravel.
3. Gasoline is another major consideration. It is not uncommon in New Mexico to go fifty miles of lonesome country without coming across a gas station. For this reason, it is important to try to keep your gas full all the time. You never know when you might come across the next station.
4. Dry gullies are common in New Mexico and can be a major problem for vacationing folks that do not know about them. These are commonly called arroyos. These can fill up very fast and should never be crossed unless you can see in every direction. Flash floods can appear with astounding speed and ferocity. If you come upon an arroyo that the road goes through, do not ever cross it when it is filled with water. Though it may seem shallow, they will often have a huge drop in the middle that can be very dangerous.
5. Never travel on unpaved roads in New Mexico when they are wet. The clay and mud are death traps for vehicles when they are wet, and are among the most slick in the United States. There is a very high chance that you might get stuck, and mudslides are a possibility as well.
6. When driving in New Mexico, and especially on the mountains and in the foothills, you must be aware of the wind gusts. Wind gusts in these places can be very dangerous given the lack of shoulders on many of these roads. A wind gust can easily blow a car or RV off the side of the road if it hits just right. For this reason, do not attempt to drive through these wind storms or gusts. Find a safe place to park and wait it out instead.
7. If you are unfamiliar with the area, be sure that you invest in a good road map. Signage in New Mexico is limited in the back roads and rural areas. You really need a quality, current map to travel and explore all that New Mexico has to offer.
Image credited To Wikipedia User streeyyr
