Chain Season Has Officially Commenced in Colorado

Every year, September 1st marks the beginning of chain season in Colorado’s I-70 corridor. By the time that September comes around, Colorado’s weather patterns become completely unpredictable, and mountain travelers on I-70 need to be fully prepared to deal with adverse conditions.

• Related: What You Need To Know About Colorado’s New I-70 Traction Law

In the winter, on Colorado’s I-70, there are motor accidents daily. To combat this problem, Colorado Governor Jared Polis passed House Bill 19-1207, which requires that all passenger motorists have either:

• 4WD or AWD vehicle and 3/16” tread depth.
• Tires with a mud and snow designation (M+S icon) and 3/16” tread depth.
• Winter tires (mountain-snowflake icon) and 3/16” tread depth.
• Tires with an all-weather rating by the manufacturer and 3/16” tread depth.
• Chains or an approved alternative traction device.

The traction law also prioritizes trucker safety. From September 1st through May 31st, commercial motor vehicles are required to carry chains at all times. Since the semi-trucks are so heavy and move at significantly slower speeds, they slip out on the snow and ice much more easily than passenger vehicles and need to be prepared to chain up at any given moment.

Passenger vehicles and commercial motor vehicles are subject to large fines if they are not equipped with the proper tread or chains. Every day, the I-70 mountain corridor passes tens of thousands of motorists to and from their destinations, so ensuring safe travel means that traffic will keep flowing.

Remember how Colorado passed a new traction law? Cars have to be prepped for winter weather, regardless of conditions, from September to May.

No one’s been cited for breaking the rules, but there’s potential for it this
week since conditions might get dicey.
(📷: @ColoradoDOT) pic.twitter.com/gaw9mOxxXJ

— Next with Kyle Clark (@nexton9news) October 8, 2019