Do You Know Why A Wyoming Wind Closure Is Important?

If you've driven in Wyoming, you've seen the signs telling you the road is closed to light, high-profile vehicles.

Then, you see every type of vehicle on the road.

So which vehicles fall into the category of light, high-profile vehicles>

Great question.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation has answered that question, and if you're a diver of one of these vehicles, you better know which category your vehicle falls into.

These are vehicles that have a better chance of blowing over:

• Semi-trucks with enclosed trailers or single/ tandem trailers
• Recreational Vehicles or vehicles with a pull-behind camper
• 5th-wheel RVs or Toyhaulers
• Box trucks or moving vans
• Horse or Box Trailers

These vehicles aren't as likely to blow over:

• Tanker or Belly Dump trucks
• Empty Flatbed Trucks
• School buses
• Flatbeds hauling odd-shaped loads or heavy machinery.

Now that you're more familiar with the vehicles, how about the blow-over hazards and actual warnings you're reading on those signs?

• Extreme Blow-over Risks - This warning is targeted at vehicles prone to being
  blown over, such as moving vans, campers, recreational
  vehicles, small trailers, and empty or lightly-loaded
  commercial vehicles
• Blow-over Risk - This advisory pertains to trailers of any size, commercial
  and non-commercial, and to recreational vehicles and other
  vehicles loaded with light materials or empty, and having a
  profile that is subject to catching wind gusts. Tankers and
  flatbed trailers that are unloaded or are not hauling a high-profile load, such as cargo containers, are less risky and typically not included in the weight-based wind restrictions
• Weight-based Wind Closures - This closure targets vehicles prone to being blown over, such as moving vans, campers, recreational vehicles, small trailers, and empty or lightly loaded commercial vehicles.
  • Drivers who fail to heed this type of closure will be
    considered violating Wyoming Statute 24-1-109 and
    could be subject to a fine of up to $750 and 30 days in jail.
• Partial Closures - This occurs when the road is closed to some but not all
  vehicles or is closed in only one direction. This type
  of closure can include no trailer traffic, closure to light, high-profile vehicles, and local traffic only.
• Rolling Closures - The small towns along Interstate 80 have limited resources
  regarding parking, fuel, hotel rooms, and other amenities. When a town is at capacity, which can happen during a long-duration closure, the closure will be rolled back to the next town to avoid stranding travelers in a location without adequate services. The road may be open in the direction leading away from the affected area
• Local Traffic Only - a road may be closed to through traffic, but commuters and residents may be permitted to travel.
• No Unnecessary Travel - This advisory means the road is open, but travel is not
  recommended due to hazardous driving conditions. Generally, this advisory is posted during winter months because of extremely icy conditions, when visibility is limited because of blowing snow, or when a combination of conditions makes travel ill-advised.