Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Gonzales Warns Drivers to Slow Down [AUDIO]

Sgt. John Gonzales with the Texas Department of Public Safety called in and visited with Lubbock's First News' Tom Collins and Laura Mac about the expected winter weather for West Texas this weekend.

Sgt. Gonzales advised those that planned on traveling Friday to not do so, but if they have to travel to slow down due to a severe cold weather system that is anticipated to hit the area Friday and expected to make road conditions very dangerous.

Forecasts call for accumulations of 3-4 inches of snow and possibly 1/4 inch of ice across the South Plains.

Gonzales said the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) has a website that allows travelers to check road conditions all across the state. Travelers can access the site on their home computers or if they are already in the road via their iPad or iPhone.Travelers can also call the non-emergency TxDoT hotline at 1-800-452-9292 to get updates on road conditions or to receive road-side assistance.

For those traveling out of state, there are numbers to call to check road conditions. For New Mexico, call 1-800-432-4269; for Colorado, call 1-877-315-7623; and for Oklahoma, call 1-888-425-2385.

Sgt. Gonzales also advised travelers to have emergency supplies with them, including blankets, water and food in case you get stuck on the side of the road.

He also suggested those who need to go to the local DPS offices need to call ahead to make sure the office has not closed early. In Lubbock County, the DPS office drivers' license division can be reached by calling (806) 740-8950.

To hear all of Gonzales' interview, click here: