Winter Driving Tips

Pritzker | Ruohonen, a premier Minnesota personal injury law firm, is reprinting the following MNDOT winter driving tips as a public service. The firm has decades of collective experience and has recovered millions for accident victims. Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen have been named Minnesota Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law and Politics magazine. For a free consultation with an experienced lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or fill out the firm's online consultation form. Pritzker | Ruohonen has also provided extensive Minnesota car accident information on this website.

Minnesota Department of Safety Driving Tips

General Winter Driving Tips

Check the weather forecast and road conditions before embarking on a trip. Check your local media, call the road condition number, or go on-line for information on the Internet.
If conditions are expected to be less than ideal, you may want to postpone a discretionary trip or use more caution if the trip cannot be delayed.
Always maintain a reasonable speed and safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you. Winter road conditions often result in longer stopping distances and reduced visibility.
Drive below the posted speed limit when road conditions are less than ideal – speed limits are intended for normal pavement conditions.
Turn on lights to see and be seen. Keep head and tail lights clear of snow.
Avoid using cruise control in winter driving conditions. You need to be in control of when your car accelerates based on road conditions – don’t let the cruise control make a bad decision for you.
If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, understand how to use them and what to expect when the anti-lock feature is activated.
Don’t drive through “white out” conditions. Be patient, wait it out and travel safely.
Be aware that ramps, bridges and overpasses may occasionally freeze before other roadway segments.

Winter Driving Tips when Meeting or Overtaking a Snowplow

When overtaking a snowplow, be aware that snowplows often travel only 5-35 mph. When you spot a snowplow ahead, slow down to allow for any difference in speed.
Snowplows may need to stop or take evasive action to avoid stranded vehicles. Maintain a safe following distance and be prepared to stop, if necessary.
Be cautious if you see an area of blowing snow – it could conceal a snowplow.
If you must pass a snowplow, be sure that you have clear vision ahead before passing. Allow plenty of room when passing a snowplow, and don’t cut in too quickly. The blade extends several feet in front of the truck. On two lane roads, operators will pull over periodically to let following vehicles pass.
On multi-lane roads, watch for plows operating in the left lane.
Don’t travel beside a snowplow. When encountering a large drift or packed snow, the impact can move the truck sideways.
Don’t attempt to pass a snowplow when visibility is severely reduced.
Never pass a snowplow on the right. Many snowplows are equipped with a blade that expends to the right. This “wing blade” may be hidden by snow and difficult to see.
Move as far away from the centerline of the pavement as you safely can when meeting a snow plow on a two-lane road.
When two or more snowplows are working together to clear a multi-lane road, do not attempt to pass.

Travel Preparedness

Before winter strikes, make sure your vehicle is in good working order. Tires should be in good condition for maximum traction. Pack a winter survival kit to keep in your vehicle.
Keep your windshield washer full and have good wiper blades so that you can keep the windshield clear.
Keep plenty of fuel in the tank. You never know when you may be delayed or stranded.

Winter Road Conditions
Iowa ........................511
(If calling from out of state or from a phone
system not participating in the 511 program,
call 800-288-1047)
Illinois ......................800-452-4368
Minnesota ................800-542-0220
Missouri ...................800-222-6400
Nebraska .................402-471-4533
South Dakota ..........866-697-3511
Wisconsin ...............800-762-3947

What to Have in Your Car
Booster cables
Blankets and/or sleeping bags
Candles and matches
Snow shovel and ice scraper
Extra clothing (cap, mittens, parka, overshoes)
High-calorie, nonperishable food (candy, nuts, etc.)
Sand or strips of carpet for traction
Flashlight and extra batteries
First-aid kit
Bottled water

Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation Winter Driving Tips

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