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Ask a Trooper by Troy Christianson

Question: I heard on TV the State Patrol responded to over 1,300 crashes and five fatal crashes the last several days. Do you have any tips for winter driving?

Answer: Snow and ice can make driving a bit more challenging, even if you grew up here. It not only involves knowing what to do while your vehicle is in motion, but preparing carefully before you leave the house and being ready in case of a crash. Based on the typical wintertime crashes they see every year, here are the Minnesota State Patrol’s top 10 winter driving tips.

Before you leave

1. Check weather and road conditions. Whether you look online or call 511, make sure the roads between you and your destination are safe enough to travel. And we cannot stress this enough: If a travel advisory says it’s not safe to drive, don’t drive.

2. Grab your emergency kit and charge your phone. If you get in a crash, you’ll need a fully charged phone to call for help and the items in your emergency kit to stay comfortable until help comes.

3. Tell someone where you’re going. Let them know when you expect to arrive at your destination and the route you’re taking to get there. That way, if you don’t show up, they’ll know you need help.

4. Top off your tank and clean off the snow and ice. Travel in poor conditions can take a lot longer than normal, so make sure you have plenty of gas. And when we recommend cleaning the snow off your windows, we mean all of them, not just an eye-level swath of the windshield. While you’re at it, get the snow off your hood, roof and trunk so that it doesn’t fly off and blind you or the vehicle behind you, and clear off your headlights and taillights as well.

While you’re driving

1. Buckle up and put distractions away. This is good advice no matter the weather, but before those wheels roll, put on your seat belt (same for your passengers). Limit distractions by setting your music and GPS before you go, or just put your phone away altogether. Remember that Minnesota is a hands-free cell phone state.

2. Slow down. When you’re driving in snow and ice, don’t drive to the speed limit; drive to conditions. It may take you longer to get to your destination, but you’ll arrive alive. Also, increase your following distance from the vehicle ahead of you so that you can stop more easily if you need to.

3. Turn your lights on. In the wintertime, headlights are as much for being seen as they are for seeing. Don’t depend on the auto headlight feature; make sure other vehicles know you’re there by manually turning on your lights.

If you crash

1. Steer where you want the car to go. If you hit a patch of ice, stay calm and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to go.

2. Get off the road. If you do crash, try to get off the road to a safe location, such as a parking lot. This will help keep other motorists from crashing into you.

3. Stay inside. Once you’re off the road, don’t leave your car. You’ll want to conserve as much heat as possible without running the engine so that you can stay warm until help comes.

You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention, and always drive sober.  Help us drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.

If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol, at 2900 48th St. NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848; or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.

Troy Christianson is a sergeant with the Minnesota State Patrol.