Icy Roads Up North Have State Troopers Out With A Warning

Due to a number of ice related roll overs the Minnesota State Patrol is issuing a winter storm warning for Northern Minnesota. They also point out that it’s a time to be careful throughout the State.

I best thing to do is to stay hope and figure out something else to do. Maybe take a little time to watch what can happen out there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq9afqhnPEo

The Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Department of Transportation DPS recommend the following for safe winter driving:

• Always use seat belts.

• Adjust speed to road and weather conditions — lower speeds minimize crashes.

• Keep a safe stopping distance between vehicles, and leave extra room between your vehicle and snow plows or other removal equipment.

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly on icy/snow-covered roads to retrain traction and avoid skids.

• Do not use cruise-control.

• Do not “power up” hills which may cause wheels to spin. Build momentum before reaching a hill and don’t stop while traveling uphill. Reduce speed going downhill.

• Know your brakes — keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of the foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

• Give yourself plenty of travel time — don’t put your schedule before safety.

• Clear snow and ice from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake lights and directional signals.

• Headlights must be turned on when it is snowing or sleeting.

For weather-related road information, call 5-1-1 or visit www.511mn.org.

For winter driving tips and more winter safety information visit http://www.winterweather.state.mn.us/WHAH_Home.asp.