7.2 Minnesota Winter Driving, Snowplows, Black Ice & Night Hazards
Key Takeaways
- Motorists must maintain a safe following distance of at least 100 feet behind active snowplows, avoid plow blind spots, and never pass a snowplow on the right shoulder.
- Snowplow discharge creates dense 'snow clouds' that cause instant whiteouts; motorists should never drive into snow clouds or crowd plows.
- Black ice is a transparent, highly slippery ice coating that forms earliest on bridge decks, overpasses, shaded roadway segments, and intersections.
- In a skid: ease off the accelerator, avoid slamming on brakes, and steer smoothly in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go (steer into the skid).
- If stranded in a blizzard: stay inside your vehicle, run the engine and heater for only ~10 minutes per hour with the exhaust pipe cleared of snow, crack a downwind window slightly for fresh air, and turn on the dome light at night.
7.2 Minnesota Winter Driving, Snowplows, Black Ice & Night Hazards
Quick Answer: Minnesota winters present severe driving challenges requiring specialized driving techniques and survival knowledge. When encountering working snowplows, stay back at least 100 feet, never drive into the blinding snow cloud produced by plows, never crowd the plow, and never attempt to pass a snowplow on the right shoulder where the extended wing blade operates. Watch for black ice, which forms earliest on bridges, overpasses, and shaded curves. If your vehicle begins to skid, take your foot off the accelerator, do NOT slam on the brakes, and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. If stranded in a blizzard, stay inside your vehicle, ensure the exhaust pipe is completely free of snow, run the engine for only 10 minutes each hour with a downwind window cracked for ventilation, and illuminate the interior dome light at night.
Minnesota's winter climate demands heightened driver vigilance, proper mechanical vehicle preparation, and immediate, correct reactions to loss of vehicle traction. Knowing how to share the road with maintenance equipment and surviving extreme blizzard conditions are core components of the Minnesota driver examination.
1. Snowplow Safety: "Don't Crowd the Plow"
Snowplow operators perform hazardous work clearing snow, slush, and ice from state highways and county roads. Snowplows are large, heavy maintenance vehicles that operate differently from standard passenger vehicles.
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| SNOWPLOW SAFETY ZONES & HAZARDS |
| |
| [ EXTENDED WING BLADE ] ===> Extends 10-12 feet onto the right shoulder |
| [ REAR BLIND SPOT ] ===> Extends 100+ feet directly behind the plow |
| [ DISCHARGE CLOUD ] ===> Total whiteout conditions; zero visibility |
| |
| SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE: At least 100 FEET (5 to 8 car lengths) |
| NEVER PASS ON THE RIGHT: The right wing blade is hidden in swirling snow! |
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Critical Snowplow Rules for Motorists
- Stay Back at Least 100 Feet: Snowplows travel slowly (typically 25 to 35 mph), make sudden stops, back up, and disperse sand, salt, and liquid chemical deicers from rear spreaders. Following too closely exposes your windshield to damaging flying salt/sand and places your car in the plow operator's rear blind spot.
- Massive Blind Spots (No-Zones): Snowplow drivers sit high up in the cab and have large blind spots directly behind the truck and along both sides. If you cannot see the snowplow's exterior side mirrors, the operator cannot see you.
- Never Drive into a Snow Cloud: The plow blade creates a swirling cloud of snow (a localized whiteout) off its discharge side. Entering this snow cloud blinds you to stalled vehicles, road obstacles, or the plow's second blade.
- Never Pass on the Right Shoulder: Many MnDOT plows utilize a wing blade mounted on the right side that extends 10 to 12 feet onto the shoulder to push snow off the road. The wing blade is often completely obscured by drifting snow; attempting to pass on the right shoulder leads to catastrophic collisions.
- Patience is Key: The road behind a snowplow is always significantly safer and clearer than the unplowed road ahead of it. Remain behind the plow until it reaches a designated turnout or clears your lane.
2. Black Ice: Characteristics & High-Risk Locations
Black ice is a thin, transparent coating of ice that forms without air bubbles, making it take on the dark color of the underlying asphalt pavement. It is exceptionally treacherous because it is nearly invisible to motorists.
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| BLACK ICE HIGH-RISK ZONES |
| |
| 1. BRIDGE DECKS & OVERPASSES: |
| Cold ambient air circulates above AND below the elevated bridge |
| deck, stripping away heat rapidly. Bridges freeze long before roadway |
| surfaces insulated by the ground underneath. |
| |
| 2. SHADED CUTS & TREE-LINED CURVES: |
| Areas shaded by tall pine trees, cliff faces, or sound walls receive |
| no direct sunlight and remain frozen throughout the afternoon. |
| |
| 3. SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS & OFF-RAMPS: |
| Idling vehicle exhaust and heated tires melt snow, which instantly |
| refreezes into slick sheets of polished ice under stopping traffic. |
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Warning Clues That Black Ice is Present
- The road surface ahead appears shiny or wet, but tires on preceding vehicles produce no water spray or mist.
- Ice begins accumulating on your windshield wiper blades, side mirrors, or exterior antenna.
- Steering feels suddenly light, loose, and unresponsive (lack of road resistance).
- The ambient outside air temperature reads at or near the freezing mark (32°F / 0°C).
3. Skid Control & Recovery Mechanics
A vehicle skids when its tires lose mechanical friction and adhesion with the road surface. Skids are almost always triggered by sudden driver inputs: braking too hard, accelerating too rapidly, or steering too sharply on slippery surfaces.
Universal 3-Step Skid Recovery Protocol
If your vehicle starts to lose traction and fish-tail or slide:
- Take Your Foot Off the Accelerator: Immediately release the gas pedal to reduce engine power and allow the tires to regain rolling friction. Do not accelerate.
- Do NOT Slam on the Brakes: Stamping on the brake pedal locks the wheels (or triggers aggressive ABS pulsation), which eliminates directional steering control.
- Steer in the Direction You Want to Go: Turn the steering wheel smoothly in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to travel (often called "steering into the skid").
- If the rear of your car slides to the right, steer gently to the right.
- If the rear of your car slides to the left, steer gently to the left.
- As soon as the vehicle straightens out, counter-steer gently back to center to prevent fish-tailing in the opposite direction.
| Skid Type | What Happens | Immediate Driver Action |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-Wheel Skid (Oversteer) | Rear tires lose grip; back end slides outward in a fishtail. | Release gas; steer smoothly in the direction of the skid; avoid sudden braking; center wheel once straight. |
| Front-Wheel Skid (Understeer) | Front tires lose grip; vehicle plows straight ahead despite turned wheels. | Release gas; ease off steering angle slightly to allow tires to regain traction; do not jerk wheel further. |
Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) vs. Conventional Brakes on Snow
- With ABS: If you must stop in an emergency on snow or ice, step down hard on the brake pedal and maintain firm, continuous pressure. The ABS computer will automatically pump the brakes up to dozens of times per second. You will feel a pulsing vibration in the pedal and hear grinding noises—this is normal; do not release the pedal.
- Without ABS (Conventional Brakes): Apply steady, progressive pressure just short of wheel lockup (threshold braking), or pump the brake pedal gently and rapidly if wheels lock.
4. Winter Survival Kit & Vehicle Preparedness
Minnesota law enforcement and emergency management agencies strongly advise all motorists to carry a comprehensive winter survival kit in their trunk from October through April.
Essential Winter Survival Kit Contents
- Warmth & Shelter: Heavy winter coats, insulated boots, hats, waterproof mittens, warm wool blankets or sub-zero sleeping bags.
- Emergency Heat & Light: A large metal coffee can, votive/pillar candles, and waterproof matches or a lighter (a single burning candle inside a closed vehicle provides critical survival warmth).
- Digging & Traction: A sturdy, collapsible snow shovel, a bag of coarse sand, gravel, or non-clumping clay cat litter (to place beneath spinning drive tires for traction).
- Visibility & Signalling: A high-lumen flashlight with extra fresh batteries, reflective emergency triangles, road flares, and a bright red or orange cloth to tie to the radio antenna or window.
- Nourishment: High-energy, non-perishable foods (nuts, dried fruits, granola bars, candy bars) and a metal cup to melt clean snow over a candle for drinking water.
- Vehicle Tools: Heavy-duty booster jumper cables, tow strap, ice scraper with snow brush, basic hand tools, and a portable cellphone battery power bank.
5. Blizzard Survival Protocol (What to Do if Stranded)
Getting trapped in a deep snowdrift during a severe Minnesota blizzard is a life-threatening emergency. Surviving depends on discipline, staying calm, and avoiding lethal exposure and asphyxiation.
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| BLIZZARD STRANDED SURVIVAL CHECKLIST |
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| [ RULE 1 ] STAY INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE: |
| Do NOT attempt to walk in a blizzard. Blowing snow creates |
| zero visibility; drivers get disoriented and freeze mere |
| feet from shelter. Your car is your primary shelter. |
| |
| [ RULE 2 ] CLEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE (CARBON MONOXIDE DEFENSE): |
| Examine the rear tailpipe. Clear away all packed snow/ice. |
| A blocked exhaust pipe forces lethal, odorless carbon |
| monoxide (CO) gas into the passenger cabin. Check regularly! |
| |
| [ RULE 3 ] 10-MINUTE RUNTIME PER HOUR: |
| Run the engine and heater for approximately 10 MINUTES each |
| hour. This conserves fuel while maintaining survival heat. |
| |
| [ RULE 4 ] VENTILATE (CRACK DOWNWIND WINDOW): |
| Crack one window slightly on the side away from blowing wind |
| to introduce fresh oxygen and exhaust moisture. |
| |
| [ RULE 5 ] NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY: |
| Turn on the interior DOME LIGHT at night while running the |
| engine. Snowplow operators and search crews can spot dome |
| lights through heavy drifts. Tie a red flag to the antenna. |
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazards
Carbon monoxide ($CO$) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas produced by combustion engines. Symptoms of $CO$ poisoning include dizziness, headache, fatigue, confusion, nausea, and loss of consciousness.
- Never sleep with the engine running continuously.
- Ensure the tailpipe is kept free of drifting snow whenever the engine is running.
- Exercise fingers, toes, and limbs periodically inside the cabin to maintain blood circulation and stay awake.
A motorist is following a MnDOT snowplow clearing snow on a two-lane state highway. The plow is traveling at 25 mph with flashing amber and blue lights active, creating a swirling cloud of snow. What should the driver do?
While navigating an icy curve on a winter morning, the rear end of your vehicle begins sliding to the right in an oversteer skid. What is the correct initial steering and throttle response?
Your car becomes trapped in a deep snowdrift during a severe Minnesota blizzard on a rural highway. What is the safest survival protocol to follow while awaiting emergency rescue?