MnDOT’s winter driving tips: slow down, stay at least 10 car lengths behind a snowplow, turn on your headlights and turn off cruise control.
By the It’s Minnesota Editorial Team (who writes this). Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
What Does MnDOT Tell Drivers To Do?
- Don’t drive distracted and stay alert for snowplows, which turn or exit frequently and may travel over center lines.
- Stay back at least 10 car lengths behind the plow, and don’t drive into a snow cloud.
- Slow down to a safe speed for current conditions.
- Turn on your headlights, wear your seat belt and turn off the cruise control.
Where Do You Check Road Conditions?
MnDOT runs a statewide travel map at 511mn.org. The MnDOT winter page also covers black ice and why roads close.
Moving here? See moving to Minnesota.
What We Could Not Verify
- What 511 shows on a given day: it loads by script, so we confirmed only the page title.
- Tire, kit and vehicle advice: not covered.
Sources
- MnDOT: Winter driving tips, read November 1, 2026
- MnDOT: Minnesota 511, read November 1, 2026
Checked November 1, 2026 by It’s Minnesota. Cite this page: It’s Minnesota, “How Do You Drive Safely In A Minnesota Winter?” (itsminnesota.com/answers/how-do-you-drive-safely-in-minnesota-winter/), checked November 1, 2026. Free to quote with a link.
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