MnDOT offers tips to avoid traffic mishaps during cold snap

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has its hands full with icy roads during this cold snap and has some advice to help drivers avoid hard-to-navigate trouble spots.

MnDOT spokesperson Anne Meyer told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS there has been a bad combination of light, overnight snow coupled with bitter cold temperatures making roads more slippery and unpredictable than usual.

"Our materials take a little longer to work during the extremely cold temperatures and the light snow just adds to the headache," Meyer said. "Then, drivers who are stuck in traffic leave droplets from their exhaust, which creates another layer of thin ice that’s hard to detect."

Meyer said drivers need to pay close attention to trouble spots before they leave their homes in the morning and then make plans to take alternate routes, if possible, and add extra time for the commute because slowing down is still the best practice.

Megan Menard, from Maple Grove, told KSTP she slows down but also keeps an eye on what’s happening in front of her so she can anticipate what her safest move on the road is, if she approaches a traffic problem.

"Luckily, I have a car with a stick shift and that definitely helps me during times like these," Menard said. "Instead of braking, I use the down shift and I find that is safer than hitting the brakes or slamming on the brakes."