Minnesota State Patrol Question:  How do you determine if your tires are unsafe for winter driving? Answer:  Over the years, I have investigated numerous crashes where worn tires were a contributing factor. Tires with inadequate tread depth may cause your vehicle to skid or slide out of control on a slippery or wet road surface.  It is important to remember that unsafe tires … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I heard something about “Crash Responder Safety Week,” can you talk about that? Answer: Answer: Crash Responder Safety Week runs November 8-14. The goal is to reach out to every emergency responder, driver, and passenger to educate them in how to play their part in ensuring safe responses at crash scenes. Crash … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: What is the difference between careless or reckless driving? What about “exhibition driving”? Answer: In general, the difference between reckless and careless is that “reckless” is generally “intentional” or the driver “should know” that the driving behavior could injure or kill someone. Here’s more detail on how … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I noticed that the horn on my vehicle does not work. Is there a law that that says a vehicle must have a working horn and when it can be used?  Answer:  According to state law, your vehicle must have a horn that’s “in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I drive school bus and am a retired firefighter. Recently one of our buses was stopped – eight ways on, stop signs deployed – when two fire apparatus approached with red lights and sirens. The apparatus did not slow and sped past the bus.  I’ve always said regardless of what type of emergency vehicle, they must stop … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I have an “Ask the Trooper a Question” question: Why are LOUD motorcycles allowed to operate on Minnesota highways? Answer:  Minnesota State Statute 169.69 states:  “Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order which blends the exhaust noise into the overall vehicle noise … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol A Trooper in Southern Minnesota recently took a report from a concerned bicyclist and asked to have this information passed along. This person rides bicycle, has a flashing white light to the front and flashing red light to the rear, wears a helmet, has a mirror, follows the rules of the road, rides in bicycle lanes where … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I see vehicles go by with extended carriers attached to their hitch with several full gas cans. We discuss what could happen if a driver was not paying attention and ran into one such vehicle. How safe can this be? Is there any laws in place that makes this unlawful? Answer: There is no law against transporting fuel … [Read more...]

Minnesota State Patrol I followed a tractor that had triple wheels on each side and took up half the lane of oncoming traffic. Following vehicles could not pass and oncoming traffic had to take the shoulder. Answer: Farm equipment may be driven or towed to the left of the center of a roadway only if it is escorted at the front by a vehicle displaying hazard warning lights … [Read more...]

Minnesota State Patrol Question: I have seen a lot of boat trailers and ATV trailers on the shoulders with mechanical issues, what should be checked on these trailers? Answer:  State Troopers often encounter motorists pulling trailers that are experiencing breakdowns. Most often it involves a flat tire or trailer wheel bearing. Basic trailer maintenance involves greasing … [Read more...]