Question: With school back in session, can you talk about school bus safety and what motorists need to know? Answer: School buses have yellow and red lights that flash alternately to warn drivers they are stopping to load or unload students. Bus drivers will activate flashing yellow lights at least 100 feet before a school bus stops in a speed zone of 35 mph or less. They … [Read more...]

Question: I know the distracted driving law has been around for a while now, but can you please talk about it some more?  Answer: Driver distraction or inattention is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota, accounting for at least 25% of all crashes annually. Distracted drivers fail to recognize potential hazards on the road and react more slowly to traffic conditions, … [Read more...]

Question: My husband and I are wondering if it is true that emergency vehicles can change a light from red to green, if they need to proceed through an intersection. Is this true, or is it just a myth that people now believe to be true? Also, if this is true, how is the light triggered? Is it triggered by the flashing lights of the emergency vehicle or is it triggered through … [Read more...]

I was recently issued a 2024 Dodge Durango, replacing my 2019 Dodge Charger.  Dodge discontinued making the Dodge Charger for a few years but is supposed to be coming back.  State Patrol’s main squads are Dodge Durango or the Ford F-150. The State Patrol issues new squads to troopers when the vehicle reaches approximately 120,000 miles.  The retired squads are then auctioned … [Read more...]

Question: It seems like we have been seeing a fair amount of rain along with flash flood warnings. Can you talk about what motorists should do if they encounter such a thing? Answer: Flooding can happen when streams and rivers overflow, dams or levees break, snow melts rapidly, or during heavy rainfall. Floodwaters can cover roads, bridges and low areas. Flash floods can … [Read more...]

Question: I have a new driver in the house and they asked a question that got me thinking. If someone has a crash and hits a power pole, what should they do in that situation? Answer: If your car comes into contact with a utility pole, wire or power box, you should: Stay in your vehicle and call 911.  Only get out of the vehicle if it is on fire. If you must get … [Read more...]

Question: I was driving in the metro area the other day and I witnessed a bus driving on the shoulder. Is this allowed? Answer: Transit buses and metro mobility buses are permitted to use the shoulder of a freeway or expressway. Buses can use the shoulder only when main-line traffic speeds are less than 35 miles per hour. Bus drivers on the shoulder may not exceed the speed … [Read more...]

Question: Somebody was trying to tell me the other day that it’s ok to throw out their fruit peels along the highway as they break down fairly quick and it shouldn’t be an issue. I disagreed and told them garbage is garbage. I asked if they would want someone to throw that stuff in their yard. What does the law say? Answer: You are correct. That would not be allowed. It is … [Read more...]

Question: I heard some talk about a new law of July 1 that allows motorcycles to drive through traffic. Can you explain this as a lot of my friends are talking but I can’t get the same answer from any of them. Answer: Motorcycle lane splitting and filtering are legal on Minnesota roads as of July 1. The new law, passed by the Legislature in 2024, allows motorcycles to share … [Read more...]