Law-abiding winter driving

  • Published
  • 5th Security Forces Squadron
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Although most of us don't want to admit it, and regardless of what the calendar says, winter is coming up fast.

The wing safety offices will provide guidance on how to drive safely when the roads turn icy. Since the base traffic instruction and local laws are designed for safe driving, strict obedience of those laws should increase your chances of getting from point A to B safely during the winter months.

The vast majority of accidents during the winter occur in parking lots. The speed limit in base parking lots is 10-miles per hour (mph). Those of us who lived through the last winter remember how icy and slick the roads were. There are several base parking lots that are tight areas and it's easy to "just keep going" after applying the brakes.

Following too close is another frequent cause for accidents in the winter. Remember to keep adequate distance between yourself and vehicles in front of you, especially when approaching intersections. Begin slowing and braking much earlier than you would in the summer, even if the road appears to be okay.

Ensure you can see and be seen while driving. That means scraping your WHOLE WINDSHIELD, not just enough to peep through. Also, remove the snow and ice from your headlights and taillights. Even if it's during the day and you don't need headlights to see others, driving with your lights on will help other drivers to see you. 

The 5th Mission Support Group Commander (5 MSG/CC) will determine when parking on seeded areas in the housing area is authorized. That will only occur when the ground is frozen sufficiently to prevent damage to the ground. Parking on seeded areas when not approved by the 5 MSG/CC may result in a parking ticket. After a snow event resulting in 1-inch of new snow, housing residents are required to move their vehicles off the street. This is to allow snow removal equipment to plow the whole street and not have to dodge around vehicles. Inhibiting snow removal equipment may result in a parking ticket.

Finally, since accidents do happen regardless of how safe you drive, ensure your vehicle's insurance policy is valid. It's bad enough to get in a fender-bender and have to pay to fix your vehicle and the other person's, but driving without insurance (on-base or off-base) will result in a one-year revocation of your base driving privileges. If you have any questions about base or local traffic laws, please contact723-6542.