Cold Conditions Continue to Threaten Drivers

As temperatures plummet, focus for motorists shifts from avoiding crashes due to icy roads to staying alive if catastrophe were to strike.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – At the start of the cold snap, the concern with driving was largely centered around crashes and spinouts.

With temperatures falling fast, though, the focus of law enforcement has shifted from accident prevention to traveler survival.

“With temps dropping quickly, it doesn’t take long for people to freeze,” said Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol.

Grabow says he and his fellow officers are still dealing with traffic incidents as normal, but they’re quickly shifting their focus to ensuring drivers that choose to hit the roads in frigid conditions have the supplies on hand they need to make it through any catastrophes.

Warm gear is, of course, mandatory – as is as staying put and getting in touch with emergency services as quickly as possible.

“Let us know so we can get somebody out there to help you out,” said Grabow.

Authorities are issuing continual reminders that even though we may be used to the cold in Fargo-Moorhead – extremes such as negative twenties are no trifling matter.

“Even for these ‘quick trips’ just around the area and the region, things change so quickly out there,” warned Grabow.

Those authorities also continue to stress the importance of communication with travel.

Let your loved ones know exactly where you plan to be and when so that they can alert emergency services if you are somehow incapacitated on your journey.