Question:I live in a very small town and see people all the time driving in the wrong direction to collect their mail or visit neighbors. This means they are on the wrong side of the road facing on-coming traffic. I feel like I’m in a foreign country. Is this legal? Thank you in advance for an answer.

Answer:Driving down the opposite side of the street/road/highway for any of those reasons is not only illegal, it’s unsafe.

With spring just around the corner this means increased hazards such as melting snow, icy roads, rain, mist and fog. When these conditions exist, drivers must use extra caution on the roadways:

· Slow down and increase your following distance when rain or mist begins to fall. Even a small amount of water can mix with oil and grease on the road to create slippery conditions.

· Use your headlights.

· If you are driving in rain or fog that totally impairs visibility, pull off the road as far as possible and turn on your hazard lights.

· To keep the inside of your windshield clear of moisture, turn on your fan and defroster; ­the air conditioner may work wonders as well.

· Allow extra following distance: a car could need up to ten times more distance to stop on a wet road than on dry pavement.

· Avoid driving through large puddles: splashing water may affect your brakes, cause your car to swerve, and impair the vision of other motorists.

· Watch the road to see if the vehicle ahead is leaving tire tracks. If possible, follow in those tracks, if not, reduce speed slowly to prevent hydroplaning.

· Watch for icy conditions caused by thawing snow, spring rains or mist, especially in shaded areas, on bridges and overpasses. Remember that these areas freeze first.

· Keep an eye out for pedestrians, they may be more difficult to see in the rain and fog.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).