When Is It Too Unsafe to Drive in the Snow?
Utah winters bring canyon storms, black ice, and sudden whiteouts. Knowing when conditions are simply too dangerous to drive, and how to drive safely when you must, can keep you out of a crash. And if another driver ignored the conditions and hit you, they can still be held responsible.
It is too unsafe to drive when there is active heavy snow, ice, or whiteout conditions, when roads are closed, or when authorities advise against travel. Bad weather does not excuse unsafe driving. A driver who goes too fast for conditions and causes a crash can be found at fault.
Signs it is time to stay off the road
- Active ice or freezing rain, which can make roads nearly impossible to control.
- Whiteout or near-zero visibility from heavy snow or blowing snow.
- Road closures or travel advisories from UDOT or law enforcement.
- Unplowed or untreated roads, especially in canyons and at higher elevations.
How to drive safely if you must go
- Slow down well below the posted limit. Speed limits assume dry roads.
- Increase your following distance to give yourself room to stop.
- Brake and steer gently to avoid losing traction.
- Use proper tires and keep an emergency kit in the car.
- Turn around if conditions worsen. No trip is worth a crash.
Weather does not erase fault
A common myth is that a winter crash is just “an accident” no one is responsible for. In reality, drivers have a duty to adjust to the conditions. Driving too fast for the weather, following too closely, or ignoring a road closure can all make a driver liable, even if they were under the speed limit.