UDOT launches new quiz to help Utah drivers prepare for winter road conditions

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation is launching a new online tool to help drivers prepare for winter travel across the state.

The traction law quiz gives drivers personalized guidance on what tires or traction devices they need based on their vehicle and where they plan to travel.

UDOT says the goal is to make winter traction requirements easier to understand, especially for drivers heading into Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons.

"The sticker program has been going on for several years. What's new this year is we offer a traction law quiz," said Becky Parker, UDOT's traveler information director. "The traction law can be a bit confusing, and that quiz is just a quick way to know if you're prepared to drive up the canyons."

UDOT also offers travel resources through its Roads to Recreation program. The website includes road conditions, parking information, transportation options and travel tips for popular destinations.

The program recently expanded to include the Timpanogos Area, joining the Cottonwood Canyons, Wasatch Back, Ogden Valley and Zion Area.

Local law enforcement is also conducting tire inspections in the Cottonwood Canyons. Officers check tire equipment and tread depth to make sure vehicles are prepared for winter driving.

"We are visually inspecting each car, so if you have a sticker, all we need to do is wave you on past," Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Lance Bess said. "That helps us keep traffic flowing. If people already have stickers, we know they've been pre-checked, we know that their equipment is good, that they have the proper tires and they have enough tread depth to be able to make it safely up the canyon."

UDOT and law enforcement say traction restrictions in the Cottonwood Canyons can be activated before a winter storm arrives.

Drivers whose vehicles do not meet traction requirements can use the Utah Transit Authority bus service to access the canyons.

Drivers can find the traction law quiz and winter travel resources on UDOT's website.