Quiz provides personalized guidance as sixth annual Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program begins
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 9, 2026) — The Utah Department of Transportation has introduced a new online quiz to help Utah drivers determine whether their vehicles meet winter traction requirements based on where they plan to travel and the type of vehicle they drive. The quiz covers all state-owned roads throughout Utah.
“Nobody should have to be an expert on tires or traction laws to know whether they’re prepared for winter driving,” UDOT Traveler Information Director Becky Parker said. “We’ve spent years helping Utahns understand these requirements, and this quiz takes that education a step further. Instead of searching through a list of rules to figure out which ones apply to their vehicle, drivers can now have that information presented directly to them.”
UDOT also helps travelers prepare for trips to Utah’s popular recreation destinations through its Roads to Recreation program, which provides area-specific information about road conditions, parking, transportation options and travel restrictions. The program recently expanded to include the Timpanogos Area, joining the Cottonwood Canyons, Wasatch Back, Ogden Valley and Zion Area. With this newest addition, Roads to Recreation now provides area-specific travel information for all ski resorts accessed from the Wasatch Front.
The new quiz comes as UDOT and its enforcement partners begin their second winter season of stricter traction requirements for Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.
The enhanced requirements, introduced following the passage of HB 196 in 2025, allow UDOT to enforce traction requirements up to 24 hours before a storm begins. The updated administrative rule also introduced a new “Class Three” designation, which strengthens traction requirements in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, including a minimum tire tread depth of 5/32 inch for vehicles using qualifying tires rather than traction devices. Law enforcement agencies may also issue citations to drivers who violate the traction law.
“Preparing for winter travel includes more steps than just checking the forecast,” Parker said. “Drivers need to understand what equipment their vehicles require, what conditions to expect on the roads and what transportation options are available. We want to make it easier for people to find that information before they leave home, so they’re more prepared for the conditions ahead.”
UDOT’s Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program began its sixth season today, offering free, voluntary tire inspections at over 160 participating tire shops along the Wasatch Front and back through Feb. 28, 2027. Stickers are not required to enter the canyons, but all vehicles must comply with traction requirements when the law is in effect.
UDOT encourages drivers to check their vehicle’s tires, reduce their speed during winter conditions and consider public transit or carpooling to reach ski resorts. Drivers can take the new traction law quiz on any of UDOT’s traveler information sites.
