Utah drivers are preparing for the upcoming winter season as seasonal snowfall is expected in the valleys near the end of November or beginning of December, according to a November 14 report.
With winter weather approaching, the Utah Department of Transportation has introduced a new online quiz to help motorists determine if their vehicles meet winter traction requirements based on their destination and vehicle type.
The new UDOT quiz covers all state-owned roads throughout Utah. Becky Parker, UDOT Traveler Information Director, stated that the tool is designed to provide information directly to drivers so they do not have to search through lists of rules to understand which apply to their vehicles.
This initiative comes as UDOT and enforcement partners begin their second winter season of stricter traction requirements for Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. These enhanced requirements were introduced following the passage of HB 196 in 2025, allowing UDOT to enforce traction requirements up to 24 hours before a storm begins.
The updated administrative rule includes a new "Class Three" designation that strengthens traction requirements in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. This includes a minimum tire tread depth of 5/32 inch for vehicles using qualifying tires rather than traction devices. Law enforcement agencies may issue citations to drivers who violate the traction law.
Additionally, the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program began its sixth season today. The program offers free, voluntary tire inspections at more than 160 participating tire shops along the Wasatch Front and will continue through Feb. 28, 2027.
UDOT also provides area-specific travel information through its Roads to Recreation program. The program recently expanded to include the Timpanogos Area, joining the Cottonwood Canyons, Wasatch Back, Ogden Valley, and Zion Area to provide information for all ski resorts accessed from the Wasatch Front.
Drivers can access the new traction law quiz on any of UDOT’s traveler information sites at http://connect.udot.utah.gov.
