Those that live in Minneapolis know that this year has been full of storms, and the related traffic issues that can cause are nothing less than scary. In early June, severe thunderstorms hit large parts of Minnesota including Minneapolis, featuring winds as strong as 80 mph, hail, and power outages that affected over 4,000 residents. In fact, the storms have been so bad, there have been tornado warnings in both the Twin Cities and southeastern Minnesota. Since then, we’ve seen all kinds of pictures of dark clouds posted by Minnesota residents popping up on social media.

Weather and Driving Conditions

The storms came in after a warm, humid day that hit 85 degrees Fahrenheit, once again reminding residents how unpredictable the Minnesota weather can be, and how things can easily change and affect weather and driving conditions. After that warm day, winds of 70-80 mph were reported in Scott, Dakota, and Rice counties. In North Mankato, the winds got so strong, trees were blown down and three power poles snapped.

Combined with the wind to make traffic conditions all that more unenjoyable was heavy rain in several communities. In Lakeville, rising water actually submerged cars, brining several drivers to a stop. Many drivers reported hardly being able to see while driving during the storm. Some of the puddles submerging cars were hard to see in the pouring rain, and drivers also reported the cars shutting off while they drove through the puddles. Of course, that means calling for a tow. In situations like this, if you have a friend with a tow rope that can pull your car, would you call that person to save some time and get your car back on the road?

Could You Call a Friend?

While many of us would answer “yes” to that question, you’ll want to put the brakes on performing any action like that because it is illegal in Minnesota. If an officer sees you performing the action, you are likely to get yourself ticketed. In Minnesota, the public can’t use the roads if it might endanger other drivers, and that’s part of the problem with getting your car towed by a friend. With such poor weather conditions in Minnesota lately, it’s better to leave the actions up to the professionals to keep things safe for everybody on the road.

A tow rope requires the tow vehicle to get a running start so that the other car can be pulled out of the mud, snow, or whatever happens to be inhibiting it. However, the momentum required by the tow vehicle could send one or both of the vehicles involved right into traffic with no controlled action. Performing a tow like this with a friend when the weather is poor, while you are on a busy road, or both, are true safety issues that can cause harm to both yourself and others.

That’s why it’s not safe to simply call a friend, and better for you to leave the tow up to the professionals. While you might save money using a friend, you’re putting yourself, your friend, and everybody out on the road at that time at risk if you try to conduct your own personal tow. Professional tow trucks have emergency lights, cables, and winches that make the tow stable, and keep things safe for everybody that is at the scene of the stranded vehicle.