This article, on Montana winter driving safety, builds on Lakeside Motel & Resort’s earlier article Winter Driving Safety: How the 3 P’s Can Help You Stay Safe on Busy Roads during the Holidays. The earlier piece explored national guidance and broad strategies for staying safe on busy winter roads. Here, the focus turns more specifically to Montana winter driving safety—what it means for holiday travel in and around places like Trout Creek, and how careful preparation, smart driving techniques, and respect for snowplows can help keep your trip safe from start to finish.

AAA’s year-end holiday travel outlook for 2025 underscores why Montana winter driving safety deserves close attention. AAA projected that about 122.4 million people in the United States would travel 50 miles or more from home between December 20 and January 1, surpassing the 2024 record of 119.7 million travelers. Of those travelers, an estimated 109.5 million were projected to go by car—around 89% of all holiday travelers and about 2.5 million more drivers than projected for the previous year. With so many vehicles on the road, Montana drivers and those visiting or passing through can look at Montana winter driving safety as a core part of their holiday planning.

December weather conditions add another layer to that picture. Historical monthly data for Trout Creek, Montana, show that December’s average high temperature is about 33°F, the average low is around 22°F, and the month sees approximately 3.72 inches of precipitation. (The Weather Channel, search for Trout Creek, Montana) This combination of freezing temperatures and significant precipitation makes snow, slush, and icy surfaces a regular possibility. When you combine crowded holiday highways with cold, snowy conditions, Montana winter driving safety becomes a practical necessity.

Preparing Your Vehicle: The First Step in Montana Winter Driving Safety

Montana winter driving safety begins long before you begin your journey. The Montana Department of Transportation’s (MDT) Montana Disaster and Emergency Survival Guide emphasizes that your vehicle can be either “your best friend or your worst enemy” in winter conditions, and consistent vehicle maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and other serious circumstances. The guide presents a practical checklist that helps drivers make sure their vehicles are ready for cold-weather travel.

The list below is based on the MDT checklist:

• Check the cooling system. Ensure the cooling system is serviced so the radiator and engine are protected against freezing temperatures.
• Check the heater, defroster, and wipers. Effective cabin heat and a strong defroster are essential for visibility, and wiper blades must be in good condition to clear snow, sleet, and slush from the windshield.
• Inspect the fuel, oil, and ignition systems. Fuel/air filters should be in good shape and replaced when needed. Using additives and keeping a full tank of gas can help keep water out of the fuel system. The existing oil can be changed out with a “winter grade” oil. Ignition components including the battery and terminals should be in good condition to avoid misfires or hard starts in freezing temperatures.
• Check the lights. Ensure all lights—including headlights, brake lights, and turn signals—work correctly, improving your ability to see and be seen in winter weather.
• Examine the exhaust system. A sound exhaust system reduces the risk of carbon monoxide entering the cabin. This becomes especially important if you are ever stranded and need to run the engine and heater periodically to stay warm.
• Choose appropriate tires and check brakes. Tires should have adequate tread depth and be appropriate for winter conditions. The guide notes that snow tires can be significantly more effective than regular tires, and chains can improve traction even more when conditions require them. Brakes should be inspected for wear and proper fluid levels so that slowing/stopping power is reliable on snowy and icy roads.
• Keep glass and lights clear. Snow and ice should be removed not only from the windshield, but also from all windows, mirrors, and lights. Keep these surfaces clear so your vehicle remains visible and your own field of view is unobstructed.
• Carry an emergency travel kit. A robust emergency kit can include: an NOAA weather radio; flashlight; extra batteries; first-aid kit; blankets; season-appropriate clothing; signaling devices (whistle); dust mask; moist towelettes, garbage bags (and plastic ties); basic tool kit, knife, and shovel; axe/saw; tow chain, straps, or come-along; spare tire; wire and rope; starter fluid, extra oil, and deicer; flares; kitty litter or sand for traction; booster/jumper cables; water; non-perishable high-energy food; local maps. These items support Montana winter driving safety by giving you options if you become stranded or need to wait out a storm. To view the original list plus a list of “Additional Items to Consider,” please visit the Montana Disaster and Emergency Survival Guide.

Putting in the time to maintain your vehicle and assemble a comprehensive emergency kit gives you a safety margin long before the first snowflake hits your windshield. In Montana, where winter storms can arrive quickly and temperatures can drop sharply, these preparation steps are a central pillar of Montana winter driving safety.

Core On-Road Habits for Montana Winter Driving Safety

Once your vehicle is properly prepared, Montana winter driving safety depends on what you do next. MDT’s Montana Disaster and Emergency Survival Guide highlights several practical recommendations that apply directly to everyday winter travel. Below is a selection based on MDT recommendations:

“Buckle Up!”

Seat belts are fundamental to Montana winter driving safety. The guide notes that wearing a seat belt can dramatically reduce the chances of severe injury (or fatality) in an accident. Protection becomes even more critical when roads are slick, visibility is reduced, and stopping distances are longer. Insisting that everyone in the vehicle buckles up—every trip, every time—is a simple, proven step that can pay off when conditions turn bad.

“Plan Ahead”

Planning can start with knowing your route and avoiding roads that may be closed, not yet plowed, or heavy with traffic. For longer trips, watch forecasts, leave earlier, and allow extra time. For motorists focused on Montana winter driving safety, knowing your route, watching forecasts, leaving early, and allowing extra time are all part of the preparation.

“Make Sure You Can See and Be Seen”

Visibility is a central theme in Montana winter driving safety. The guide highlights the importance of using headlights when you use wipers and clearing snow completely from the car, especially lights and windows/mirrors. Driving with headlights on—day or night during precipitation—helps other motorists see you in rain, snow, sleet, and low-light conditions. Clear windows and mirrors ensure you can monitor traffic and road conditions around you effectively.

“Proceed in Slow Motion”

On winter roads, sudden changes are the enemy of control. Drivers should “proceed in slow motion,” meaning they should avoid excessive speed and abrupt acceleration, braking, or steering. A slower, more deliberate style of driving can allow your tires to maintain better traction and give you more time to respond to changing conditions. This principle is at the heart of Montana winter driving safety, and can come into play especially on rural roads where conditions may vary from one curve or hillcrest to the next.

“Squeeze the Brake Gently”

Braking technique is another key component of Montana winter driving safety. The guide advises drivers to squeeze the brake pedal gently and to ease off and reapply if they feel the wheels beginning to lock. For vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), the guide explains that drivers can apply firm, continuous pressure and may experience a pulsating sensation in the pedal as the system works to prevent wheel lockup. Even with ABS, however, braking distances still are longer on slick roads, so extra following distance remains essential.

Handling a Rear-Wheel Skid

If the rear of the vehicle begins to slide sideways, the guide recommends staying calm and steering gently in the direction of the skid. When the vehicle stops sliding, you can then accelerate gently and steer it back onto your intended path. Over-correcting with rear-wheel drive can produce “fish-tailing,” where the rear then swings in the opposite direction, requiring careful steering in that direction to correct the skid. Smooth, measured steering is critical for Montana winter driving safety.

Handling a Front-Wheel Skid

In a front-wheel skid, the vehicle may continue straight ahead even though the steering wheel is turned. The guide notes that in this situation, you should avoid turning the wheel sharply; instead, let the sideways motion of the front wheels help slow the vehicle until traction returns, then steer gently in the direction you want to go. In extreme situations, using a snowbank as a last-resort “brake” can help bring the vehicle to a stop. These techniques, practiced in a safe, open area when conditions allow, can significantly improve Montana winter driving safety.

“Cruise Control”

The guide cautions that cruise control “can become a killer” on slick highways. Because cruise control automatically adds power to maintain a set speed, it may apply extra power just as the vehicle encounters an icy patch. The sudden power increase can break traction and cause a loss of control. The guide’s clear recommendation: do not use cruise control on snow-packed or icy roads. For anyone practicing Montana winter driving safety, turning cruise control off in winter conditions is an essential rule.

“If You Get Stuck”

Getting stuck is a realistic possibility on Montana roads during a snowy December. The guide offers detailed steps to free a stuck vehicle while protecting both you and your car:

• Clear snow from in front of and behind the wheels to make a path.
• Use sand, kitty litter, branches, or even floor mats to create traction.
• “Rock” the car by gently moving between forward and reverse, gaining a little distance with each cycle until the vehicle breaks free.
• Consider gently accelerating with the parking brake partially applied, to slow the loss of traction with the drive wheels.
• Avoid spinning the tires aggressively, which can turn snow to ice or dig the vehicle in deeper.
• When your car is stuck, letting some air out of the pulling tires can increase tread/traction on the snow/ice surface and may help in freeing the car. Once the car is freed, have the tires inflated to the recommended level as soon as possible.

These techniques, combined with the traction aids in your emergency kit, are an important part of practical Montana winter driving safety.

“Monitor Weather” and “Keep Your Fuel Tank Full”

The guide also emphasizes the importance of monitoring weather and road conditions and keeping the fuel tank full.

Drivers can use MDT’s traveler information resources by downloading the mobile app MDT 511 or visiting 511mt.net. Information includes: weather, road conditions, road closures, construction information, incidents, and chain requirements, along with camera images and RWIS (Road Weather Information System) data from statewide locations.

A full tank of gas would allow you to run the engine for the heater if you become stranded. Keeping the tank full also minimizes condensation in the fuel system, and the guide notes that using an appropriate fuel additive can help reduce cold-weather fuel problems.

These practices make Montana winter driving safety more resilient, giving you more options when conditions suddenly change. For all of MDT’s Montana winter driving safety recommendations and more detailed guidance, please visit Montana Disaster and Emergency Survival Guide.

Montana Winter Driving Safety and Snowplows: “Don’t Crowd the Plow”

Snowplows are a crucial part of maintaining Montana’s highways, but they also introduce unique risks when drivers do not respect their space. The Winter Driving in Montana brochure states that each winter, vehicles collide with snowplows. Drivers sometimes misjudge how slowly plows are traveling and fail to reduce speed in time. Others take dangerous chances by driving into the snow cloud thrown by the plow or trying to power through the snow berm created as the plow clears the roadway.

These collisions can be serious. When a passenger vehicle hits a plow, its wing plow, or the plow ahead of it, the plow truck and operator may be taken out of service, the vehicle may be damaged, and the vehicle’s occupants may be seriously injured or killed. For anyone committed to Montana winter driving safety, the message is straightforward: “Don’t Crowd the Plow.”

Key recommendations from the brochure include:

• Be patient and expect slower speeds. Snowplows typically operate at reduced speeds so they can clear snow effectively and spread sanding material.
• When approaching a plow from behind, slow down immediately. This gives you room to react if the plow slows further, turns, or encounters deeper drifts.
• When meeting an oncoming plow, avoid crowding the centerline. Plows need extra space to operate, and their wing blades may extend beyond the apparent width of the truck.
• Understand that plow operators know the road and will pull over when safe. The brochure notes that operators will let traffic pass when conditions allow, so waiting patiently is safer than attempting to pass in poor visibility.

The brochure also cautions against driving into the snow cloud created by a plow. Inside that cloud, visibility may drop significantly, and the wing plow or a second plow operating ahead may be hidden from view. Trying to pass through a snow cloud, or even a snow berm that a plow leaves behind, can result in a collision, undermining efforts toward Montana winter driving safety and leading to serious outcomes.

Tandem Plowing

MDT notes that crews often work in tandem to move large amounts of snow efficiently and reduce thaw/freeze ice conditions. In a typical tandem arrangement, the first plow clears snow from the median or left shoulder and pushes it into the driving lane. A second plow drives slightly offset to push that snow farther right, and a third plow follows to push the snow completely off the roadway.

For drivers, this means that a snow cloud ahead of you may hide more than one truck. If you drive into that cloud, you might encounter a wing plow or a second or third plow unexpectedly. The brochure advises drivers to slow down and “back off” when approaching a snow cloud, reinforcing a core principle of Montana winter driving safety: give plows space and time to clear the roads.

Tow Plows

The brochure also explains Tow Plows—steerable, trailer-mounted plows pulled behind main plow trucks. A Tow Plow can rotate to one side of the truck, doubling the plowing width and allowing an operator to clear two lanes of roadway in a single pass with a plow width of about 26 feet.

The brochure strongly advises drivers not to attempt to pass a Tow Plow. Instead, motorists should wait until the operator rotates the Tow Plow back in line with the truck to allow vehicles to pass safely. Respecting Tow Plows and tandem plowing operations is an essential part of Montana winter driving safety, especially on major corridors where plows are actively working during storms.

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Lakeside Motel & Resort as a Montana Winter Driving Safety Rest Stop

Even with the best Montana winter driving safety habits, long drives can be tiring—especially during the busy holiday season. Planning regular rest stops is part of staying alert and making good decisions on the road, and Lakeside Motel & Resort is well positioned to serve as a winter travel rest stop in northwest Montana.

Lakeside is a lakefront resort on the shores of Noxon Reservoir, offering beautiful mountain views and convenient access to outdoor activities near Trout Creek, Montana. The property provides both traditional motel rooms and cabins, allowing solo travelers, couples, families, and groups to choose the space that best fits their needs. Cabins include fully equipped and furnished kitchens, so guests can prepare their own meals, store groceries, and enjoy a more home-like stay during longer winter visits.

This variety of accommodations means that, after a day of practicing Montana winter driving safety—monitoring weather, keeping your fuel tank full, slowing down near plows, and navigating snowy curves—you can stop at Lakeside for a warm, comfortable overnight rest. Travelers can choose a motel room for a quick overnight stay or a cabin with a full kitchen for a multi-day winter getaway.

Lakeside also features an on-site, full-service restaurant. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so guests do not have to get back on winter roads to have their next meal. That convenience directly supports Montana winter driving safety: after a long day of travel, you can park once, check into your room or cabin, and have all meals on the property while you rest.

By pairing careful vehicle preparation, smart on-road habits, respect for snowplows, and thoughtful rest stops at places like Lakeside Motel & Resort, Montana winter driving safety can become a manageable, integrated part of your holiday travel plans. With millions of vehicles expected on the road during the year-end holidays and December bringing cold snowy conditions, adding these Montana winter driving safety practices into your itinerary can help you arrive ready to enjoy your time with loved ones—and return home safely.

Sources:
Diaz, Aixa (AAA Newsroom). “Year-End Holiday Travel Expected to Set New Record.” newsroom.aaa.com. 10 December 2025 (Published). https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/aaa-year-end-holiday-travel-forecast/.
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). “Montana Disaster and Emergency Survival Guide.” mdt.mt.gov. 10 December 2025 (Accessed). https://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/winter-maint/winter-survival.pdf.
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). “Winter Driving in Montana.” mdt.mt.gov. Fall 2023 (Published). https://www.mdt.mt.gov/other/webdata/external/maint/winter-driving-tips.pdf.
The Weather Channel. “Monthly Weather” (search for Trout Creek, Montana). weather.com. 10 December 2025 (Accessed). https://weather.com/weather/monthly (search for Trout Creek, Montana).