Living in or around a metropolitan area has its perks and downfalls. A consistent gripe for city dwellers and suburbanites across the nation is traffic. We polled our followers on Facebook for the worst choke points in and around the Twin Cities metro.

Here are some of their “yikes-ugh-nightmare” spots to avoid:

Last month, Minneapolis declared the first snow emergency of the season. It was reported that 670 cars in the city were impounded and 476 cars were towed in neighboring St. Paul. Parking enforcement officers also issued 1,306 tickets during the snow emergency period.

While snow emergencies are called to allow plow to clear the roads, vehicle owners are often taken off guard as to the parking rules and regulations, resulting in a missing car the next morning.

Did you know that under-inflated tires can cost you anywhere from 3-5 cents per gallon at the pump? Knowing how to properly gauge your car’s tires will not only help you save on fuel and replacement costs, but will also help keep you, your passengers, and others safe on the road.

Handing over the keys to a teenager with a newly minted license can be a harrowing experience. One way to help ease the nerves (for the driver and parent, respectively) is to prepare your teenager with appropriate driver education training.

In Minnesota, teenagers applying for their first license are required to complete classroom training prior to applying for a learners permit. Behind-the-wheel requirements include at least 6 hours of training with a certified driver’s education instructor and at least 50 hours of supervised practice with a licensed adult. Should a parent or guardian take a parent awareness class, the teenager’s driving requirement drops to 40 hours.  

Questioning unusual smells may not be everyone’s favorite hobby; however, ignoring your nose when it comes to your car can be costly. Identifying certain smells and acting promptly is one way to avoid complicated mechanical issues.

Smells to be aware of: