
How Thick Should Michigan’s Ice Be Before Driving On It?
Do you ever have intrusive thoughts? We all do, but have they ever led you to wonder how thick the ice needs to be for you to drive your car onto a frozen lake and make ice donuts? If you have, don't listen. Before safely driving, skating, or even walking on a frozen lake in Michigan, there are many things to consider (also, even though driving on safe ice is legal, doing donuts anywhere in Michigan can result in a reckless driving citation).
Michigan Lake Ice Safety's #1 Rule
Rule #1 of ice safety in Michigan and anywhere else is: If you don't know, stay off the ice. I grew up on a lake and knew that the ice thickness varied depending on which bay I was in and which shorelines had thinner ice.
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While a chart may say the ice is safe at (insert inches here), only a local can tell if the lake has a current running through it that may make that area's ice thin and, therefore, dangerous. Bait and tackle shops are a wealth of information on ice safety in Michigan. But, if you don't know, stay off the ice.
When Lake Ice Is "Safe" for You, Your Toys, and Your Car
It isn't easy to find two sources that agree on ice safety. For instance, the US Army Corps of Engineers says 2 inches of ice on a "sound" body of water (no currents) is safe for a single person, whereas the Old Farmer's Almanac recommends 3. Knowing how long the ice has been there and the temperature for the previous few days, if you don't know, stay off the ice.

It's also essential to test the ice every hundred feet or so. Shallow areas can be warmer than deeper areas, resulting in thin ice. Never assume the ice is the same thickness throughout the entire body of water.
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