Ice-safety guidelines

General ice-thickness safety guidelines for new, clear ice, courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR):

• 2" or less — STAY OFF
• 4" — Ice fishing or other activities on foot
• 5" — Snowmobile or ATV
• 8" to 12" — Car or small pickup
• 12" to 15" — Medium truck

Note: These guidelines are for new, clear, solid ice only. White ice or "snow ice" is only about half as strong as new clear ice. Double the above thickness guidelines when traveling on white ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.

More ice-safety info:

• Ice safety
• Ice thickness guideline
• Traveling on ice
• Survival plan
• Ice rescue claws: making and using
• Vehicle escape
• Helping someone else
• 28-page Hypothermia brochure 
• 2-page Danger Thin Ice brochure 
• 30-second ice-safety radio PSA
• 31-minute ice-safety podcast  

Source: This article was adapted from material provided courtesy of the Minnesota Department of  Natural Resources (MDNR)