Seattle snow storm = car crashes!

[bhskittykatt]

Lots of car crashes and....a BUS CRASH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhZCyQ3emQg

Yeah...our streets up here (2 hr north of Seattle) are about as bad in places, but I'm thankful we don't have as many busy hills as Seattle does. I know a lot of people down there, though, so hopefully they're driving carefully!

[blas]

I can't remember if it was last year or the year before, but Grandpa was staying with us sometime during the winter (he lives on an island about an hour or so from Seattle) and he had to stay a few extra days because the roads in Seattle and especially by the airport were impassable.

[chrislb]

Wouldn't surprise me. My brother lives in eatonville and he said they are snowed in.

[draggar]

While most of these were unavoidable a couple of the cars were driving WAY to fast for icy roads.

But - people need to know - just like you don't floor the brakes, you don't floor the gas in these conditions, you'll slide all over.

4WD and AWD do help in these conditions, too.

I remember one winter in NH we had a snow storm that was unexpected came in so fast and severe that it took me 3 hours to drive 3 miles home. (I think it was 1995 or 1996?).

[Squeaksmyalias]

I have an Great Aunt in Sequim, she ended up with about 10 inches of snow and if I recall correctly they don't have many plows.

[bhskittykatt]

I have an Great Aunt in Sequim, she ended up with about 10 inches of snow and if I recall correctly they don't have many plows.

They only have an average rainfall of 16 inches. They're normally quite dry in the rainshadow. So yeah, they're probably like us and borrowing plows from the county/state (my town owns exactly one snowplow).

[Squeaksmyalias]

I think when I was there a couple years back she said they had one. That's it, just one. So for someone coming from New England that was mind boggling.
I miss that area it was beautiful. Seattle was very nice too, I have a feeling I've been in your area bhskittykatt, when I was in Seattle my family took me all over the place. I love exploring and they were happy to take me.

[Frantic Freddie]

4WD and AWD do help in these conditions, too.

Only if you know what you're doing.Too many people think that 4WD or AWD gives them dry-weather traction,that ain't the case.Tires play a role too,along with limited-slip or locking differentials (on ice you're better off with LS).Chains & studded tires help,but it's still possible to lose traction with them.

We're Jeep people (currently a Grand Cherokee & a Patriot Limited) & live in a semi-rural area,it's fun to go snowdrift bustin'!

[Chromatix]

Studded tyres have the greatest effect on ice, which of course is always the worst case for traction. It's unfortunate that in the US, concern about extra road wear from studs seems to trump the extra safety from allowing their use.

[TheSHAD0W]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u6u2wlzv40

Similar situation some years ago...

[bhskittykatt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u6u2wlzv40

Similar situation some years ago...

I remember that. Hubby was living in Salem, OR (1 hr south of Portland), where they got ONE inch of snow, and apparently everyone went batsh*t nuts!

[roothorick]

I once goofed up and spun sideways on a two-lane road. In front of an ambulance with its lights on.

I tried to pull into the other lane but the snow decided I'm not going over there. Cue the hilarious scene of my fullsize, sideways, with a lit up ambulance blaring its horn at me.

[pitmonkey]

It is just as bad when they drive too slow. On a hill you need the motion to get to the top.

[TheSHAD0W]

Wee!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntgwphg0hQ0

[MoonCat]

No salt trucks, huh? Of course those would have slid around, too. Can't win. When it's that bad, you need a driving ban. Doesn't stop everyone from going out, but it helps.