Snowy, icy, slushy roads continue around WA state. Tips for safe driving on slippery roads

With a wave of winter weather in the Pacific Northwest in February, drivers have been on roads covered in snow, slush and ice across Washington state.

Current forecasts show temperatures slowly warming across the state with an incoming Pineapple Express. The warming weather will be more on the west side, where temperatures are forecast to reach the low 60s next week in some areas like Olympia and Tacoma.

But other parts of the state, especially the mountainous areas and passes, are still seeing snow and ice.

Whether the roads you drive are slippery from melting snow, or slick from an overnight frost, driving in Washington state will likely continue to be a hassle through February.

With a decrease in road conditions comes an increase in traffic collisions and aggravated drivers. Subsequently, social media spaces dedicated to discussing local drivers are flooded with complaints.

So, what is the proper protocol for driving in adverse conditions that include snow and ice? When everyone has different opinions, what do the experts say? Here’s what we know.

Winter driving tips

According to AAA, winter weather and poor road conditions are a factor in almost half a million crashes and over 2,000 deaths each year across the country.

Lieutenant Dustin Drout, acting captain and public information officer with Washington State Patrol’s District 3, told McClatchy in a recent email that there’s a “clear correlation” between poor driving conditions and collision reports.

For example, on Feb. 12, there was no inclement weather or poor road conditions across District 3, which covers Yakima, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Garfield, Columbia, and Asotin counties). There were eight reported collisions, according to Drout.

But winter weather hit the next day, and on Feb. 13, there were 142 total reports of collisions. These numbers do not account for duplicate reports, and reflect only the number of calls, not separate collisions.

Drout said speed and following distance are two frequent contributing factors of collisions while there’s poor road conditions.

“Reducing driving speed allows for better traction and opportunity to react to hazards in the road, stopping or slowing traffic, or stop signs or traffic signals,” Drout stated.

Additionally, AAA recommends adjusting your speed. The Washington State Driver Guide says to adjust accordingly for slippery conditions, cut your speed in half when roads are snowy, and down to a crawl when roads are icy.

“Posted speed limits are established for the best roadway and driving conditions, and drivers must adjust their driving to meet the conditions they are facing in real time,” Drout continued.

In an effort to keep drivers cautious while driving in adverse weather, AAA has a handful of additional driving tips:

• Avoid the risk, stay home when possible
• Always completely clear snow and ice from your car
• Adjust your speed for conditions
• Keep pace with traffic
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly
• Increase your following distance to five or six seconds

If you must drive, be sure to completely clean off all your windows and the top of your car before hitting the road. You need to be able to see plainly out of every window in your car, so clumps of snow aren’t dropping onto the road during your drive.

If you see another driver whose windows have not been properly cleared off, the State Driver Guide recommends leaving extra space between them and your car.

While driving, if everyone else is slowing down for traffic conditions, you should too. Consistently driving faster – or slower – than other drivers causes hazards.

It’s also recommended to accelerate and decelerate slowly, and know our brakes well in order to provide steady pressure. It takes longer to stop, so avoid it if you can.

If you’re nervous about driving in the snow, and tend to slow down a bit more than everyone else, make sure you keep to the right. Not only is the right lane designated for slower vehicles, it’s always where snow plows start from, and will often have the most well-treated lane, according to Drout.

Per the state’s Driver Guide, you should pull over if there are five or more vehicles lined up behind you. Let them safely pass, then proceed at the speed you feel comfortable driving.

Drout also noted that drivers should avoid passing snow plows. The plows often have extending blades you may not see from your car, plus the snow plowing will reduce your visibility as you pass.

“Extreme caution should be used around plows and motorists should bear in mind the plows are out working because roadway conditions are less than ideal,” Drout stated.

Hills are particularly tricky with snowy conditions, and different cars will handle them better than others. In general, you don’t want to stop, nor do you want to apply extra gas and cause your wheels to spin out. Give a little gas before approaching the hill, and let that carry you over, so you can gradually slow down for the downhill.

Winter driving in Washington

The Driver Guide stresses using the best possible communication for the safest experience on the road. If you have to slow down, be aware of your lane position and leave extra space around your car.

You may have seen slower drivers turn on their hazard lights to warn other drivers of their reduced speed. While the Driver Guide doesn’t offer specific guidelines on this, Drout recommends against it.

Hazard lights should be used as a warning to other drivers when your car is in a hazardous location, like if you have to pull over to put chains on your tires. Most of the time, they shouldn’t be used when driving, as they camouflage your brake lights and turn signals.

If there is an impending hazard to warn other drivers of, you are permitted to activate your hazard lights while driving. Communicate turns and stoppages via hand signals in such scenarios, in order to best communicate with the drivers around you.

When it’s raining or snowing, turn your headlights on. But if it’s a particularly rough storm, use your low beams. Do not use your high beams, as these can reflect back on snow and ice, causing glare.

Be sure to monitor your tires, taking note of the air pressure and wear condition. Using proper, good-quality tires for the season can massively increase your safety.

“Standing water, snow, and/or ice (or a combination of all three) reduce the traction of even the best tires, and all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles don’t steer or stop any better on icy roads...” Drout told McClatchy. “Good tire tread depth improves traction and control, as well as using weather appropriate tires or equipment such as tire chains also improves control. Summer performance tires are not optimal for winter driving.”

If you start to skid, do not panic. This happens when your tires can’t grip the road, and it’s increasingly likely when roads are snowy and icy. Managing your speed can reduce your chance of skidding, according to the state’s Driver Guide.

When your car starts to skid, make sure you stay off the brake. Let your speed gradually decrease instead. Turn your steering wheel in the direction you want to go. When the car straightens out, slightly turn the wheel back the other way, to avoid swinging in the opposite direction and skidding again. Continue this back-and-forth until the car is under your control again.

Do you have any questions about driving in Washington state? Let us know here: