SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — As the official start of winter approaches, the Washington State Department of Transportation is reporting more spinouts and crashes on Snoqualmie Pass because of inexperienced drivers not equipped with chains or snow tires.
“You’re not gonna learn how to winter drive from a YouTube video or your phone,” noted WSDOT spokesperson Summer Derry. “It takes years and years of practice and experience.”
As a result of ill-prepared and inexperienced drivers, Snoqualmie Pass has already been closed a total of 30 hours this fall, which WSDOT says doesn’t normally happen until late December.
“We have certainly seen (ill-prepared driving) on both ends, between commercial vehicles, freight vehicles, and regular passenger cars,” Derry told KIRO 7.
For those who are prepared, there are plenty of pent-up annoyances.
“All I can think is that I’ll see (reckless drivers) in a few miles, they’ll be stuck in a ditch or in an accident,” said driver Andrew Kolibes.
Just this past weekend, KIRO 7 caught the aftermath of a multihour closure at the pass.
Now more than ever, WSDOT says it is time for inexperienced drivers to stay prepared in slick, slippery conditions.
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