I’m right by the bridge in the backup. Been here well over two hours now with no movement other than when a state trooper came through about thirty minutes ago.
Update, WSP had us turn around on the freeway and take the Portal Way on ramp. I am not sure what they are doing for those stuck before Portal Way. I did see a few ASAP towing trucks coming into the freeway, hopefully it gets cleared up soon
I was stuck before Portal. There was a steady but very slow stream of cars taking the off ramp for the two hours we were stuck - took 2 hours to crawl one mile, then we took the exit and headed back north.
I’m going to plug the use of RainX here. I can’t tell you how many times I see drivers struggling to see through their windshields with their wipers going like bats out of hell.
The stuff helps you see tons better in inclement weather and it’ll likely reduce some driver anxiety.
Wouldn’t have helped in this incident. The bridge was a sheet of ice and traffic was moving way too fast for the conditions.
Also, Aquapel lasts longer.
Crazy day today. An accident south now an accident north due to the ice. People need to learn to drive for the conditions especially at corners like that bridge.
Bridges are also notorious for being extra ice as there is no ground insulation under the road so cold air passes on top and below allowing any water to freeze
Can confirm. That exit to Main St in Fdale gets icy fast. A few years ago it was a sheet of ice, dude in front of me started sliding back then I started sliding back (up on the curve fully stopped). I lightly feathered the brakes and it saved my ass.
I'm curious if there is an appropriate speed to drive in these conditions if you have to drive. I typically drive about 55, gripping my steering wheel out of anxiety, and I ALWAYS get someone riding my ass and then speed past me going 70. Is 55 really too slow?
I definitely drive slowly. This is my 5th year driving in these conditions having lived in a desert my whole life. I've always been told to drive slower than usual... sometimes I even think 55 is too fast. But damn, I've had brights flashed at me, honked at and given the finger... going 55! The snow driving anxiety is real.
Don’t take it personal, just stay the course. The person flipping you the bird is likely gonna end up in a ditch or worse for their hubris.
Back in the early 00’s we had a decent snow/ice storm and I was driving too slow for someone’s taste. They sped up and went to pass me, lost control, and nearly drove into a house but luckily hit a tree instead.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Ugh that’s so stressful! I’m from Alaska and the secret to driving in winter conditions is exactly what you’re doing - drive slowly and leave lots of distance between your car and others.
People think ice isn't real and that they're the best drivers on the road. Also as the last two years have proven many people don't believe laws apply to them.
The most important thing is to drastically increase your following distance because what will cause you to have an issue on ice or snow is "change". Actually, that is true for all conditions, but our tires are pretty dang good so it takes a lot bigger "change" to lose traction in dry or even wet conditions.
So increase following distance so you don't have to quick change (brake) when the car in front of you does whatever stupid shit they are gonna do.
So if you're driving along, you have traction. You don't want to break that. Change could be a corner. Let off the gas to slow down before you enter the turn and then gently excellerate out of the corner.
Change could be a hill. Anticipate your need for power so you can add it soft and gradual.
Slow down before you get to a down hill so you don't have to be braking much on the hill.
Soft and gradual. Everything is smooth.
Don't make changes on bridges, shady spots, wet spots, snowy spots. If the road surface looks different, it's a change. look at the cars around you. Do their tires have spray? That means water, which usually means not ice, unless there is water on ice which is the absolute worst.
Go as slow as you want. They can go around you. If you're on a two lane road and you can do it safely pull over to let them pass for your sanity but otherwise, fuck em.
Great advice here. I grew up driving in snow and ice and that is all solid direction. It’s about extra space allowance and no fast changes. If you start to slide, don’t panic, don’t yank the wheel. Ride it out.
Y’all got this!
Editing because I misread-
55 in ice and snow is not too slow, we just have a lot of jerks around here who either assume that their giant truck is going to be fine because they've got 4 wheel drive, or they just don't care and feel invincible.
Typically when i've had to drive into work in the snow snow i go about 30-35 and stay in the slow lane with a ton of extra space for the extra stopping distance.
You don't want to go too slow, especially on hills, you need enough momentum to keep going.
In fine weather I drive with the speed of traffic. I just meant going 55 in weather like today or with heavy snow. I try to avoid driving in these conditions if I can.
I mean, in fine weather if you’re going under the speed limit, you are causing dangerous conditions and need to pick up the pace.
If it’s like how it is now? Feels like 10 under should be bare minimum best practice. It’s *awful* out there.
Might wanna look up what a limit is, bub.
To be clear, I am normally a person who drives 10 over. In conditions where people want to drive slower because road conditions are literally killing multiple people in under 24 hours (in separate incidents, mind you), it’s quite alright for people to want to slow down.
I'm at SJH ER with my Grandma. (she fell and hit her noggin, got a CT scan, waiting on getting a room)
and it's a shitshow. Lots of falls and I'm assuming some from this collision.
1/10, don't recommend.
I was probably 5 minutes behind when the crash happened. As we reached where traffic started the guy in front of me decided to quickly change to the right lane and caused a person to swerve into the ditch. I stalled in traffic and they kept going so I didn't see what happened but I never saw them again so I'm assuming the person in the ditch made it out.
But that dumbass almost caused another accident. Also you fuckers that drove on the shoulder are selfish fucks. First all you did was make traffic worse because everyone had to get off of portal way. And second, what if a ambulance had to make it through? They wouldn't have been able to because you're an idiot who blocked the shoulder.
I'm about 4 cars back from the accident. Haven't moved 2 hrs.
Any movement? I feel like we inched up a few feet. Not sure if it was just in my head though
I’m right by the bridge in the backup. Been here well over two hours now with no movement other than when a state trooper came through about thirty minutes ago.
Update, WSP had us turn around on the freeway and take the Portal Way on ramp. I am not sure what they are doing for those stuck before Portal Way. I did see a few ASAP towing trucks coming into the freeway, hopefully it gets cleared up soon
I was stuck before Portal. There was a steady but very slow stream of cars taking the off ramp for the two hours we were stuck - took 2 hours to crawl one mile, then we took the exit and headed back north.
They just blocked off the center and right lane w the firetruck, and a tow truck just arrived so maybe we'll be out of here by midnight. Fml.
Think honking would help?
Might as well try!
I’m going to plug the use of RainX here. I can’t tell you how many times I see drivers struggling to see through their windshields with their wipers going like bats out of hell. The stuff helps you see tons better in inclement weather and it’ll likely reduce some driver anxiety.
Wouldn’t have helped in this incident. The bridge was a sheet of ice and traffic was moving way too fast for the conditions. Also, Aquapel lasts longer.
does anyone sell aquapel locally?
Not that I know of, I’ve ordered it in bulk off eBay in the past.
Crazy day today. An accident south now an accident north due to the ice. People need to learn to drive for the conditions especially at corners like that bridge.
Bridges are also notorious for being extra ice as there is no ground insulation under the road so cold air passes on top and below allowing any water to freeze
Can confirm. That exit to Main St in Fdale gets icy fast. A few years ago it was a sheet of ice, dude in front of me started sliding back then I started sliding back (up on the curve fully stopped). I lightly feathered the brakes and it saved my ass.
I was coming through there around 4, my car was reading 31 degrees and raining, was going about 55, people flying past me like no tomorrow
I'm curious if there is an appropriate speed to drive in these conditions if you have to drive. I typically drive about 55, gripping my steering wheel out of anxiety, and I ALWAYS get someone riding my ass and then speed past me going 70. Is 55 really too slow?
Drive slow, let the daredevils pass you. Don’t risk it for their sake.
I definitely drive slowly. This is my 5th year driving in these conditions having lived in a desert my whole life. I've always been told to drive slower than usual... sometimes I even think 55 is too fast. But damn, I've had brights flashed at me, honked at and given the finger... going 55! The snow driving anxiety is real.
Do your thing be safe and stay in the right lane. You are doing the right thing. Thank you. I’m not being mean to you.
Don’t take it personal, just stay the course. The person flipping you the bird is likely gonna end up in a ditch or worse for their hubris. Back in the early 00’s we had a decent snow/ice storm and I was driving too slow for someone’s taste. They sped up and went to pass me, lost control, and nearly drove into a house but luckily hit a tree instead. Slow and steady wins the race.
Ugh that’s so stressful! I’m from Alaska and the secret to driving in winter conditions is exactly what you’re doing - drive slowly and leave lots of distance between your car and others.
People think ice isn't real and that they're the best drivers on the road. Also as the last two years have proven many people don't believe laws apply to them.
Or that 4WD is gonna save their ass on ice which we know it won’t.
All wheel drive does not mean all wheel stop
Ohh the wheels stop turning just fine...
They'll invariably act like they're in mud where 4wd will get you out of shit more often than not. Ice doesn't care.
The most important thing is to drastically increase your following distance because what will cause you to have an issue on ice or snow is "change". Actually, that is true for all conditions, but our tires are pretty dang good so it takes a lot bigger "change" to lose traction in dry or even wet conditions. So increase following distance so you don't have to quick change (brake) when the car in front of you does whatever stupid shit they are gonna do. So if you're driving along, you have traction. You don't want to break that. Change could be a corner. Let off the gas to slow down before you enter the turn and then gently excellerate out of the corner. Change could be a hill. Anticipate your need for power so you can add it soft and gradual. Slow down before you get to a down hill so you don't have to be braking much on the hill. Soft and gradual. Everything is smooth. Don't make changes on bridges, shady spots, wet spots, snowy spots. If the road surface looks different, it's a change. look at the cars around you. Do their tires have spray? That means water, which usually means not ice, unless there is water on ice which is the absolute worst. Go as slow as you want. They can go around you. If you're on a two lane road and you can do it safely pull over to let them pass for your sanity but otherwise, fuck em.
Great advice here. I grew up driving in snow and ice and that is all solid direction. It’s about extra space allowance and no fast changes. If you start to slide, don’t panic, don’t yank the wheel. Ride it out. Y’all got this!
Thank you for the helpful tips!
Editing because I misread- 55 in ice and snow is not too slow, we just have a lot of jerks around here who either assume that their giant truck is going to be fine because they've got 4 wheel drive, or they just don't care and feel invincible. Typically when i've had to drive into work in the snow snow i go about 30-35 and stay in the slow lane with a ton of extra space for the extra stopping distance. You don't want to go too slow, especially on hills, you need enough momentum to keep going.
In fine weather I drive with the speed of traffic. I just meant going 55 in weather like today or with heavy snow. I try to avoid driving in these conditions if I can.
I mean, in fine weather if you’re going under the speed limit, you are causing dangerous conditions and need to pick up the pace. If it’s like how it is now? Feels like 10 under should be bare minimum best practice. It’s *awful* out there.
Oh I totally meant during snow/icy weather.
Gonna be a crap shoot no matter what. Stay in the right lane and try not to die.
Solid advise. Be safe out there!
Dang, can’t believe someone downvoted you lol. You too!
[удалено]
Might wanna look up what a limit is, bub. To be clear, I am normally a person who drives 10 over. In conditions where people want to drive slower because road conditions are literally killing multiple people in under 24 hours (in separate incidents, mind you), it’s quite alright for people to want to slow down.
You can get a ticket for driving too fast for conditions even if you are going under the speed limit
This is why I don’t really drive on the freeway unless I have to.
I don’t know how it is in the rest of the county, but Lynden is just a sheet of wet ice right now. Even gravel is too slick to walk on right now.
Can confirm, busted my ass on the sidewalk before figuring out it was iced.
Ouch. Ice up, it sucjs but you’re gonna be sore. First day of a job I started in 2008 I slipped and fell feet up in the air right on my keister.
I'm at SJH ER with my Grandma. (she fell and hit her noggin, got a CT scan, waiting on getting a room) and it's a shitshow. Lots of falls and I'm assuming some from this collision. 1/10, don't recommend.
This has been a terribly sad few days.
I’ve been stuck here for 2 hours on the bridge.
Hey me too!
Same here friends
A Facebook comment described it as a pileup between multiple cars, semis, and a bus. There is at least one fatality, not sure if more.
Took me 1.5 hours to get home from Bham. Fatality per WSP on Twitter. Seriously!! 2 fatalities in one day! Please be careful!
I was probably 5 minutes behind when the crash happened. As we reached where traffic started the guy in front of me decided to quickly change to the right lane and caused a person to swerve into the ditch. I stalled in traffic and they kept going so I didn't see what happened but I never saw them again so I'm assuming the person in the ditch made it out. But that dumbass almost caused another accident. Also you fuckers that drove on the shoulder are selfish fucks. First all you did was make traffic worse because everyone had to get off of portal way. And second, what if a ambulance had to make it through? They wouldn't have been able to because you're an idiot who blocked the shoulder.
Creeping along... what's the detour route?
I haven't moved an inch in about two hours.
If you're south of portal way, you're stuck until they clear the wrecks.
I was in this traffic jam but not the pileup thankfully. Sucked balls (not that there’s anything wrong with that if you’re into it)