(Images courtesy of KOMO 4 News)
The aftermath of a heavy snow often includes cars left stuck in dangerous places on our roads and then abandoned by their drivers.
There were vehicles left all over our area after Tuesday night’s dumping of snow, many, says Washington State Trooper Kelsey Harding, in lanes or too close to those fog lines that separate the shoulder from ramps and freeway lanes. “We’ve also seen plenty of vehicles in the ditch, too,” Harding says, “Vehicles that lost control while driving and then pulled to the shoulder to stop, they actually went into the ditch.”
Harding says they know it’s hard to get a tow truck at times like this because they’re so busy, so she says the State Patrol has to tow cars to make way for snow plows or sand and salt trucks or to keep those vehicles from getting hit. Harding says, “People do return in the morning, but sometimes you’re not returning to your vehicle being there because we towed it or the fact that you returned to your vehicle and it’s damaged because it was in a bad location.”
Trooper Harding says make sure your car is ready for snow driving, like with new tires or chains. Harding says you definitely need to drive a lot slower and don’t slam on your brakes because when you lock your brakes in snow or ice, it’s a pretty sure bet you’ll slide out of control. She suggests thinking back to your driver training or refer to the Department of Licensing driver guide so you know how to deal with a skid. You can find that information on page 132 of the guide. Harding also says if you don’t think you can handle driving in the snow, you’re better off staying home.