Northwest truck driver shares winter weather frustrations

Snow means a lot of things to a lot of people, but if there is any common denominator for adults it’s the dreaded thought of hitting the road during winter weather.

A truck driver from Kent is no exception.

“Personally, I can’t wait,” the trucker, identified as “Aspiring Trucker” on Reddit, wrote. “I love the snow.

Related: Forecasters issue advisory for snow across Puget Sound

“However, I hate seeing how Seattle reacts to winter weather. Particularly, I hate seeing how Seattle drivers react to winter conditions.”

It’s a sentiment many drivers can relate to, even during light dusting of snow, which is a possibility between Sunday evening and Monday. KIRO 7 meteorologist Morgan Palmer says that while amounts look minimal, data supports at least some lowland snow showers when cold air arrives and drops even daytime temperatures down to the 30s.

If that happens, it’s almost guaranteed to create chaos on ice.

For “Aspiring Trucker,” it means dealing with drivers either ill-equipped or unaware. Here are some of his top pet peeves for winter driving:

Headlights

Drivers who neglect to turn their headlights on while traveling in winter weather to increase visibility make it tough for those situated higher to see their vehicles.

“Think of it from a truckers point of view. I sit up higher than you, I take longer to stop than you, and you are sharing the interstate with me, often bumper to bumper,” the trucker writes. “Wouldn’t you want to make sure you are as visible as possible just in case something bad happens? When it is snowing or raining hard, and all I see in front of me is a sudden flash of a brake light, you’re gonna have a bad time.”

Tailgating

In slick conditions, it’s important for drivers to keep their distances from others. Refusing to leave space while the road is slick is a quick way to start a pileup.

“You might think you know how your car stops, but wait until you’re on top of black ice and the person you are following decides to brake-check you,” the trucker writes.

Be prepared

“Aspiring Trucker” says drivers heading over the passes shouldn’t be ashamed to pull over if need be.

“You’d rather wait it out in a hotel room than wait it out inside of your car, upside down, with snow piling on top of you while you wait for a rescue vehicle to arrive,” he writes.

He notes drivers should not only have tire chains but also know how to put them on.

And don’t forget to pack emergency supplies, just in case.

Off/on-ramps

These are sometimes not tended to as well as main roadways. The trucker asks that drivers take these slower than usual.

Some final thoughts: Make sure to signal, do not underestimate the mountain passes, stay up to date with the latest road conditions, and, of course, give trucks more space.

Snow this week

As noted above, there is a relatively low chance of snow in and around Seattle. If we do, it’s because snow levels have plunged to below 500 feet. Palmer says it could be cold enough to snow near sea level Monday morning.

However, the “wild card” is the moisture.

“A follow-up disturbance moving in from the northwest Sunday night will be key to lowland snow potential Monday morning,” Palmer says.

“Light” is the word Palmer uses to describe snow accumulation on Monday.

Follow @https://twitter.com/mynorthwest