Here’s the press release from the Washington State Department of Transportation

WSDOT: Gas prices and the recession can’t take all the credit for reduced congestion
OLYMPIA – Washington drivers are spending less time stuck in traffic despite growing vehicle volumes during peak commute periods in urban areas, according to a national study released to news media today. WSDOT’s own data crunchers attribute the trend to the declining economy, but contend that smart transportation investments and operational strategies are what will keep travel times reasonable well after the economy recovers.  
The 2009 Urban Mobility Report, a national study released today by the Texas Transportation Institute, announces that congestion is declining or leveling off across the country, and attributes the cause to rising gas prices and the declining economy. WSDOT agrees that commutes are improving, but draws other conclusions as to the cause.
Puget Sound region travel trends are somewhat different than those found nationally. The TTI report draws from 2007 data. For this period, Washington’s economy was still very robust and added jobs. Our own congestion data shows continued increases in travel times for key Puget Sound corridors in 2007, although the increase is at a lesser rate than in previous years.
The data supports that congestion is improving in part because of Moving Washington, WSDOT’s program for addressing congestion. Moving Washington is a three-part strategy comprised of adding highway capacity strategically, operating the system efficiently and managing demand.
 
“We’re fighting congestion with safety improvements, construction projects, advanced freeway operations and providing transportation options,” said State Traffic Engineer Ted Trepanier. “While it is clear that many factors influence congestion, there is no question that our strategies are making a positive impact.” he said.
WSDOT analyzed on seven major Seattle-area commuting corridors in the first six months of 2008, as gas prices surged above $4 per gallon. While it’s true that Washington drivers used 63 million fewer gallons of fuel in the first six months of 2008, peak period volumes still continued to grow on these key commuter routes. The most notable changes in traffic volumes were observed on weekends and evenings as drivers reduced discretionary trips, changed destinations or cut trips to save money.
Although congestion remains heavy on several corridors, travel times on six of seven key Puget Sound corridors either improved or remained level for the first half of 2008, compared to 2007.
Four of seven major corridors saw increased traffic volumes during peak periods, yet six corridors experienced better travel times as traffic flow improved and disruptions declined. Improved travel times through some of the region’s busiest corridors suggest that WSDOT’s congestion relief strategies and their associated projects, combined with higher gas prices and rising transit ridership, had a positive effect on the performance of these corridors in the first six months of 2008.
WSDOT is currently delivering the largest capital construction program in our state’s history, including hundreds of safety and congestion relief projects funded by the 2003 and 2005 gas tax, worth $6.5 billion. As of June 30, WSDOT has completed 192 of 391 projects with an additional 83 projects currently under construction. Combined, these projects represent 70% of the total number of projects for both the Nickel and TPA programs.
WSDOT publishes an annual congestion report that provides detailed travel time and traffic delay analysis and highlights “Before and After” case studies of its safety and congestion relief projects. It measures the results from the driver’s perspective for each completed project.
In King County, WSDOT widened the freeway and improved interchanges on I-405 between Kirkland and Bothell.  This $82 million project, the first of the multi-stage Kirkland Nickel project, was completed in October 2007. Based on travel speeds before and after the project was completed, drivers’ speeds have increased by 16%, from 37 mph to 43 mph. The Tukwila to Bellevue morning commute improved by 12 minutes in part due to new WSDOT auxiliary lane on I-405, opened in early 2009.
WSDOT recently completed one of the largest construction projects ever delivered in Snohomish County, the $263.4 million I-5 Everett HOV and Freeway Expansion project. This project combined added capacity, safety and operational improvements by adding HOV lanes to demonstrate that our Moving Washington strategy can reap big benefits. Before the project began in 2005, afternoon commuters headed northbound on I-5 between 128th Street and Marine View Drive spent up to 18 minutes moving through this eight mile stretch of highway.  After crews opened the new lanes in May 2008, commuters shaved their commute to 10 minutes. Without congestion, travelers can drive through this section of I-5 in eight minutes.
In Clark County, WSDOT widened two miles of I-5 between Salmon Creek and the I-205 interchange. This $44 million project was one of several aimed at improving traffic flow in the I-5 corridor between the Main Street interchange in Vancouver and the I-205 junction.
Result: Drivers’ travel speeds have improved 19% from 42 mph to 50 mph.
For more information about Moving Washington, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/movingwashington. For our detailed annual congestion report and the most recent six-month, incremental traffic trend analysis folio go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability/.

When you think of concierge service, images of the helpful attendant at the Bellagio or the Four Seasons comes to mind. Did you need last minute tickets to Cirque Du Soleil? No problem, just call the concierge and he can hook it up!  

That may be true for hotel service, but when it comes to auto insurance it probably doesn’t happen very often. However, if you’re a Progessive Insurance customer, you can get concierge-like service, without having to tip. It’s the Progressive Service Center.

The Ohio based insurer goes the extra mile in making things easier for their customers after an accident. While most insurance companies make you call the agent, who then makes you call an 800 number, and after that it’s more calls for you to get quotes and such, for Progressive policy holders it can be as easy as one call. For customers in Seattle, it can be as easy just dropping the vehicle off in Lynnwood and letting someone else do the dirty work. 

 “The focus is prompt, quality service for our customers,” explains Colby Smith, Progressive Service Center Manager in Lynnwood. “We feel this type of service separates us from the competition. People really seem to enjoy it because they find it so easy.

 Considering there are only 54 Progressive service centers across the nation, with the Lynnwood location being the only one in Washington, Progressive customers in the Seattle area are treated like VIP’s. While the service center people will do the majority of the hassle-work for you, the best thing about these service centers are the costs. There is none. There are no out of pocket costs.

 “There’s no extra charge for the service center,” says Smith. “It’s already built in. Anybody with a (Progressive) policy who’s been in an accident can use it. Customers will get a quality repair promptly, and we’ll ensure customer satisfaction.”

 But don’t think you can just drop in on any given Saturday to get the oil changed on the convertible you’ve had covered in the garage all winter. The Progressive service centers are strictly for accidents claims. And if these service centers are as popular with customers as they say they are, Progressive could start climbing the local auto insurance charts. They’re currently the 6^th largest auto insurer in Washington State.

Now they just need to find a way to get those Cirque Du Soleil tickets, that’d be real VIP! 

Locate a Progressive Service Center around the country

While we recommend a defensive driving class to truly learn defensive driving, here are ten easy tips on how to improve your own defensive skills every day:

1. Minimize Distractions: Ironically, the person that is the greatest threat to your own safety on the road is yourself. Cell phones, music, passengers or munching on a burger are examples of distractions in the car. The NHTSA and various scientific studies have all shown that distractions are the number one reason behind car accidents and fatalities on the road. Teen drivers in particular suffer the most from distractions and incidentally, are the most accident prone.

Reality check: We at Seattle Auto are human and understand that you’re going to talk illegally on your cell phone (yes, we’re talking to you Seattle residents), rock out to your iPod or have the occasional taco in the car. It just happens. What you can do, is limit yourself to one distraction and tone it down. So don’t talk on the phone and stuff french fries at the same time, but wait until your call is over to eat. While you’re talking, focus on the road first rather than your phone call – and better yet, make the conversation short and call back later if necessary.

2. High Eyes Driving: Race drivers use a technique called “high eyes” that call for the driver (you) to focus not on the car in front of you, but on the road horizon. Many drivers become fixated on the car in front of them and go into auto-pilot mode, braking when the car in front brakes, accelerating when the car in front accelerates and so on. The problem is that in a panic stop situation, if the driver in front wasn’t paying attention to begin with – guess what – you’re probably going to eat the end of his bumper. Both 520 and I-90 have little to no blind corners, so it’s no excuse to suddenly find yourself slamming on the brakes because you “didn’t see” the traffic jam up ahead.

By keeping your eyes high up, you’ll be looking at the entire traffic pattern up ahead instead. This gives you ample time to react to a sudden emergency up front – even giving you time to decide if you need to perform a quick lane toss or start slowly braking to give the guy behind you a warning.

3. Minimize Lane Changes: It’s rare for a car to be rear ended while traveling the speed limit in it’s own lane. It is common for accidents to happen while a car is changing lanes; perhaps by suddenly cutting off a car, swiping another vehicle in it’s blind spot or two cars merging into the same lane. By choosing a lane and sticking with it for the majority of your trip, you will remove a great deal of the factors that are known to cause accidents on the highway.

4. Spot Fast Lane Changers: The flip side to not being a lane changer, is that you must be highly aware of the drivers who are. These are often the drivers who dangerously dart in and out of traffic, cutting off and swerving around drivers in the process.

Regularly monitor your rear and side view mirrors to be on the lookout for drivers that are approaching rapidly from behind or the lane next to you. These are bad drivers that will often cut in front or around you at the last second, narrowly missing your car. Deal with these drivers by maintaining your speed or even slowing down if you feel they are going to cut in front of you. Don’t become a vigilante and speed up to box them into the adjacent lane; you don’t want an erratic driver who likely has road rage tailing you on the freeway. Simply let them pass and be happy they are away from your car.

5. Spot Blind Lane Changers: Not only are there the jerks driving recklessly, but you have to worry about the absent minded driver that never checks their blind spot before changing into your lane. These guys are actually harder to spot than the jerk drivers, because it’s harder to predict when these types drivers are about to change lanes.

The best way to avoid these drivers is to not drive in their blind spot to begin with. If you ever find yourself in the another car’s blind spot, you should either A) accelerate so that your car is parallel to the other vehicle so they can easily see you or B) slow down so that you are tailing the vehicle and no longer next to it. Option B is the more preferable method depending on your car’s positioning and you should only use option A if you are already close to the front hood of the other car.

It’s hard to keep by this rule in heavy traffic, because you’ll always be next to a car, but you can usually identify a driver that is about to change lanes if the driver looks in their side view mirror, the car has just merged from an on-ramp, the driver is suddenly accelerating or decelerating or if the car is slowly starting to drift toward one lane. With practice, you can become very good at figuring out when another car is about to lane change and avoid being in their blind spot when it happens.

6. Don’t Make Eye Contact: Studies show that many road rage incidents occur when drivers make eye contact with each other and a situation ensues. As a defensive driver, you need to realize that road rage drivers are often looking to instigate trouble, rather than simply reacting to perceived sleights against them. Making eye contact with these types of drivers is playing into their twisted game, so you want to avoid getting into a petty fight with someone driving a 2,000 pound vehicle; regardless of who is right or wrong.

So next time you see that tail gating jerk come next to your car and pace you, just ignore them and don’t give them the pleasure they’re looking for. Simply drive on as usual and they will eventually leave you alone.

7. Look Both Ways at Intersections: Intersections are inherently dangerous places and the scene of many t-bone accidents. Most drivers, upon seeing a green light, amble straight on through without a second thought; and that’s usually when the driver running the red light smashes into their side.

If you are ever the first car at the intersection when the light is turning green, you should be extremely aware of your left, then right side traffic as you make your way through. I’ve almost been hit twice this way and both times slammed on my brakes before the other car barely clipped my front-end. Any police officer will tell you that the amount of drivers who run red lights is astounding – enough to make you think twice and look twice before going through an intersection.

8. Know When and How to Swerve: This is probably the absolutely hardest point to get across, because it honestly takes hours of experience behind the steering wheel to learn. The concept of swerving is applied to emergency situations where you don’t have enough time to avoid an accident (which is why we have rule #1 above).

If for example, a child suddenly runs into the busy street 20 feet in front of your car, it will be physically impossible for your car to stop in that amount of distance while traveling at 40mph. In that specific situation, your only option is to try and swerve and steer clear of the object in front of the car as fast as you can. This same principle applies to a sudden wreck on the highway, fallen tree, deer or any other danger that takes you by surprise.

To properly swerve (also called a “lane toss”), you need to be certain that A) the lane you’re swerving into is empty B) your car can handle the maneuver and C) you correct your swerve immediately afterward so you don’t end up on the side of the road. Item A can be achieved by constantly being aware of your surroundings, but for B and C, you can only understand those by taking your car out to an empty parking lot and practicing for a few hours with cones. That- or you can take a defensive driving class.

9. Get Away From Bad Drivers: You should always do your best to keep a healthy distance between yourself and other bad drivers on the road. Problematic drivers include: drunks, speeders, tail gaters, road ragers, lane changers, extremely slow drivers and any other erratic behavior. Most of the time, this involves switching lanes and slowing down so that a speeder or drunk can pass you safely. You never want erratic drivers behind you because there is always the potential of getting rear ended.

In other scenarios, if you see a erratic driver and need to pass, make sure you do it quickly and safely as possible – trying to keep a lane between you and them if possible. If you cannot keep a distance in front of the car, due to traffic or other reasons, try to stay a distance behind the other car and never drive directly next to it. You should also report erratic driving to the Washington State Highway Patrol or the Seattle Police department (you can call 911 directly) as the police will be on the lookout for erratic or drunk drivers if enough reports come in.

10. Don’t Follow Too Closely: Saving one of the best tips for last, don’t follow too closely behind the car in front of you. Always give at least 2-3 second of buffer room. Experts will tell you 4 seconds, although this author’s personal opinion is that it actually invites other drivers to cut into the lane in front of you. If you drive an SUV however, you must make this at least a 3 second rule because your vehicle is heavy and takes much longer to come to a complete stop than passenger cars.

While this may sound like a tip that applies to simply being a better driver, this tip actually has defensive driving principles for emergency situations as well. The reason is that in the event of a panic stop in the lane up ahead, you will ideally have buffer room to brake and stop. This helps the driver behind you as well because it aids in their reaction time and stopping distance – a big plus if they haven’t been paying attention, are slow to react or drive a vehicle with long braking distance (like a SUV).

We hope you enjoyed these quick tips on defensive driving. If you are interested in getting professional training behind the wheel, we recommend you visit any one of the defensive driving courses throughout the Seattle area.

If you’ve ever uttered this phrase after a car accident, chances are you weren’t happy about it. Surprisingly this happens a lot in the state of Washington.

According to the Insurance Research Council, in 2007 Washington had the 10th highest uninsured motorist rate in the entire country. The national average for uninsured motorists was at a rate of 13.8% in 2007, with the state of Washington owning a rate of 16%.

But why? According to those in the insurance industry, it comes down to jobs and the economy.

“There’s a strong correlation between the uninsured motorist and unemployment,” cites Darrin Sanger, Communications Director of the Northwest Insurance Council. “And according to the study, with national unemployment rates going up, so are uninsured rates. With all those rates going up, we can expect overall insurance rates to go up as well.”

Insurance rates are based upon stats and history generated from research studies. Insurance companies use these numbers to set what they charge in their rates. Those who drive without insurance make a significant impact on those overall rates.

“Uninsured and under insured motorists cost insured motorists over $80 million in Washington state, claims Sanger. “It’s something we all pay for.”

What’s the solution if you’re involved with someone without auto insurance and you don’t have adequate coverage?  Small claims court or cash settlements are the most likely solutions. But in any loss the NW Insurance Council encourages drivers to fill out an accident/police report, take pictures, and get information from the other drivers, and witnesses.

“Contact your insurance provider if there’s been any accident,” says Sanger. “They can tell you all you need to know about rates and how they handle uninsured motorists.”

Top 5 Uninsured Motorists States for 2007
1. New Mexico
2. Mississippi
3. Alabama
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
*10.  Washington

To find out more about auto insurance rates check out the Northwest Insurance Council website.

“There’s a name for these individuals who sell without a license,” begins Lewis Dennie, “they’re called curbstoners.” Dennie is the regional manager of the Washington Department of Licensing Fraud and Complaint Investigations Unit, whose job is to look into complaints filed by consumers and legitimate car dealers about unlicensed dealers operating outside the law. In Washington, any individual that sells more than four cars per year or sells a car that they don’t own is required to obtain a dealer’s permit.

“A high percentage of unlicensed dealers buy insurance destroyed vehicles,” says Dennie. “The dealers buy these cars for a few hundred dollars, do a few cosmetic repairs and then sell them on a vacant lot. There is a high chance of structural damage and odometer rollback. The car may have a deployed airbag with a disabled sensor so the airbag warning doesn’t show up.” In addition to vehicles unfit to drive, Dennie says that some of the vehicles may not even have a title, which means there are situations where a buyer can purchase a vehicle and end up with a vehicle that cannot be registered.

One particular horror story along these lines involved a dealer in the Tri-Cities that was buying abandoned vehicles from Oregon and selling them to unwitting consumers for $1,500 to $2,000 after some purely cosmetic repairs. The warning sensors on these cars were then disabled to trick customers into thinking the cars were in running condition. Buyers soon realized that their newly purchased cars were not as advertised, with some dying the very next day or falling apart weeks later. Luckily, nobody was hurt and the dealer was caught, prosecuted and fined to the tune of $24,000.

In order to avoid these unscrupulous dealers, it’s important to know where they hand out. In our feature series on Buying a Used Car For Under $1,000, we encountered what we suspected was an unlicensed dealer when searching for a car on Craigslist. We mentioned this to Dennie and he confirmed that many of the unlicensed dealers moved to the electronic world and onto places like Craigslist, which is a frequent source of complaints. In addition to the internet, these illegal dealers frequently display their inventory on the side of the road or in public parking lots.

The good news that is that it’s relatively easy to tell whether or not a dealer is licensed or not. Here are the important Washington state requirements that Dennie says all licensed dealers must have or follow:

• A permanent office and place of business
• A sign of business name and nature of business must be visible
• Inventory of vehicles
• Maintain normal business hours (such as 10am – 4pm on weekdays)
• Full time dealership (no part time dealers)
• Minimum $30,000 insurance bond

By making sure the dealer you are working with meets the above criteria, you will have done a big part in reducing the risk faced when purchasing a used vehicle.

We would like to thank Lewis Dennie and the Fraud and Complaints Unit for their help on this article and the work that they do. For more buying tips, please visit the Washington State Department of Licensing website for tips on buying a car.

Based on a Yahoo article, vehicles that define a certain lifestyle get targeted by “The Fuzz”.
Here are Yahoo’s Top 5 nationally, as compiled in a survey by ISO Quality Planning.
1. Hummer H2
2. Scion tC
3. Scion xB
4. Mercedes Benz CLK63 AMG
5. Toyota Solara Coupe
If you drive any of these vehicles, better slow down.

To see the full list of the most and least ticked cars click here.

Locally, word of the 2010 Prius is already at loud buzz, with many potential buyers waiting for this new Toyota hybrid rather than saving thousands now on the 2009 version, by using the Washington state tax exemption. Lets consider the numbers on that, people would rather pay a premium price a new hybrid technology car(maybe $27,500 loaded), rather than save thousands of dollars(over $2500) on a new 2009 Prius.

“People are excited about it(2010 Prius),” claims Matt Page from Toyota of Bellevue. ”The people who asking about the 2010, are sure they want to buy it. It’s supposed to be more efficient and they want that new hybrid technology.”

The 2010 will supposedly get better mileage than the older generation model, by 4-5 miles per gallon. If that’s true, that will be close to 50 mpg. The 2010 is reportedly bigger than in years past as well, 3-4 inches longer and an inch wider. Even with the increases capacity and efficiency,  the 2010 will also have more horsepower, rumored up to 160hp from 110hp.

But of course, Toyota didn’t just stop at the 4-door sedan. News out of the Detroit unveiling, is that later in the year, the Prius will come in a wagon and/or mini van model. There will also be newer upgraded versions(think iPhone) where buyers will have the option of buying the Prius with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, that would allow drivers to plug-in their vehicles.  

In the Seattle area, the 2010 will be available around spring time, expect the price tag to start around the mid-$20,000 range. But you’ll just have to wait and see on everything else.

“Unfortunately I have to be vague about them(2010 Prius’), ” says Page. “They’ll be here no later than May, but other than that, all I can tell you is there are plenty of people asking about them.”

Being that they’re reportedly bigger, stronger, and saves more in fuel, it’s no wonder that Toyota’s Prius is the world’s top-selling hybrid. From all accounts, the 2010 version will do things even better and thus, living up to the hype.

According to Consumer Guide Automotive here are the preliminary specs for the 2010 Toyota Prius

Drivetrain
Drive wheels: front
Engine: 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with battery-driven electric motor
Horsepower: 100 gas engine, 160 combined
Torque: NA

Tire Chains – Cheap, Effective but Annoying

Of the most popular items for Seattle drivers are tire chains. Chains can be purchased at just about any auto store like Les Schwab, Sears or Joes and come in almost every fit and size possible. Generic brand tire chains are usually run anywhere from $40 to $60 when not in high demand (like during the middle of a snowstorm). During the peak of December’s winter mess, we reported on price gouging that had retailers selling chains up to $100 for a basic set. Be warned that many of these generic chains come with no warranty and leave consumers stranded financially and literally if they suddenly fail. Tire chains from a brand name like Thule provide a 1-year warranty, however.

Tire chains are the most popular option because they’re the most affordable and also a non-permanent solution: you put it on when it snows and take it off when you’re done. That is easier said than done, as just about everybody hates putting on tire chains, especially out in the snow. Chains also provide the best performance in deep snow and ice conditions.

There are two main types of chains: the classic type you drive onto and the modern type that you can “wrap” around your tire. The classic type provides is often more durable and cheaper, but requires substantial effort to put on and is almost impossible to install once your car is in the now. We don’t recommend this type because in reality, most drivers only put on snow chains as a last resort. Almost all tire cables fall into this category, as they require the vehicle to drive onto the cables before installation, which is why we’re not the biggest fan of cables.

This modern brand of snow chains is usually referred to as the diamond, express or quick chain, which uses a hoop-style system that loops around the tire. This can still be a pain to install, but can be put on while in snow – enabling drivers to store and use in emergency situations.

Important Tip: Do not ignore the manufacturer recommendations of going over 30mph while you have chains on. We cannot stress this enough. Year after year, we see dozens of chains littering the freeways after a snowstorm, because motorists didn’t know or just didn’t care. Not only is it blowing away $60, but when your chains come off, they don’t just break – they whiplash around your wheelwell in a fantastic fashion – destroying anything it comes in contact with. I’ve personally destroyed my ABS sensor because of this, so learn from my mistakes and countless others. Don’t think it can’t happen to you, because countless autobody shops around King county are weeks deep in appointments because of wheelwheel damage from busted chains. Again, do not go over 30mph – otherwise take local roads or take off your chains if conditions dictate.

Also, it’s important to practice putting on your chains before you actually have to. That way, you can understand your chains in a warm and preferably dry environment before attempting it in the wet and freezing outdoors. Even in an ideal environment, chains can be a miserable process. For this reason alone, many drivers have opted for options besides chains, which lead us to our next topic.

Studded Tires – Best for Ice, Poor on Everything Else

Studded tires use tiny metal points in the tread that act as small picks to dig into the road surface. A set of studded tires isn’t cheap and will run about the same as a normal set of tires: anywhere from $300 to $400. The other cost is that you will need to put on and remove your tires each season, as studded tires are by law, only allowed between November 1st and March 31st in Washington State. The reason for the limited duration is that the tiny metal studs while great for ice, also tear up road surfaces, making for expensive road repairs by the state. Washington also only allows “lightweight” studs, which do less damage to roads but are supposedly as effective.

We aren’t fans of studded tires because while the studs work well to dig into ice, research shows that the studded tips are not very effective in snow. In Seattle and the Northwest, it’s far more common to have snow than ice, due to our moderate temperatures and high precipitation. Even though our recent bout with snow had icy streets all over Seattle, the city – after much protesting from citizens – announced that they would indeed use salt in future snow conditions, removing most situations of pure ice conditions.

In addition, due to the infrequency of snow in Seattle, it’s impractical to have studded tires on all the time because it will be overkill for not only the roads, but your own peace of mind. Anyone who has driven with studs on bare asphault can tell you that it creates an headache inducing hum and vibration. Not only that, studs actually perform worse on concrete than normal tires, due to the reduction in contact surface between the rubber and the road.

The benefit to studded tires are that they require little work other than forking over your credit card and won’t lead to harrowing chain ordeals on the side of the road. Less stress and less performance is what you get with studs.

Traction and Snow Tires – Same Stud Benefits, Less Drawbacks

If studded tires are classic technology, then traction tires are the wave of the future. Traction (sometimes referred to as “snow tires”) use specialized compounds and treads to provide better grip in snow. Different tire manufacturers have experimented with various technologies, with big names such as Bridgestone and Goodyear using specialized traction rubber while Toyo uses crushed walnut. While consumers might think that these provide less traction than studs, studies have shown that some studless tires actually perform better than their counterparts on ice.

Like studded tires however, traction tires will suffer in deep snow, as they simply do not have enough grip to pull the vehicle around. As such, owners of studs or traction tires will find driving best after other drivers have compacted deep snow. The benefits of studded tires are a bit better however, as traction tires can be installed anytime and don’t damage the road or cause excessive vibration or noise. Drivers will find that traction tires wear out considerably quicker than normal tires due to the softer rubber compounds so it’s still advisable to use them only when necessary to preserve the lifespan of the tires.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has more information on studded tire alternatives.

Summary

Each item has it’s various pros and cons, so it’s really up to each driver to decide what is best for them. For most occasional drivers who are willing to get a bit dirty, chains are the practical use snow traction device. For drivers who would like to save some headache at the cost of extra dollars, traction tires are a fairly good alternative.

Stay turned for SeattleAuto.net’s feature on snow alternatives that you probably haven’t heard of, such as the SnoBootz and Autosock!

Tire Chains

Pros
• Cheap, usually $50 to $60
• Best snow performance, including deep snow
• Can take on and off anytime

Cons
• Annoying to put on and take off
• Limited to 30mph
• Some types cannot be put on in snow

Studded Tires

Pros
• Professional installation
• Good on ice and packed snow
• Can travel at higher speeds than chains

Cons
• High price and yearly installation/removal cost
• Mediocre deep snow performance
• Mediocre dry road performance
• Road damage, interior noise and vibration

Traction Tires

Pros
• Professional installation
• Good on ice and packed snow
• Highest travel speed, can be used anytime

Cons
• High price and faster wear if used on dry pavement
• Mediocre deep snow performance

Here is a link to a WSDOT video on how to install classic style tire cables.

East Coasters have known for decades that when it snows, it’s time bust out the snow shovels before the car gets stuck in snow or ice. Here in Seattle, the Olympic mountains and Puget Sound generally ensure that we avoid huge snow drifts, though this last snowstorm proves that it can still happen. Next time you’re at the hardware store, pickup a snow shovel and have it ready. When the snow is still fresh, that’s the best time to shovel it aside, as leaving snow overnight almost guarantees a fresh sheet of ice the next morning. Not fun.

For the less physically challenged, chemicals like de-icers are readily available at local auto and hardware stores. However, according to the Jeff Adamson of the Washington State Department of Transportation Blog, pure liquid de-icers are not ideal for use in your driveway, as they leave a sticky residue that will stay on your shoes and track into your house. As an example, Adamson says that the grand opening of The Bon retail store in Colorado was short lived, as they had to replace 50,000 square feet of brand new carpet after de-icing their parking lot for opening event. Adamson advises mixing a de-icer with hot water before applying, which will make the residue less sticky. He warns that the mixture is best used a effective as a pre-treatment, rather than a way of melting snow and ice.

Since most of us don’t have the foresight to predict when a snow storm will hit, Adamson notes that salt is still your best bet to melt snow and ice after it has formed. Bags of salt in ten and twenty pound denominations can all be readily bought at most hardware stores during the winter season and it should take most homeowners only one bag to melt the snow in your driveway.

Once at your car, you may also find (especially in older model cars) that your door lock is stuck. A common fix is some lock de-icer, which can be bought at most auto stores or places like Sears and Fred Meyer. This de-icer costs about $3 and every driver should buy a tube and store it away for emergency situations. Some de-icers also act as a lubricant, which is a good lock maintenance task to perform anyways.

Another maintenance topic for the winter that is often overlooked is making sure you have enough windshield washer fluid. Seattle drivers knew all too well that the city had a policy against salt (since changed after the snowstorm) and instead used a combination of sand, de-icer and plows. This combination turns into a filmy mess when it is kicked up into the air by cars (and especially semi trucks) in front and sticks to your windshield like paste. Your wipers will streak this residue all over your windshield, making the situation worse, so having adequate washer fluid is a critical safety issue in these situations. I keep an entire bottle of windshield fluid in my trunk for this reason alone.

If you’re extra considerate about keeping your visibility intact, make it a point to simply clean the inside of your windshield with some windex and cloth during the winter season. This will help remove dust and particles on your glass that attract water and fog up your windows. A clean window helps moisture from attaching as easily and makes your defroster more efficient.

If you can successfully get out of your driveway, that’s half the battle over, but still another half to go unfortunately. Your friend once on the road is traction – keeping your tires gripping the ground (or snow). Having tires with good tread is important in all conditions, dry or wet, but especially in snow. Treads help dig into snow and provide grip, whereas bald tires will lead to disastrous slipping and sliding. The traditional way to see if you have enough tread is to do the “penny test”, where you put a penny into the tire tread and see if Lincoln’s head can go into the tread. If the head is completely exposed, you have too little tread left (although honestly, you should change your tire before your tread gets this low).

These are some easy and preventative winterization tips that will help make life just a little easier in the next big Seattle snow storm. Check our related articles below for more winter driving and maintenance tips!

Here are a list of road closures and updates we have received from WSDOT Traffic Alerts:

4:00pm – Stevens Pass, WA – US 2 has reopened to traffic after a two day closure caused by flooding and avalanche danger. The pass reopened at XX p.m. today, making it the only viable east-west route across the state.

The Washington State Department of Transportation expects this route will be heavily used by drivers trying to get across the mountain passes.

WSDOT has taken several steps to make sure traffic moves as smoothly as possible:

Three Incident Response Teams will be stationed from Monroe, across the summit and to Leavenworth to quickly respond to stalls, collisions and motorists in need of assistance.
We have coordinated signal timing through Monroe to improve the flow of traffic
Traction tires are required for passenger vehicles
Chains are required for trucks over 10,000 lbs
I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass and US 12 at White Pass remain closed until further notice.

3:50pm – All lanes of SR 530 are now open at the Lincoln Bridge near Arlington.
3:30pm – Flooding response in high gear, WSDOT closes in on opening US 2 east to Wenatchee
3:20pm – All lanes in both directions of US 2 west of Skykomish at milepost 44.3 are now open. Stevens Pass remains closed.
2:35pm – The right lane of northbound SR 169 from 140th Ave SE to the Cedar River is closed due to flooding.
9:35am – Both directions of SR 9 are closed between Schloman Rd and 252nd.north of Arlington.
9:00am – The ramp from SR 530 to northbound I-5 is closed due to water over the roadway.
7:15am – The southbound I-405 ramp to SR 181/Interurban Ave is closed due to a mudslide on Interurban Ave.
6:30am – SR 203 closed in Carnation between the Tolt River and NE Carnation Farm Road. SR 203 is also closed between Duvall and Monroe. Both closures are due to water over the roadway.
5:00am – The ramp from SR 530 to northbound I-5 is closed due to water over the roadway
4:35am – All lanes of SR 542 at Truck Rd near Deming are blocked by a mudslide and downed power lines.
4:05am – Both directions of US 2 are closed west of Skykomish at milepost 44.3 because of water over the roadway.
4:00am – SR 530 is closed in both directions at Lincoln Bridge because of water over the roadway.
2:00am – SR 169 near Maple Valley, all lanes closed

For up-to-date road information, call 511 or for out of state callers, dial 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).

WSDOT has released this regarding the closers:

State highway closures top 60

OLYMPIA – Transportation officials are dealing with a large weather system that resulted in more than 60 road closures in Washington in the last 12 hours. While WSDOT is keeping close watch on the potential for Pierce County flooding over I-5, experts expect portions of I-5 will go under water in Lewis County some time this evening.

If the current pattern of rising water continues, WSDOT is expecting to close I-5 in Lewis County around midnight tonight. The closure points would span 20 miles from exit 88 near the Lewis/Thurston county border south to exit 68, the US 12 interchange connecting with Morton and White Pass. WSDOT crews are monitoring the entire corridor and will immediately take the necessary measures to close the road if it becomes unsafe for vehicles.

Flooding in the Fife area could require the closure of I-5 in the area north of the Puyallup River Bridge. Precise timing is difficult to predict, but there is potential for the freeway to be closed prior to the conclusion of this afternoon’s rush hour.

Alternate routes are limited, with State Routes 167 and 512 being the most likely options for drivers. WSP and WSDOT are still determining the appropriate closure points.

All three major east-west mountain pass highways through the Cascade Mountains remain closed due to extreme avalanche danger and mudslides. These passes are not expected to open until crews have safe access to these highways and can assess avalanche danger and inspect roadways. WSDOT has pulled our crews back from working on Interstate 90 from MP 47 (Denny Creek) to MP 53 near the summit. This unexpected slide points out the serious risk to both highway workers and the traveling public along mountainous I-90, as well as other routes around the state. Until the rain lets up and soil conditions stabilize, I-90 will remain closed from North Bend to Ellensburg.

Please drive safe out there Seattle residents. If you see washed out road in front, do not attempt to cross and try to find alternate routes. Even one foot of moving water is enough to stall your vehicle or push your car aside.

*Article photo used with permission from the WSDOT