A message to drivers traveling over I-90 Snoqualmie Pass this winter

It's that time of year when lots of attention turns to the mountain passes. Here are some reminders and tips on why being prepared is so vital when you travel over I-90 Snoqualmie Pass in the winter.

[@jamesweddington4557]

I think you should also inform the public what the WSP rates are. If a wrecker is called. To save them. If they refuse to follow the chain up laws

[@heloski1]

For trucks it’s at least a $1200 bill for the wrecker plus the $500 fine if they didn’t have chains on. Trucks with chains still get stuck but it’s often because someone else didn’t have chains on, blocked the road causing a loss of momentum

[@andirtkdillon]

I just wanna say THANK YOU to all the workers/ service people. I have to drive that corridor 4+xs month. Back n forth from the east to the west and back again... Lots of miles over my years. Some REALLY scary moments but the crews, SUPERHEROES, really 🤲💓 stay safe and warm 💪💞

[@JamesB67]

It amazes me how many commercial drivers don’t know how to put chains on. They’ll bypass the chain up area and next thing you know, we’re all sitting and waiting on the wrecker. Driving too fast is a major contributor. Too all non-commercial drivers, if you see a semi going slow with his/her flashers on, either get around as safely as possible or stay behind them. There’s actually reason we have them on. Do NOT run beside us. If our trailer slides sideways… you will lose 100% of the time.

[@joshuaryantrucking7396]

Exactly! I've been driving a tractor trailer for 14 years and all these new idiot truckers are very immature and they speed and they dont chain up or there foreign and they say they can't read english

[@SkeensFamilyUSA]

Today’s truck drivers are inexperienced and dangerous!!! Truck drivers drive semi trucks as if they are in a car!! They drive 65-70 mph!! Tail gait small cars!!

[@aaronallblacks]

"Do NOT run beside us. If our trailer slides sideways… you will lose 100% of the time." Sounds like a your fault problem to me in that event

[@antoniomartinez8300]

Great 👍 excelente espero que la gente entienda y siga las recomendaciones; Bendiciones a todos los trabajadores involucrados en cuidar de nosotros

[@jjones8567]

❤❤I went west bound when it was closed before Christmas to go home. The DOT did an excellent job. The plows...you could tell had a great routine driving 2 together clearing the lanes. Awesome job....thank you. Thank you WSP for being there for the crazy accidents. May your paths be safe.🎉

[@patrickglaser1560]

Lol love that it was a swift truck

[@stevetheiven3889]

I’ve wired many log cabins up here. Seen some horrible accidents over my tenure. Be safe y’all ❤

[@ciarantheanarchist]

Really just need the truckers to slow down and keep right at all times. I've been driving the pass for over 30 years, several times a week. Rarely see a multi car accident that doesn't involve a semi truck.

[@joshuaryantrucking7396]

Exactly! The truckers that don't chain up or speed are idiots

[@deborahrauth7629]

​@joshuaryantrucking7396 cars that speed or cut trucks off are just as dangerous, if not more so

[@deborahrauth7629]

Why the heck should the trucks be required to stay in one lane only and you the freedom to travel any lane and go as fast as like.

[@hotmess7846]

​@@deborahrauth7629 trucks are generally the cause of the long closures, much easier to clear a few cars

[@SkeensFamilyUSA]

@@deborahrauth7629. Your comment is why you shouldn’t be a trucker

[@tqless]

I wish people would be ticketed for speeding during snow and ice. Way too many people in this region refuse to understand or are ignorant of the importance of slowing down.

[@carlosmelgosa3203]

Thank you, WSP & WSDOT

[@heloski1]

I drive a tow truck at the pass and had a situation my truck got damaged because of a inexperienced driver don’t forgot the tow drivers in your thank you

[@97Cummins]

Good stuff 👍

[@robmcghie9877]

I just made a three hour round trip because Stevens pass closed before I reached Skykomish. I could not believe how many inexperienced drivers were out there. There is a law by the way that all lights “not the front idiot lights” but all lights should be on during inclement weather. People that use there automatic lights should remember to turn their lights on when raining or snowing. It sure helps others see you in time to adjust their speed and not plow into you and maybe prevent harm or even death.

[@RiverRatWA57]

No, say it isn't so, lights, we don't need no Stink'n lights...... I'm no longer driving a Semi, I'm just a lowly 4wheeler now, my vehicle of choice is an '86 Isuzu Trooper, yes I have a new set of chains that fit it, no I have NO plans on going over Any passes. While in the Semi did I chain-up everytime when required......Oh Hell NO, was I involved in any accidents.....Nope, would I do it again, maybe, depending on conditions. The last time I Blew the chain-up area they were Full-up two Semi's deep and Damned if I'm going to chain-up in the travel lanes. I prefer to park it and wait it out, I've got 22yrs of OTR refrigerated trucking behind me and know when to shut it down.

[@davediaz5127]

Thank you for this, people really need to slow down....I have seen many fancy 4 wheel drive suv's fly past me and end up on the side of the road spun out...just because you have 4 wheel drive doesn't make it safe....

[@DavidJames.82]

Grew up in Kansas winters …if you do not have experience in winter driving I recommend you stop or go a different route !

[@georgew8586]

In winter, I find the left most lane is more icy, I will stay in the middle lanes. Then, invariably, I will have 1 or 2 Subarus pass on the left. Owners assume they are purely designed to drive in snow at higher speeds.

[@2A1C1downURnext]

3 TMA trucks with one driver, 2 Chuckers/Pickers, 3 WSP UPO's, 4 cruisers one with K9. Put the restrictions on the VMS signs, full closure to an exit before MP47. Drop flares every 250' for 1/2 mile on both sides before the TMA trucks and barrels. Turn them around at the interchange with fines.

[@purplekhaos]

Scott Montgomery should be well aware that I-90 is an east-west freeway and that if you want to go south, you should get on a different freeway!

[@seth3054]

Slow down is right

[@joshuaryantrucking7396]

I wish all truck drivers would listen to this, but most of them think they are to good to chain up and slow down. I say this because I'm a truck driver, been driving 14 years and It's so sad to see these guys out here piled up and jackknifed because they thought they didn't have to chain up or slow down..

[@Future4Prez]

Does anyone know if auto socks are allowed on rental cars?

[@wsdot]

Probably best to check with the individual rental car company to see what they are OK with on their vehicles.

[@jesslundy748]

wsdot do you know if auto socks count as chains...I'm about to go over pass and want to make sure I have the requirements..I'm in a new car with all wheel drive

[@heloski1]

Those are considered traction tires however socks do not work as well in the type of snow that the pass gets. AWD cars typically don’t need them but it’s better than nothing

[@JETZcorp]

Yes, legally, auto socks do satisfy the WA State chain requirement. This is necessary because many modern cars do not have the fender clearance to safely run chains. Just remember that the socks will be toast in no time if you drive them on dry or wet pavement. They are for snow and ice only.

[@JamesB67]

I run auto socks on my semi truck every winter. They are great and easier than chains. However, do not run them in dry payment. Fast way to ruin $$$’s of dollars.

[@wsdot]

Yes, they are an approved alternative.

[@natfoot]

So, . . . When do all wheel drive vehicles have to chain up?

[@heloski1]

They don’t but as long as you don’t drive like a crazy person it’s fine. However though you still are required to have chains with you

[@ciarantheanarchist]

They don't. The owners manual for my car explicitly says do not put chains on the vehicle or it will damage the system. I've seen similar warnings for other cars.

[@JETZcorp]

The pass has different levels of chain requirements. Most of the time, chain requirements will exempt AWD and 4x4 vehicles under 10,000lbs, but you must carry chains or socks anyway. In some circumstances, chains or socks will be required for all vehicles with no exceptions. This did happen on one direction for Snoqualmie earlier in the week. If your owners manual forbids you from using chains, then you must carry or use tire socks during a chain requirement. Now realistically, a good AWD system combined with studless winter tires is unstoppable unless you're a complete moron behind the wheel. But the above is the legal requirement.

[@wsdot]

There is usually a time or two each season where conditions reach a point that even AWD/4WD need to put on chains or an approved alternative.

[@daniellee9181]

Will Automotive Snow Socks for Tires legally meet the criteria for snow chains?

[@brikkijim]

The road system there cannot handle the increased road traffic over the years. I've been visiting my friend in Index for the past 20 years and the amount of traffic at times is wicked compared to here in the Northeast. The odds of accidents are only to get higher with more traffic.

[@mariner1358]

At 1:55 "chains required for awd/4wd vehicles"? Wats that?

[@wsdot]

Usually a couple times every winter conditions reach a point where chains are required to be put on all vehicles including those with 4-wheel drive/all-wheel drive. Most of the time those vehicles don't need to put on chains.

[@mariner1358]

@wsdot Thank you for clarifying that. I haven't ever heard of that.

[@xrrrismickey]

Look how fast they going. Slow the hell down!

[@brunossb9747]

Don’t use cruise control On snow or rain,

[@mateostefanko]

Also please drive with EXTRA space from the car in front of you. You are not in city traffic anymore where tailgating is acceptable and normal. I hear too many sirens going up blewett during the winter months. Slow down.

[@abrahamakinbo2928]

The highway maintenance work on snoqualmie pass are very very lazy, the winter weather conditions is not the problem but the people maintaining it when it happens is the problem and it a job I have done before in Illinois and North Dakota.

[@Bens359pete]

All Drivers, trucks and cars need to stay off their phones and pay more attention. Get a CB and use it! Quit being lazy Drivers. Chain up!

[@nikitashchemelev2139]

Maybe if the fines increased to the thousands people would care more.

[@michellemahany9146]

I cannot understand a driver who wears flip flops/sliders/sandals and think that those are proper foot wear for the job we do. Steering wheel holders are the same ones who haul ass over icy roads.

[@davidmelton838]

Just stop going up there this time of the year. If it is bad enough to put on chains it is time to park. These guys are idiots and so are the guys who keep driving when chains are required. No load is worth the chance because not even chains will stop you from dying

[@jsource10]

Seattle people and California transplants, please stay off the snow. Especially Subaru drivers, you are the worst.

[@cccircuit8296]

What I'm hearing is that you made it easy for people to fast travel through the mountains and now you are upset because they expect it to be easy.

[@robertestep7589]

No common sense