Colorado officials blame drivers for mountain tie-up

[unhappycamper]

http://gazette.com/colorado-officials-blame-drivers-for-mountain-tie-up/article/1514640



Colorado officials blame drivers for mountain tie-up
Associated Press • Updated: February 15, 2014 at 5:54 am • Published: February 14, 2014

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Transportation is blaming drivers for a major traffic tie-up over the weekend, saying some of them were unprepared for winter driving in a state known for snow and ice.

It took some drivers around eight hours to get from Vail to the Denver area Sunday. Just going from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel took some over four hours after so many skiers and snowboarders flocked to the mountains because of all the new snow.

The department said in a statement Thursday that some drivers had cars with bald tires, and big trucks were not using chains on slippery roads, bringing traffic to a near-standstill when vehicles spun out of control.

The department said 22 stranded vehicles had to be removed and 11 commercial vehicles were rescued after failing to put on chains for the approach to Eisenhower Tunnel.

[mountain grammy]

1. We've driven in many a snowstorm on the interstate..

It's the yahoos in their big 4 wheel SUV's who endanger everyone by insisting the speed limit is 65 and, by God, damn the conditions, they are determined to drive 65. It's almost like that stupid gun mentality that everyone is entitled to own a gun no matter how little they value anyone's life.

[tech3149]

3. Having spent my entire working life on the road

I can agree with the article that the drivers are the biggest part of the problem. Your response echoes my observations.

Over five decades I've seen people lose the skills and judgment to drive well and safely under any conditions.
Driving ain't all that hard but it takes a bit of thinking and preparation to do it well.
One more reason I am glad to be off the roads more often than not.

[kag]

5. I completely agree.

And it's the "driving ain't all that hard" part that makes people think it's okay to text, eat, fidget with the radio, apply make-up, shave, etc. at the same time as driving that causes so many accidents. Just because it's not that hard doesn't mean you can stop paying attention to doing it.

[kestrel91316]

2. Sounds like CO is being completely overrun by CA and TX

immigrants.

When I lived there, most folks were FROM there and knew how the hell to drive in snow.

And those who didn't........knew to stay the hell off the roads during storms.

[haydukelives]

4. I hope the truckers got tickets

its a more than $1,000 fine for not chaining up.
and, its not the SUVs that cause problems. As Chuck Yeager said, "its the pilot, not the plane".