Winter in Central Mass - Get used to it

So you were stuck in traffic on the commute home this past Thursday (12/13/07). Here's a few hints to help you avoid a repeat performance:

1. Avoid congested areas. A key area of congestion in the last storm was Rt. 13 near Rt. 2 in Leominster. This area is noted for heavy traffic. It has too many traffic lights, and they're too close to each other. Short sighted planning has allowed too much development here.

   If it's congested on a good day expect the level of congestion (and thus the level of driver frustration) to be at least double when the weather is bad. Consider alternate routes.
   

2. When the snow gets deep enough to obscure lines on the roadway the number of lanes on the road will increase.

   IOW, with no visible lanes markings, the number of lanes on the road is limited only by the distance to the fender of the next vehicle. (Note the merge of northbound I190 traffic with westbound Rt. 2 traffic during the storm was as many as 6 lanes wide - 7 if you count the loons that were driving in the breakdown lane.) Avoid these situations by learning alternate routes you might be able to use. For example - heading to Westminster, Gardner, Ashburnham or Winchendonfrom the Worcester area, consider taking Rt. 140.

3. Momentum is your friend.

   Don't misunderstand I'm not advocating excessive speed, running stop signs or running red lights. What I'm talking about is maintaining your momentum when ever possible. I observed far too many drivers during Thursday's storm being "courteous" by stopping to let a driver pull into traffic in front of them or to pull across to the oncoming lane. Does this describe you? Trust me, there were 15 drivers behind you were all giving you the single digit salute (even if only mentally), you just weren't in a position to see it. Oh, BTW the dope you let out, did you notice them spinning their tires trying to get going? The reason they were having a tough time getting out into traffic is that they have nearly worn out all season radials. They should have replaced those this fall or stayed home today.
   

4. It's hilly around here and hills make it harder to get around.

   I realize this is news to some folks but gravity has a tendency to take you down hill. You can't stop as quickly (or at all) when heading down a hill or you may not be able to keep up your momentum to get to the top of a hill. The steeper the hill the bigger the problem. It's not possible to avoid all hills to get where you're going but you can usually find a route (maybe longer) where the hills aren't so steep.
   

5. Courtesy, not the bogus kind like I mentioned earlier. This is the kind where you follow the rules of the road. A common (and annoying) violations is the stop line violation. Entering an intersection when there's no place for you to exit is not just rude, it's illegal. This violation has a direct impact on grid lock and people seem to be more inclined to commit this offense when it's snowing.

6. Make sure you can see where you're going.

   Clear the snow off your vehicle. Can't reach the roof of your mini van, SUV, or truck. Then get a bigger snow brush with a longer handle. No excuses please.
   

7. Be prepared. Make sure you have everything you need. Running out of gas, window wash and the like is just plain silly.
   

Five indicators that you shouldn't drive in a snowstorm:

1. You spin the tires a lot - but don't go anywhere.
2. You observe a lot of other drivers giving a single digit salute.
3. You've had your vehicle pulled out of a:
   • ditch
   • snow bank
   • body of water
   in the past 5 years.
4. You've never driven in the snow before and it's rush hour.
5. You just don't like driving in it.