The Annual Big Highway Snow Pileup Videos Are Up. Why Are People Such Idiots On Icy Roads?

It's snowing today here in Vermont, and we will see our usual batch of spinoffs, bumps, crashes and mishaps on the state's roads as some people are surely driving too fast for the conditions.

Deadly crash along snowy Interstate 35 in Iowa Monday,
caused in large part by stupid people. 

Vermont, like many northern states, are also prone to those spectacular, deadly big highway pileups in snowstorms, the kind that cause numerous deaths and injuries and involved dozens of cars.

Knock on wood, we haven't had anything like that lately. The last major one I can think of was a 12-car pileup on Interstate 89 in Bolton back in February, 2014.

These epic, major snowy pileups have been in the news this week for sure, with a bad one in Michigan and an even worse one near Ames, Iowa that on Monday along Interstate 35 killed one person,  injured five and involved up to 70 vehicles, says the Des Moines Register. That day, eight people died on icy road related crashes in Iowa and it wasn't even that huge a storm.

The Iowa Department of Transportation released a video of that Ames, Iowa pileup, which you can see at the bottom of this post. The video is striking in that it shows the bad behaviors that lead to this kind of tragedy. A lot of the ingredients that went into the Ames crash pop up in a lot of other icy highway pile ups.

You'll notice in the video that much of the snow has blown off the right lane of Interstate 35. But many motorists don't seem to realize the obvious. The compaction from tires has left a very thin skim of black ice on that lane. The pavement looks bare, but it's not.

Another view of that winter weather pileup on Interstate 35
near Ames, Iowa Monday. Photo form KCCI via AP

Also very noticeable in the video is the fact that it takes only a few idiots to cause a huge catastrophe.  Once the crashes start, a few speedy drivers, moving much too fast for the conditions, plow into stopped vehicles.

Notice that the majority of the motorists are driving relatively slow, and come to a safe stop, only to be slammed from the rear by these crazy, fast driving idiots.

Here's another thing that scares the bejeezus out of me when I'm traveling to and from work along Interstate 89 in snowstorms:

Tractor trailer trucks zoom past at high speeds, and you know they won't be able to stop if there's trouble ahead. Plus, they kick up an enormous amount of powdery snow, blinding other motorists like me.

In the Ames Iowa DOT video, you see several tractor trailer trucks moving at high speeds and plowing into other cars, causing most of the havoc. You'll also see some more responsible tractor trailer drivers moving at slow speeds, avoiding the accident only to again, by slammed from behind.

These lead-footed tractor trailer drivers really bother me the most, since the cause such carnage.

You see, many trucking companies are responsible, and encourage their employees to drive at safe speeds for the conditions, even if that makes deliveries a little later than anticipated.

Other trucking companies, though, are horrible. They pressure their drivers with unreasonable deadlines, encourage them to drive too fast, with not enough sleep or be fired.  I don't like over-regulation, but laws are too lax, and not enforced enough on trucking companies who put this kind o pressure on their drivers.

Apparently, among the less ethical trucking companies out there, killing a few people on a snowy highway is just a cost of doing business and nothing else. Scumbags.

Also in the video, you see some motorists who were not hit purposefuly drive into the ditch on the right side of the highway to avoid oncoming cars behind them. I'd probably do that.  Better to pay for a tow to get out of the ditch later than get hurt or killed by an oncoming truck.

Finally, you'll also notice a lot of people abandon their vehicles and run as far away from the crash zone as possible. Also smart. I'd rather freeze my tush off standing on in a snowstorm than get killed in the crashes.  Experts say it depends on the situation as to what you should do. Your seat belt can help you if there are subsequent crashes, and you could be run over if you're trying to flee.

However, if it's safe to do so, I'd still make a run for it. Especially if vehicles are on fire around you, or you risk getting trapped in your car by being sandwiched in by other vehicles.

Here's the dramatic Ames, Iowa video: