We’ve all forgotten how to drive in the winter.

It happens every year. When the first snow falls, it’s like people in Massachusetts had never seen the stuff. As soon as the first flakes fly, people will be crashing into each other like bumper cars at the Topsfield Fair. I guarantee that within 5 minutes of the beginning of the first snowfall, we will be hearing state police across the region reporting a spat of crashes. Calls will be coming into our operations center about spinouts and collisions faster than police can respond.

I’ve been reporting on traffic with SmartRoute Systems for 15 years and for a time before that with Metro Networks. And it’s always been the same. During the first snowfall, people forget the caution and awareness that’s required to drive in winter weather. Speeds need to be reduced, greater separation is required between you and the next vehicle and you need to be much more aware of the other guy, because you know he’s forgotten.

The current weather forecast is calling for a rain-sleet-snow mix to end the weekend and take us into MLK Day. The good news is that it’s scheduled to occur during a holiday when overall volume will be down. The bad news is that when volume is low, people tend to driver faster and accidents are more severe when people drive faster.

Fortunately, we're generally quick to remember.   Massachusetts drivers are well experienced with driving in winter conditions.   But that first reminder can be rough.