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Plea to drivers to stay off the roads today

The people who get paid to worry about our public roads want you to delay any travel plans for a day or two. State transportation officials are asking drivers to stay off the roads today as a cold and snow system pushes through western Washington today.

“Conditions continue to deteriorate today, especially in the Puget Sound area. If you have to be on the road, slow down, drive for conditions and let WSDOT trucks through," said the agency's Chris Christopher.

In a statement released in the past hour, State Patrol Chief John Batiste said drivers should heed basic winter driving precautions:

“If you must drive, slow down and increase your following distance. Leave early so you won’t be tempted to rush and risk a collision,” Batiste said.

Conditions are worsening this afternoon  in Pierce County. Earlier this morning a Pierce County Transit bus carrying 20 people skated down a steep hill at 19th & Jeffererson in Tacoma and ended up on its side. Twelve people were taken to hospitals. The News Tribune reportsnone of those injuries are considered serious.