Widespread rain made for a rough Friday evening commute around the Bay Area as many who tried to get an early start on the upcoming holiday were faced with brutal traffic.

Some people told KTVU they actually tried to wait out the rain and afternoon commute, but were still stuck moving at a snail's pace.

Wet roads and rattled nerves had some drivers waiting an hour or more just to get across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco to Oakland.

East Bay drivers shared in the frustration. NewsChopper 2 shot footage of a massive back-up on I-580 near Livermore Friday afternoon even after crews cleared a big-rig crash on the highway.

In the South Bay, a soggy evening commute over Highway 17 was made worse by accidents along the roadway's sharp curves.

The rain really started falling around 7:45 p.m. but let up later. The first system passing through the Bay Area was not a major storm for those here in the mountains, but is still stood as a reminder of what may come.

The commute on Highway 17 started smoothly, with many drivers heeding the signs warning about slippery roads along this notorious route.

But before too long, a Prius with blown tires and a crushed bumper could be seen along the side of the road after spinning out around 6 p.m.

"I breaked -- maybe just enough moisture on the road. I hit the middle, then blew out the tire, so I spun," said the driver, who didn't want to appear on camera.

She said she was cut off while passing another vehicle. Luckily she and her puppy -- who was strapped in a pet seatbelt -- were okay.

For the tow company that took care of her car, it was the eighth accident on Friday alone.

A hardware store in Scotts Valley has an aisle dedicated to storm prep materials, including battery-powered lanterns for customers familiar with power outages.

"We have a generator set up. Last year we lost electricity for two or three days," said Scotts Valley resident Diane Robertson.

Despite the inconveniences it can cause, many were happy to see the rain.

"I drive to San Jose every day for the commute. Driving over 17 you see the reservoir and it's so low," said Paul Simpson of Scotts Valley.

The rain Friday night meant closing the door on dry weather, opening up umbrellas, bringing out winter jackets and turning on the wipers. But so far, it hasn't mean more business for one tree hauling company.

"It picks up after the big winds come in, because that's when the trees come down," said tree removal worker Ryan Rohrbough.

One driver told KTVU he was hoping the holiday spirit would have people behaving a little better on the wet roads Friday, but said he didn't see it.