PSA: If you are afraid to drive in the snow

[njdevilsfan87]

But once you see an SUV, you go "THERE! See that SUV that doesn't know how to drive!"

Close, but it usually goes something along the lines of, "THERE! See that woman on her cell phone standing next to the crashed SUV! Good thing there were no other passengers in that 7 seater!" :biggrin:

 

[T9D]

Alright one last story. I remember decades ago I was driving up the mountain and it was snowy and then out of nowhere this van which was driving way to fast is doing 360's over and over as it lost control in the ice and snow coming towards oncoming traffic. It was like spinning helecopter blades lol. Holy crap that was nuts to see that and scary since he was drifting toward out oncoming lane. Vans are the worst though in bad weather. Looked like just one guy in it. I think he pulled out of it and stopped safely luckily.

 

[Jumpem]

People who live the snow belt with inadequate vehicles are my pet peeve. At the very least everyone should have snow tires.

 

[destrekor]

Yes. That is totally how it works.

To be fair, people see what they want to see.

It's like when you get a new make and model of vehicle, you suddenly start to see more of that car out everywhere you go.

I've never recognized as many Mazda3's as I have recently. I didn't even recognize my buddy had a Mazda3.. I knew it was a Mazda but couldn't recall what model, until I asked him for his suggestion when I was shopping for used cars.

I've personally recognized more sedans and other non-truck-vehicles off the road, but have definitely seen SUVs and trucks. Frankly, I could almost say I've paid more attention to SUVs and trucks, and can also feel I've seen more with hitched trailers, but honestly, those just stick out more. I lose track of the sedans and coupes I see litter the ditches on highways during the worse storms. The wrecked trailers, and the trucks or SUVs attached to them, simply stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[LegendKiller]

People who live the snow belt with inadequate vehicles are my pet peeve. At the very least everyone should have snow tires.

lol - yeah, all-weathers are so horrible.

I've lived in the "snow belt" for many years and never had snow tires. My dad grew up in MN and never had them.

I'll take knowing how to drive over snow tires every day.

 

[destrekor]

lol - yeah, all-weathers are so horrible.

I've lived in the "snow belt" for many years and never had snow tires. My dad grew up in MN and never had them.

I'll take knowing how to drive over snow tires every day.

I'll be making the value/worth determination once I get my first ever set of winter tires. I've always "gotten by" with all-seasons, and fairly "bleh" ones at that.

I've also had way too many close calls and white-knuckle moments that left a lasting impression on me.

I've had times where an ability to react saved me, and times where I ended up relying upon others having good reaction skills (and thankfully, they did).

Trying to stop in a straight line and ending up turned sideways in the lane over, with traffic still moving, scared the shit out of me (almost literally, but not quite). I'd like to never repeat that - and that was me driving slow enough to react, but I had to stop far more suddenly than expected.

I've come to suspect I can get far better handling with winter rubber, so I'm finally giving that a go. If I don't feel nearly as frightened once the roadways turn to crap, I think I'll score it a victory. If it's not a significant improvement, and I doubt that will be the result, then I'll probably never buy another set.

Knowing how to drive is not always the answer. It's a damn fine start, and I reckon it should be required, but it is not always enough. The capabilities of the tires are a crucial factor.

 

[LegendKiller]

I'll be making the value/worth determination once I get my first ever set of winter tires. I've always "gotten by" with all-seasons, and fairly "bleh" ones at that.

I've also had way too many close calls and white-knuckle moments that left a lasting impression on me.

I've had times where an ability to react saved me, and times where I ended up relying upon others having good reaction skills (and thankfully, they did).

Trying to stop in a straight line and ending up turned sideways in the lane over, with traffic still moving, scared the shit out of me (almost literally, but not quite). I'd like to never repeat that - and that was me driving slow enough to react, but I had to stop far more suddenly than expected.

I've come to suspect I can get far better handling with winter rubber, so I'm finally giving that a go. If I don't feel nearly as frightened once the roadways turn to crap, I think I'll score it a victory. If it's not a significant improvement, and I doubt that will be the result, then I'll probably never buy another set.

Knowing how to drive is not always the answer. It's a damn fine start, and I reckon it should be required, but it is not always enough. The capabilities of the tires are a crucial factor.

I've never really had a problem and I've driven in crappy weather all over the country, from Nor'Easters to MN blizzards. Nothing replaces the knowledge that you need to stop in x feet so you should give yourself x*5 feet to stop in crappy weather. Or getting up to speed is a function of not letting your wheels spin uncontrollably in the first place or that picking your route is a better solution.

I drive my FWD Accord with all-seasons without any major problems. Would winters work better? Sure, enough so that it makes sense? Doubtful.

My biggest problem is the assholes who have winters thinking they can tailgate. I leave 3-4 cars between me and the guy in front of me and keep the same speed. That way I don't ever violate on of the cardinal rules in driving in the winter.

In a FWD car you can steer, stop, or go, but you cannot steer do one of the other two at the same time.

 

[Jumpem]

lol - yeah, all-weathers are so horrible.

I've lived in the "snow belt" for many years and never had snow tires. My dad grew up in MN and never had them.

I'll take knowing how to drive over snow tires every day.

You can get by, but snow tires perform markedly better.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Personally, I LOVE driving in the snow. So much fun, especially when one finds an empty parking lot.
For those that are afraid, set of snow tires will do wonder (no, not AWD and heavy ass vehicle)

^ This. I miss that in IA/MN

 

[LegendKiller]

You can get by, but snow tires perform markedly better.

From what i could see, maybe 25% better, but that's dead stop or cold start. Do they replace common sense? No. Will they make my daily drive in snow across country roads markedly better? I've done it for 3 years now without a problem.

 

[herm0016]

How's the current storm treating you? Saw a friend post 17 inches just outside of GR.

 

[OverVolt]

Everyone needs to go slower. Its not that your AWD with snow tires car is going to lose control its that everyones car reacts differently to snow. FWD with no TCS is a disaster. They could pull out infront of you and don't have the traction to get out of your way like they thought. Its not just YOUR car but the fact that everyones car is going to handle the snow differently.

Good job your audi has AWD like thats going to do a whole lot when you cream a 90's corolla on bald tires.

The way people under-maintain their cars these days even the rain is more dangerous than it used to be.

I've had to dodge alot of hoopties.

 

[JumBie]

So basically you want people to drive 60-80km/hour in road conditions that could possibly cause life threatening accidents? And anyone who doesn't subject themselves to this kind of behavior is a pussy? Hmm.... I'll pass. I'm going to drive as slow as I need to in order to safely get from point A to point B.

 

[riahc3]

Fuck the OP.

In any snowy conditions, you have to be extremely careful in whatever car you drive, with or without snow tires and with or without snow chains.

Due to snow/ice/etc being so unpredictable, it cannot be treated lightly.

(Summer) Rain for example, you know will act always more or less the same way. If you know your car and tires, its strange that it will surprise you.

The first day I got my license and the first day I drove in my new car, it was snowing like a bitch and there was a thick layer of snow. I didn't pass 20 mph on a highway. And this is from a guy that regularly does now 112mph on regular.

You wanna go faster? Ill slightly brake and let you pass. Go ahead. Kill yourself. I don't give a shit. Just don't involve me.

 

[olds]

Not as bad as black ice. Most turrble.

I've lived in or plowed snow for over 40 years. I've never seen black ice.

 

[OverVolt]

I've lived in or plowed snow for over 40 years. I've never seen black ice.

Nobody ever sees ze black ice. Its like dark matter. You only know it exists after you wreck :awe:.

 

[Grooveriding]

Get mad.

 

[dphantom]

I've lived in or plowed snow for over 40 years. I've never seen black ice.

often used as a term for a very thin coating of ice over asphalt. Hence black ice as it is so thin one cannot really see it.

 

[dank69]

Quoted for truth. TONS of cars around here with snow on the roof. I've never had snow from a car in front of me hit my car. Physics: the snow doesn't go backwards. It continues going in the same direction as the car is moving, though it slows down rapidly from drag & falls to the ground. Make a snowball, drop it from the height of a car. That's how long it's in the air, about 0.5 to 0.6 seconds. And, it's moving forward during that time. (Though not with the same speed as the car was moving forward.)

What about powder? What about giant sheets of frozen snow that actually go up before they go down?

 

[Anubis]

Big deal. It just falls harmlessly to the road. You might get a little misting of snow on your windshield but it melts almost immediately, just turn your wipers on briefly and it's gone.

Christ, even this only lasted about a second and most of it hit the road before the guy following got to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOo9BEou1Y

You guys obsess over the dumbest shit.

I take that you are joking but people have been seriously injured and killed by ice sheets coming off large trucks and going right through the windshield

its like hitting a piece of plywood. some states have laws about this now

 

[surfsatwerk]

I always take the time to brush off the roof of my vehicle. It takes so little time it never occurs to me to skip it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I take that you are joking but people have been seriously injured and killed by ice sheets coming off large trucks and going right through the windshield

its like hitting a piece of plywood. some states have laws about this now

Snow from a car roof isn't going to injure or kill anyone.

 

[smackababy]

If the conditions don't call for extreme slow driving, I can understand being annoyed someone is crawling along. However, what annoys me even more is the asshats that think it is acceptable to go beyond the speed limit in snowy conditions.

What really annoys me though is everyone here can drive acceptable 5-10 MPH under the speed limit when it is snowing, but raining? Those idiots are going 10MPH. It is like the water not being frozen freaks them out. Wtf?

 

[raasco]

lol!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Driving on powders is not an issue. Driving on packed snow or ice is what is scary.

I'll do 65 on powered snow all day in my rear wheel drive truck. Did while in college in the Adirondacs and did so while I lived in Lockport, NY growing up (just north of Buffalo). It's not hard. Oh, foot off the gas whenever you reach an underpass (bridge is above you). Bridges drip water that loves to form sheets of ice under them.

Your tires actually get drip on powdered snow so long as your tires are not bald or near bald.