• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Rant: Winter Driving

Gamingphreek

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Just got home from work in Northern Virginia. There is *maybe* 3 inches of snow on the ground, but that 3" is enough to force most people not to use their brains!

1. Just because the road isn't covered doesn't mean it isn't slick.
2. You cannot go the speed limit while the roads are covered.
3. Using your blinker if you need to change lanes (You shouldn't be changing much) is a wise idea.
4. 4x4 helps you move the car, IT DOESN'T HELP YOU STOP OR TURN IT!
5. Turn.Into.The.Skid.
6. Tailgating expands on the worst idea ever conceived in this world.

With all of this in mind, on the commute home I was driving in the left lane on Route 28 North. I was going ~30MPH. I had just passed an Explorer that was still committed to his/her routine of weaving in and out of traffic - this included driving into an unplowed/undriven lane. Probably hitting near 50MPH.

Long story short, in my rear view mirror I see the Explorer lose control and swerve all the way right, over-correct, and slam head-on into the median between 28N/S. That person missed clipping the rear of my car by a few feet and subsequently blocked all 28N traffic behind me (Yes I called 911 and reported it) (Additionally, if you feel so inclined, would you say a prayer for anyone involved in that accident?)

I drive a 2010 Tacoma 4x4 and I didn't need 4x4, A-Trac, or my Rear Differential Locker. I didn't have any extra weight in the back and I made it back with virtually no slipping/fish tailing (Some courtesy of the wonder that is ABS and Limited Slip Differential). Why are there so many people who don't understand the principle of Winter Driving?

-Gamingphreek
 
rcpratt said:
Don't worry, people up north haven't really mastered the concept either.
Click to expand...

Even in states like Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Colorado??

It really blows my mind because this seems like such a trivial/common sense concept...

I prefer to drive on old bald tires so I can experience the sensation of ice skating during my morning commute.
Click to expand...

Hahahaha!
 
We got 1/2 inch of ice. It was a disaster and extremely hazardous driving. The dog couldn't even walk around on the completely flat driveway without falling on her ass.
 
spidey07 said:
We got 1/2 inch of ice. It was a disaster and extremely hazardous driving. The dog couldn't even walk around on the completely flat driveway without falling on her ass.
Click to expand...

Virginia? North East?

Yea ice is a different story. Avoiding the roads if possible is the best bet 😉 (Oh and dogs are funny to watch when they try to walk on slick ground)
 
spidey07 said:
We got 1/2 inch of ice. It was a disaster and extremely hazardous driving. The dog couldn't even walk around on the completely flat driveway without falling on her ass.
Click to expand...

LOL... we got 1/3 inch of ice and my poor roommate fell on his ass while walking to college.. I hope he made it to the exam hall without serious damage.
 
Gamingphreek said:
Even in states like Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Colorado??

It really blows my mind because this seems like such a trivial/common sense concept...
Click to expand...

Yes. People in Minnesota drive just as badly as people anywhere else when it snows. We just tend to get more snow more often. It also improves over winter - the first snow people will be wildly inconsistent, some driving like nothing happened, others crawling along at 2 mph even after the roads are clear. By the end of the season people have figured it out... just in time for it all to melt and then they have to wait until next December.
 
Gamingphreek said:
With all of this in mind, on the commute home I was driving in the left lane on Route 28 North. I was going ~30MPH. I had just passed an Explorer that was still committed to his/her routine of weaving in and out of traffic - this included driving into an unplowed/undriven lane. Probably hitting near 50MPH.

-Gamingphreek
Click to expand...

You were doing ~30mph, the Explorer was doing 50mph, and you passed him.

Congratulations, your Toyota has defeated the basic laws of science!
 
akshatp said:
You were doing ~30mph, the Explorer was doing 50mph, and you passed him.

Congratulations, your Toyota has defeated the basic laws of science!
Click to expand...

At the time I passed him, I had a few cars behind me and he was stuck behind a slower car in the center lane. I suppose he was deciding whether or not to drive in the unplowed/undriven lane or to wait for the traffic behind me to pass and get behind them.

He eventually decided to pass on the unplowed/undriven lane, had nearly caught up to me, and was switching back into the middle lane when he lost control of the car. At that time he was going much faster than I was.

Yea I can see how I didn't make that clear the first time 😛
 
Gamingphreek said:
At the time I passed him, I had a few cars behind me and he was stuck behind a slower car in the center lane. I suppose he was deciding whether or not to drive in the unplowed/undriven lane or to wait for the traffic behind me to pass and get behind them.

He eventually decided to pass on the unplowed/undriven lane, had nearly caught up to me, and was switching back into the middle lane when he lost control of the car. At that time he was going much faster than I was.

Yea I can see how I didn't make that clear the first time 😛
Click to expand...

I kind of figured that, but thought I would call you out on it anyway . After all this is ATOT 🙂
 
Agree with most of your post, however, I disagree about the speed.

1 inch of snow just means turning and stopping are more difficult, so, you need to slow down sooner for red lights or slow down for turns, but, if you're on a long straightaway, there's no reason why you can't go the speed limit as long as there's nobody in front of you...

Of course it varies a lot by the road your on, and visiballity plays into account as well ... but, on a long straightaway, with just a few inches on the road, I see no reason why you can't safely travel at 80+ mph in the snow.
 
akshatp said:
I kind of figured that, but thought I would call you out on it anyway . After all this is ATOT 🙂
Click to expand...

Haha no worries 🙂

gree with most of your post, however, I disagree about the speed.

1 inch of snow just means turning and stopping are more difficult, so, you need to slow down sooner for red lights or slow down for turns, but, if you're on a long straightaway, there's no reason why you can't go the speed limit as long as there's nobody in front of you...

Of course it varies a lot by the road your on, and visiballity plays into account as well ... but, on a long straightaway, with just a few inches on the road, I see no reason why you can't safely travel at 80+ mph in the snow.
Click to expand...

Well this was on a major highway during rush hour. This person clearly missed your point haha.

I would disagree though. You have to maintain traction to continue at that speed. If 2 wheels lose traction while trying to maintain that speed, the car enters a slide of some sort.

Additionally, thought there might be a different term for it in the snow, but hydroplaning is a very real possibility.

-Kevin
 
Depends on how icy the roads are under the snow. If it were an inch or less of dry snow and I knew there was no ice, I would probably go ~60 on an empty straightaway. But most people don't understand these things.

Then I laugh at them in the ditch.
 
I live in Quebec and even here I see the same freaking BS every winter. It's not that difficult even with the shittiest car, yet somehow people always manage to lose control of their cars in the most idiotic ways.
 
JohnOfSheffield said:
M+S tyres.

Not driving around in a shitty Tacoma would help too.
Click to expand...

You seem to have reading comprehension issues so here I'll ignore the first part of your post (Since you obviously don't know what you are talking about) and link a relevant quote in right here in response to your second part.

I drive a 2010 Tacoma 4x4 and I didn't need 4x4, A-Trac, or my Rear Differential Locker. I didn't have any extra weight in the back and I made it back with virtually no slipping/fish tailing (Some courtesy of the wonder that is ABS and Limited Slip Differential). Why are there so many people who don't understand the principle of Winter Driving?
-Kevin
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Gamingphreek said:
Haha no worries 🙂



Well this was on a major highway during rush hour. This person clearly missed your point haha.

I would disagree though. You have to maintain traction to continue at that speed. If 2 wheels lose traction while trying to maintain that speed, the car enters a slide of some sort.

Additionally, thought there might be a different term for it in the snow, but hydroplaning is a very real possibility.

-Kevin
Click to expand...

I don't know the Virginia area.... And, yes, during busy traffic, it's obviously completely batshit insane and reckless to drive weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating .... that is why I agree with most of your post 🙂

And yes, if you can't maintain traffic, then obviously it's not a safe speed.

But, with snow tires and AWD, there should probably be plenty of traction to get up well over 100mph...

That said, I just run with AWD and all seasons, and I'm usually not on interstate type roads, usually on state highways with occasional red lights and driveways ... so my speed tends to stay below 50 usually when there's snow, or below 60 in good weather...


I think I am argumentative in nature and will mention something If I see even the most tiny little flaw in things.... hehehe....

Here I was agreeing with you, and it made it look like I was questioning you, and puttin gyou on the Defensive ... when in reality ... I was only disagreeing with one point, and only to a small extent ... only really making an "exception" ....
 
Three years ago West Texas iced over completely. If you know anything about West Texas, snow is rare and being iced over doesn't happen. The drivers here can barely drive in rain.

I had to drive across the state. It was quite an interesting drive with all the incapable winter drivers.

About every mile of the highway had 1 flipped over big rig and 2-3 cars that ran off the side of the road. No exaggeration. People seemed to think that 50mph was an appropriate speed for driving on ice. I at least had expected better out of the truck drivers.
 
BurnItDwn said:
I don't know the Virginia area.... And, yes, during busy traffic, it's obviously completely batshit insane and reckless to drive weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating .... that is why I agree with most of your post 🙂

And yes, if you can't maintain traffic, then obviously it's not a safe speed.

But, with snow tires and AWD, there should probably be plenty of traction to get up well over 100mph...

That said, I just run with AWD and all seasons, and I'm usually not on interstate type roads, usually on state highways with occasional red lights and driveways ... so my speed tends to stay below 50 usually when there's snow, or below 60 in good weather...


I think I am argumentative in nature and will mention something If I see even the most tiny little flaw in things.... hehehe....

Here I was agreeing with you, and it made it look like I was questioning you, and puttin gyou on the Defensive ... when in reality ... I was only disagreeing with one point, and only to a small extent ... only really making an "exception" ....
Click to expand...

Ah no big deal- I didn't take your post that way at all. I knew what you were getting at 🙂 I just thought I should probably toss a counter-point up there haha.
 
Gamingphreek said:
There is *maybe* 3 inches of snow on the ground, but that 3" is enough to force most people not to use their brains!

I was driving in the left lane on Route 28 North. I was going ~30MPH.
Click to expand...

30 in the left lane in 3 inches?

Move your grandma ass over to the right lane with the rest of those afraid to drive... and let the real men thru.
 
guyver01 said:
30 in the left lane in 3 inches?

Move your grandma ass over to the right lane with the rest of those afraid to drive... and let the real men thru.
Click to expand...

Hmm funny that nobody else in the rush hour traffic seemed to have any problem with my speed in the slightest. Also funny that I made it home without an accident.

-GP
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top