Idiots and winter driving

[square1]

Co-worker of mine was near the front of it when it started.. Said conditions went from being an easy 70 MPH expressway cruise to zero traction in the blink of an eye. Amazingly and quite luckily he wasn't hit even though the car in front of and behind him were. He watched helplessly as a third car bounced of a concrete abutment as it avoided hitting him. He finally saw a big enough opening to squeeze through and get away from the carnage.

I was on a different road in the vicinity and not a hint of slippery, nonetheless I did consciously and purposely remind myself to slow down and pay attention before crossing the first overpass.

 

[LD48750]

Every LEO & news caster will tell you, SLOW DOWN!!!!

Too many people think that is the answer to every situation on the hiway.

I've spent many years earning a living on the road & find over cautious people driving slow cause more problems then they solve.
True, in most cases, hey themselves are not involved in the accident s they cause but make no mistake, they do cause them.

 

[Deere Dude]

Everybody is an expert till they hit black ice.
I slid past people at stop signs on the right or on the left a few times and it is a scary time. I moved form WI to TN 3 years ago but the most important thing is to slow down, keep the wheels straight and don't hit the brakes in snow. Baby them.

In Wisconsin i haven't been in a ditch or had an accident in 40+ years probably even though I had to venture out everyday and drive 20 miles to work on 2 lane roads. And I went through some heavy snow and drove faster than I should have most of the time using these principles. Maybe a little luck was involved.

Where I live now, a couple inches of snow will shut everything down for a week.

 

[Garandman]

Second that lol, 3-5 inches of snow people drive like it's a dry summer day in a hurry, if it rains people drive 50mph under the speed limit in Ohio lol. /

The MSP calls 4WD pickups and SUV's "ditchfinders."

 

[powerscol]

Not to pick on Texans :thumbsup:, but many years back over Christmas We visited my sister in Huston, On the day we left there had been a major Ice storm overnight, I was pulling my 18' TT with a full size bronco and we had to thread out way through the carnage. All the bridges were glare black ice and folks would drive fast and hit the breaks on the deck and just spin out of control, instead of just driving slowly and neutralizing the drive train on the deck. I probably should not have been driving, but needed to get back for work, God blessed us that day on not getting hit. We had more than one vehicle pass us and loos it right in front . 4x4 and not more than 35MPH made for a very long morning. I did hook up with some truckers and followed their lead. Not sure I would do that now a days.

 

[aczlan]

And they've never heard of winter tires.
First storm in Boston las year, I was driving out of town in about 2" of snow and there was a guy driving a brand new BMW in the passing lane at 20mph. Why spend $50,000 on a car and cheap out over $800 worth of tires?
Usually, though, the 20mph tieup is due to a "I've been driving in snow for nn years and don't need winter tires because of my mad skillz" driver.

My new-to-me car isn't on the road yet and I have already picked up a set of good used studded snowtires for it ($300 mounted, balanced and ready to go, 80% tread depth, all studs are still there, the car they went to was totaled this summer).
IMO, its a good investment. I put together a set for the wife's Yukon this fall, those were around $425, but I sprang for TPMS for her car. If it keeps it out of one accident, it will more than pay for itself (our deductible is $500).

Aaron Z

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

My new-to-me car isn't on the road yet and I have already picked up a set of good used studded snowtires for it ($300 mounted, balanced and ready to go, 80% tread depth, all studs are still there, the car they went to was totaled this summer).
IMO, its a good investment. I put together a set for the wife's Yukon this fall, those were around $425, but I sprang for TPMS for her car. If it keeps it out of one accident, it will more than pay for itself (our deductible is $500).

Aaron Z

Can't run studded tires here

 

[Soldier415]

People don't seem to understand that having 4WD with snow tires helps you GO...but does nothing to help you STOP.

 

[aczlan]

Can't run studded tires here

Here you can from Oct to Apr. I wouldn't pay extra for studs, but they came with studs, so I will leave them in.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

People don't seem to understand that having 4WD with snow tires helps you GO...but does nothing to help you STOP.

It was my understanding the snow tires will help you stop better.