Winter fun!

[ArenaBoy]

Living in the hand of Michigan, people feel the need to drive like it's 75 degrees out. Trying to go to school carefully is frowned upon by many and I've had three guys fly right by me despite the fact that I'm playing it safe. The hilarious thing is, when I had to get my wisdom teeth taken out, my dad drove my car (Saturn) through a very snowpacked road. Did he drive safe? Yes. The irony of it all was those SUVs getting stuck in the snow while a small Saturn is passing them by.

[Thrifty]

Living in the hand of Michigan, people feel the need to drive like it's 75 degrees out.

And doesn't it seem like the worse the weather is, the crazier they drive?

[protege]

The irony of it all was those SUVs getting stuck in the snow while a small Saturn is passing them by.

That's a great view, isn't it? Most SUV owners (locally) have the idea that no matter what the weather, 4WD and traction control will let them drive 70mph on ice. I've seen more SUVs sliding around than cars the past few years. Most car owners will slow down when it gets bad, unlike some of the SUV people.

I'm one of those people that doesn't freak out over snowflakes. I deal with it. I was always told that you don't use the brakes as much. For example, at stop signs, you take your foot off the gas and look for traffic. If none is coming, you ease through the sign. That way, there's less chance of sliding.

Some idiot found that out the hard way last year. I was coming down a hill, approaching the stop sign halfway down...when the car started to slide. I'd hit some buried ice, and the car went sideways. As I'm trying to regain control, the car, about 6 lengths in front of me just sits there. No traffic coming, but I'm sliding downhill sideways, right at him I nailed the horn, and what did the dumbass do? He turned around and looked at me! You'd think he'd, oh, I don't know...get out of the fucking way? Only did I get right on top of him he pulled away, and I was able to straighten the car out.

I see some pretty hairy stuff on the roads during winter. Even though it's snowed here *every* year, winter driving seems to be an advanced concept for some people.

[Jester]

As an SUV owner, I'd like to defend other people who drive them.

Problem is, I can't. Most SUV owners are idiots, it seems, judging from these stories and my own personal observations.

Keep in mind, I include myself in this club only barely Unlike the majority of those SUV clowns we have been discussing here...

--My SUV is a midsize, NOT a full-size behemoth monstrosity with its own zip code.
--My SUV is rear-wheel-drive and built on a truck platform, so I treat it as a rear-wheel-drive truck, NOT an invincible four wheeler that can go anywhere.
--I know how to freakin' drive.

During my summer vacation, I found myself in a ridiculous rain storm in North Carolina. It was so bad, visibility came to almost zero. Yet most people kept plugging along, most at unreasonable speeds. Myself, I took my cue from the 18-wheelers around me....I pulled over to the shoulder, turned the Jestermobile off, left the flashers on, and listened to the radio a while, waiting for the storm to lessen. If it's good enough for truckers, it's good enough for me!

[Gurndigarn]

That's a great view, isn't it? Most SUV owners (locally) have the idea that no matter what the weather, 4WD and traction control will let them drive 70mph on ice.

To paraquote Click & Clack again: "The problem is, they don't have any particular advantage, really. All vehicles come with four wheel stop."

[Sonoma]

I have to admit that my truck is 4WD, but.....I bought it because it is what was available at the time, I could afford it, and I am very willing to admit that vehicles do not work well on ice.

I too live in the NW, and have seen the interesting results when it happens to snow, then you get a layer of ice on top. I will admit that I am not experienced in driving on snow/ice. 4WD will help me get going, but it does not help me stop.

My office is of the opinion that 'you choose where you live'. So, if roads are impassable, you are still expected to come in. They overlook the fact that our office is in a 'high-rent' area, but they don't pay 'high-rent' wages. They won't pay my insurance deductible/medical expenses if there is problem, so if it's not drivable, I stay home.

[dispatch]

I have had the notion of writing a book explaining in layman's terms how basic knowledge of physics and laws of friction apply to driving in bad weather, then chuck it at the heads of the idjits in the ditch that just a minute ago were riding my bumper and honking

last year they had some lady on the news after a snowstorm that really got my goat. (I think I may have mentioned this before) she had bought a brand new jeep liberty that day, first 4wd she had ever owned or driven, and as she pulled out onto a snowpacked road and encountered traffic she stated "I think the other drivers should get out of the way for those of us with 4 wheel drive"

[Reyneth]

A) I lived in Cleveland for 4 winters, drivers there are worse than here because they are more aggressive. Plenty of folks in the ditch, swappin' paint, etc.

Ohhhhhh yeah. I'm right on the edge of the Cleveland snow belt (and lol it's a pretty defined edge - one min you can't see 15 feet in front of you, next you have clear, clean roads!). Nothing like having some jerk blow by you and then seeing him stuck off the side of the road two minutes later.

[DesignFox]

In good Ol' Jersey (at least the part I live in) we don't get all that much snow. If we get more than a foot, most things shut down- it's unusual enough that it's considered dangerous. People fly around here all the time in their honking SUV Land Yachts. (I like Jester's comment about them having "their own zip codes" it really applies here).

So, you can imagine, when the weather gets bad, it gets awful on the roads! My little 93 ford escort plugs along fine, and, since I'm cautious, I've gotten many places more safely than most 4WD vehicles that go careening down the highway. Oh, and when there is a dangerous amount of snow coming down- I STAY HOME! god forbid...

A little Off Topic- My old District Manager at one of my jobs related this tale to me:

She was running a group of portrait studios at host stores. She had to call each store in the area to confirm that it was closed and then call the associates for the photo studio so they would not go to work (or panic about calling out). I don't know what poor associates were stuck in the host store, but they told her that there were people banging on the doors, with their children with them, angry, at 7AM because they wanted sleds...
Now, the road conditions were deemed hazardous due to snow and everying was CLOSED- it was pretty obvious...yet these people not only endangered themselves, but also their children! And they expected that the poor workers would endanger themselves to get to work...all so they could go sledding!

[friendofjimmyk]

FOJK, I'm tellin ya, you should have waited until closer to the end of the winter to apply for that one, but don't worry, we'll make sure to laugh at you and send messages to your truck about how nice the central heating in the dispatch office is

YOU LIE! There is NO central heating in this office! It's all COLD air that blows! So, when you are laughing about central heating, I will know that most of you are bundled up in blankies!

[friendofjimmyk]

A) I lived in Cleveland for 4 winters, drivers there are worse than here because they are more aggressive. Plenty of folks in the ditch, swappin' paint, etc.

Yes, I am in Omaha now. Moved here in 2005. I lived in Dallas from 1998 - 2005 - but before that - CLEVELAND, OHIO BABY! BORN AND RAISED!

[friendofjimmyk]

then you get a layer of ice on top

What it is - it's not a layer of ice on top the SNOW - it's snow on top of the ICE...that's when it gets hairy - folks think it's only snow and WEEEEEE....they didn't realize they put the skates on their vehicles!

[Becks]

In good Ol' Jersey (at least the part I live in) we don't get all that much snow. If we get more than a foot, most things shut down- it's unusual enough that it's considered dangerous.

I'll soon be experiencing my 4th NJ winter, after a lifetime in WI. I swear, a lot of people out here don't have a clue about how to drive in snow. (And what does it take for the powers that be to allow the use of salt for the roads? Sand isn't cutting it, people!!!!!!!)

[DesignFox]

I'll soon be experiencing my 4th NJ winter, after a lifetime in WI. I swear, a lot of people out here don't have a clue about how to drive in snow. (And what does it take for the powers that be to allow the use of salt for the roads? Sand isn't cutting it, people!!!!!!!)

At least they try in some areas...my neighborhood gets to be a big ol' ice skating arena- the town never bothers to plow it til the last minute, and maybe they sand the main strip. My dad has a plowing contract with another town, so HE plows the road for us just so we can get our cars out...stupid township. But yea, now that I think of it, I don't think I've seen salt around in awhile...They have primarily been using sand...it might have something to do with the environment. I remember reading somewhere that the salting has turned the soil in certain areas and the local flaura, which doesn't like salt, starts to die out and the salt liking plants start to take over...or maybe NJ is just cheap! I don't really know.

And yes, few people here know how to drive in snow. Somedays, I won't go out, not because of the snow, but because of the morons!

[sportsmom]

Living in the hand of Michigan, people feel the need to drive like it's 75 degrees out.

And doesn't it seem like the worse the weather is, the crazier they drive?

OMG!!! Hubby and I moved up here to north-central IN almost 8 years ago from the south coast of VA and these people drive me nuts with the way they drive!

Around here they drive like maniacs in the snow, but little blue haired grandmas in the rain. My gord! I have driven in a hurricane people, a little rainstorm is not going to hurt you. On the other hand, ice and sleet will, so slow the hell down!