First Snowfall Fuckery

[BrenDAnn]

Upon walking out my door to go to work this morning, I was greeted by the first actual snowfall of the season. While it provided for an interesting drive to work, it also provided for an even more entertaining morning while at work. Somehow, as it always happens even though we get snow here in Iowa EVERY FARKING YEAR, people forgot how to drive and/or stop in it. Combine that with the city/state having their heads up their arses and not clearing the intersection of the two highways by my c-store out right away, and what do you get? A semi jack-knifing and hitting a brand new off the lot pickup truck that was waiting to get into a c-store across the road. Yup. That's right. One of the local car dealers had taken the pickup to gas it up, and the semi ended up losing traction coming down the hill, jack-knifing, and hitting the pickup. The drivers were both alright, but shaken up. Oh, and more semis that couldn't make it up the hill heading north out of town just past the intersection. It took forever for them to get the plows out to clear the roads even after all of that. Amazing. I'm just glad I was a spectator, and not part of the action!

[blas]

We had our first significant snow last night into today. I was appalled last night leaving for my bf's place that there was already a good 3 inches on the ground and no roads had even been touched yet.

[Sapphire Silk]

We got a couple of inches here in NC as well. Evil Empryss picked me up and it was light flurries. By the time we got to the wholesaler it was coming down good.

The asshats were out in force. One numbnuts walked right out in front of the car as EE was pulling into her space . . . didn't even look at her.

Me: My god! He didn't even look at you!
EE: Of course not. Then he'd have to acknowledge my existence.

Anyway, by the time we were done (not long actually, we just bought a pie) it was coming down like gangbusters.

As EE is backing out, she goes, "OMG! He just missed my bumper?"
Me: Who? That white van? (I had seen it in the passneger door mirror)
EE: No! That little red car.

Little red car blew by so fast I couldn't even see it when I looked around.

Everyone in the parking lot was driving like they'd lost their minds. It was like watching lemurs headed for the cliff. Everyone had to get home because it was snowing and the roads were dangerous . . . when it was their poor driving and hurry home that made them dangerous in the first place.

[BrenDAnn]

Oh, I love the people that are all "OMG!SNOW! MUST HURRY & GET STUFF DONE!" when there are 2 flakes in the air. I love even more the ones that ride my arse when I'm taking my time driving on ICE on the highway. Yeah, because if I lose my shit on the ice, they're REALLY going to have time to stop and/or miss me. No. Some people should be sent back to driver's ed or something!

[Mytical]

I stand by the statement "The worse the weather, the lower peoples IQ goes."

Coming to work I was going barely over 20 and still having to use ALL my skill to keep the vehicle on the road. Even fishtailed once. The road was pure black ice (at night time it might as well be invisible). Yet people try to drive like it is a sunny day in May or something. Yeah, my vehicle has front wheel and not four wheel drive, but when you see people who are trying to go 60..you know something is wrong. Note : I said Trying. Lots of people in the ditch.

The ones that really make me scratch my head, however, are those who drive so close their vehicle could just pucker up and kiss the bumper of a semi. On a few inches of pure ice..you REALLY think you are going to stop? Good luck with that.

Luckily it was only on the back roads (the ice). [sarcasm]I love being considered 'emergency personnel'[/sarcasm] Means I don't get to call off, regardless of conditions. Of course I've flat out told the place I work for..I get a ticket, crash, whatever THEY are paying for it.

[shadowpanda]

We had about 5 inches of snow here, so lots to play with. I was driving home without any problems when there is a huge 'THUMP' on the side of my car. Some 'kids' (about 16, definitely old enough to know better) were hurling huge snowballs at my car. It made me jump, hit the breaks and panic a little as I didn't know what it was.
My fella said 'stop the car', I did, he got out, stormed towards these kids screaming "what the f*$k do you think you are doing?!" My other half is only 5' 6", but has just shaved his head and is muscular, he is pretty formidable and a force to be reckoned with. These kids ran away so fast it was hilarious.

A little bit of humanity saved though, as I had pulled over with my hazards on, a guy stopped his car and asked if everything was ok when he could have just kept driving!

[Crossbow]

I stand by the statement "The worse the weather, the lower peoples IQ goes."

I'll second that. And 4 wheel drive does no good on black ice. I don't care what you seem to think. I see more 4WD vehicles in the ditch or wall every winter than anything else.

We finally got our first real snowfall of the year and as usual, everyone has forgotten how to deal with it. Excuse me, we live in a region that is noted for having LOTS OF SNOW! Are you really that f***ing stupid????

(Never mind. I know the answer to that one....)

[Sapphire Silk]

I'll second that. And 4 wheel drive does no good on black ice. I don't care what you seem to think. I see more 4WD vehicles in the ditch or wall every winter than anything else.

We finally got our first real snowfall of the year and as usual, everyone has forgotten how to deal with it. Excuse me, we live in a region that is noted for having LOTS OF SNOW! Are you really that f***ing stupid????

(Never mind. I know the answer to that one....)

What people with FWD fail to understand is NOTHING is proof against ice. The trick is to SLOW DOWN!

FWD is good for unpaved roads, unplowed roads in snow, and mud. It's of little use on ice, and can in fact make things worse.

[blas]

I owned an SUV the other day. I'm so proud of my baby.

A woman in an SUV was going to attempt to make a flying start from a stop sign where there was still a tad of snow unplowed, left over from Friday night. I saw trouble from the get-go, and just laughed at her.

The SUV does that whole slide but not go anywhere routine where you're attemtping to go way too fast and your tires just spin and spin until you catch on to more dry pavement and finally get some traction and go, when she finally got some traction she sped off.

Without being as obnoxious on the gas, I start to go, and easily make my way through the snowy intersection, tires grab the pavement, and it's smooth going.

Too many people are over-confident in their 4wheel drive off-roading vehicles. I'm more than convinced that front wheel drive cars are not only safer to drive in snowy/slippery conditions, but are also more efficient at maneuvering in tricky weather.

[Mytical]

Lol maybe it is just that I am a good driver then. The four wheel drive I use has never ended up in the ditch. While I have been in 10 (I actually lost count) accidents..I've only been driving in ONE of those. Though I seem to be a curse if somebody ELSE is driving.

[Shalom]

I drive a 4x4 SUV as well, and I've found that on ice I'm better off leaving it in 2WD mode.

Come to think of it, I've found that on ice I'm better off leaving it in the driveway...

[Kogarashi]

Come to think of it, I've found that on ice I'm better off leaving it in the driveway...

Quoted for truth.

I also drive a 4WD, and have yet to do into the ditch. Of course, I usually avoid the slickest of roads and go slow, as was mentioned earlier. Sensible driving is sensible.

What I hate most about driving the jeep in winter weather, though, is the anti-lock brakes. We've got the kind that shudder and shake when they engage like they're about to fall apart. Hate it.

[BrenDAnn]

On the subject of 4WD...my dad's big GMC Sierra has it. It fishtailed around a corner MORE with it on in the winter, than without it. Also, I heard stories once of one 4WD truck going in the ditch, and a second going out to rescue it, and ending up in the ditch too! I don't know...Every time I drive in winter my dad's voice is in the back of my mind going 'go slowly, don't ride the brakes, don't gun the gas' etc. Too bad more people can't learn the rules of winter driving! Oh, and I spoke to the car dealer that was driving the pickup in my original post. He's my favorite of all of them, and a regular customer. he said they had JUST taken the pickup off the shipment trailer, and it had 4 miles on it. Wow. For some odd reason, he saw the semi coming down the hill towards him (sideways ) and tried to climb into the back seat of the truck! Thankfully he was okay, just shaken up & sore!

[Frantic Freddie]

It all depends on what kind of 4WD system you have (not all SUVs have 4WD or AWD,I know the Jeep Grand Cherokee can be had in 2WD).A biasing system that operates only when the front/rear wheels start to slip is better than a locked transfer case & limited-slips in the differentials is better than a locker.This is only for ice,in deep snow or mud you want the locking transfer case & diffs.
Tires make a big difference too,normal street tires are optimized for dry road traction,they don't have enough siping to make a difference on ice.
I rarely have to drive on ice (we don't get ice storms here,just massive snowfalls sometimes) but I carry chains anyways,never know when I'll need 'em.

On the subject of 4WD...my dad's big GMC Sierra has it. It fishtailed around a corner MORE with it on in the winter, than without it. Also, I heard stories once of one 4WD truck going in the ditch, and a second going out to rescue it, and ending up in the ditch too!

Pickups are very light in the rear,with no weight they're worse on ice.I used to throw rocks & cinder blocks in the back of mine (actually not very smart since they could fly forward in a crash) to get more traction.

[Andara Bledin]

It was like watching lemurs headed for the cliff.

Lemurs? ô.o



I call it "Sky is Falling" syndrome. The moment anything starts falling from the sky, everybody loses what little minds they started off with.

^-.-^