Be careful when driving in the snow, please.

So a couple years ago, we were driving to Durango CO, and we had to go through a mountain pass between a tiny town called South Fork and Pagosa Springs on rt 160.

We had spent alot on tickets for a little treat for our son so we couldnt miss it. Naturally it starts snowing the day of and this is like a 6 hour drive on dry roads. Anyways all was good we were taking it really slow, until said pass. I was literally going 10mph when the 2WD sedan starts sliding on a curvy downhill.

The only thing keeping us on the mountain was a giant snowbank that stopped us. People are very nice in CO so immediately people were stopping to help us. A guy in a truck chained up to my car and tried to pull it out of the snowbank while about 5 guys were pushing it from the front.

All that was accomplished was 1 step backwards 2 steps forward off a mountain. When we gave up the rear passenger tire was about 6 inches off the ground. The state troopers were taking pictures.

The tow guy charged me 400$.
Never again.

On year we got stuck un prepared for a snow storm, and after three days we were running too low on food to stay at home.
My husband and I spent four hours outside digging out the car, and trying to clear the looong pathway out to the road. It was hell. We were exhausted and frozen.
Finally, we got in our Grand Cherokee, ready for the dangerous trip down the mountain.
We got about twenty feet along before the car slid uncontrollably into the side of the road, the nose on the edge of a cliff, stopped by the snow bank. We got out and started hiking back home. The neighbors were outside, having come out to wish us luck (and probably elbowing each other, "heheh, watch this...." )

That was it. Last time we tried that.

Even with a 4x4 and not a lot of snow, I prefer to stay off the roads. I'm not worried about my driving abilities but it's the other yahoos that just don't give a **** about other peoples safety and drive like fools.

Up here in Saskatchewan, it's the idiots with their jacked up 4x4s I worry about, roads are snow packed and icy and they're still trying to drive over the speed limit. They think that being in a 4x4 gives them some kind of immunity, 99% of the vehicles in the ditch are these guys, too much testosterone and not enough brains, unless I absolutely have to I avoid the highways when it snows simply because of these guys, I don't need to be in an accident because of their stupidity.

Stay safe, keep a blanket, some candles, and snack food in your car, in case you get stuck for longer than you thought.

originally posted by: openyourmind1262
I live in central North Carolina, as you all have heard it's gonna snow here tonight & into tomorrow. The people who run this city are realllllly ready. They started putting brine on the roads Wednesday morning. People are "bat shat crazy" right now. Their calling for 1 to 6 inches , depending upon where you live. It will be gone in two or three days. Folks go to the store & stock up like it's the apocalypse. Around here they buy up all the milk & bread.....Why? I have no damn idea.

It's bread, milk and eggs. The French Toast Holiday is what we like to call it.

Driving in snowstorms and on slippery roads is the norm here for about four months a year. So is shoveling, blowing, or plowing snow. Enjoy Heikki Lunta, he may be coming back home for the celebration shortly. We will send him back on his trek through the states after the festival, he wants to spread snow and storms to all of us Americans so we can enjoy winter.

best advice for driving in the snow is to make no sudden actions, and by sudden I mean the way you drive when there is no snow.

accelerate and brake slower than you normally do, turning and steering: absolutely no sudden or sharp turns of the steering wheel. start turning the wheel slower and sooner than you normally would when approaching a turn in the road.

any sudden or normal actions that you make with the vehicle will cause it to lose traction and you become a 4,000 pound out of control projectile.

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: intrptr


Lord, you ARE a cynic. LOL.


The first person blamed, and rightly, is the truck driver.

I got nearly run over and killed by a stand in driver who turned a corner short cause he was lost, ran over my truck and tried to flee the scene. Besides destroying my truck and nearly squashing me, there was no ticket written for him, the cops didn't even file a repot, besides which the trucking company insurance carrier laughed at me on the phone when I tried to call them collect.

I'm very cynical.

I also understand you are qualified, conscientious and wouldn't have pulled that stunt in the OP or turned a short corner like the trucker that almost killed me.

a reply to: deadlyhope

We've only had a few "real" snows in Chicago so far, and strangely, people have overall (in my field of view) been driving excellent - way better than most years.

I've seen a few cars in ditches. All but one were were desperately in need of replacing their tires. While I feel bad for people who can't afford to maintain their vehicles, I do wish we had annual safety inspections here. So many people drive around with worn tires, brakes, steering and suspension components. I would rather a moderately drunk driver be on the road than a sober driver in some of the vehicles I see on the roads.

PSA: Don't kill people. Maintain your vehicle. And drive smart in the snow/ice.

a reply to: intrptr


sigh...

Great reminder. There has been so many tragic accidents this past Holiday season in my area because people weren't used to the weather(hasn't been this icy/snowy in a while). Where I moved from to here, we ended up many times driving on ice. Good advice to check into safety precautions of different winter conditions. As well as having your vehicle prepared for that driving.

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: intrptr


sigh...

That was a compliment. I respect your input here, Trucker (makes diesel horn honk arm signal).

a reply to: intrptr


I got it, Bro. The sigh was for the moron that almost took you out.

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: deadlyhope
Do not drive like you want to star in a Russian dashcam video.

This needs to be on a bumper sticker XD

originally posted by: chiefsmom
Michigander here.
I'm sorry, but I just laugh when I seem some moron slide off after flying by me. But up here, we have no real snow to speak of. Seems all of you not used to it are getting it.

At one point, it was all over in my neck of the woods, on my street. Along with a bed of ice on the entire street thick enough to skate on for a few days. We're down a slight hill on a dead end L street, I'm sure the neighbors at the elbow at the bottom pucked more than once when cars came down the road.

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: intrptr


I got it, Bro. The sigh was for the moron that almost took you out.

He didn't speak english, only had a class C license. I saw it.

a reply to: intrptr


I'm glad I'm almost too old to continue driving truck. I'm trying to make it to Nov. of 2017. That's when the mandatory electronic log regulations come into effect nation-wide.

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: intrptr


I'm glad I'm almost too old to continue driving truck. I'm trying to make it to Nov. of 2017. That's when the mandatory electronic log regulations come into effect nation-wide.

Constant surveillance by wire. You are no longer you, you are the 'log'. Independent truckers, whats that? Union truckers, who are they?

Too bad, miss the days when truckers were the guardian angels and shepherds of the road. Truckers like you.

(Honk Honk)

a reply to: intrptr


Thank you for those kind words. Heart-felt appreciation for them.

a reply to: deadlyhope

I'd like to add to please keep a reasonable distance from the plow trucks, especially when they are clearing an intersection!! If you are too close behind and it's a big truck, the driver may not be able to see you in the side and rear view mirrors.