Feb 11 2009
A Review of Snow Driving Tips
It may be hard to see, but this is a picture of me sliding out of control in the snow. It is OK that I am sliding out of control, because I am on a sled, and not in a car. On my drive home today, I got to see lots of people slide out of control in their cars. So today, instead of reviewing a website, I am going to do a different kind of review. For all the people who don’t know how to drive in the snow, we are going to review some of the basics of snow driving.Now maybe some of you live in a place where it snows all winter, and pretty much everyone knows what they are doing,but where I live it only snows 3 or 4 times a year. Some years we don’t get any snow. This insures that any time it snows the roads will be full of people who have never seen the white stuff before. There are two types of snow drivers that drive me nuts. The “I have 4 Wheel drive and I can go 70mph just to prove I’m cool” types, and there are the “I am scared to death and I won’t drive faster than 10mph” types. Put both of them on the roads at the same time, make it a little slippery, and let the fun begin.
So let’s get started with our review.
1. Just because snow is falling from the sky, doesn’t mean the road is slippery. If there is no snow on the road and there is no snow sticking to the grass on the side of the road, you can be pretty sure it is safe enough to drive over 15 mph.
2. If the snow is sticking to the road, and you don’t have chains or 4 wheel drive. GET OFF THE ROAD! Your light little gas saving 2 wheel drive can’t handle the snow. And I can’t handle having you slide into my 4 wheel drive car.
3. Don’t tell me “I didn’t think it was going to snow.” It is winter, in the mountains, you have to be prepared for snow. Either drive a 4 wheel drive or carry chains. If you don’t have 4 wheel drive or chains, don’t drive.
4. Just because you have 4 wheel drive, it doesn’t mean you can’t slide. Slow down! If you spin out going that fast there isn’t much I can do to avoid you.
5. It is not OK to stop in the middle of the fast lane to put on chains. I’m glad you have your chains with you, but it might be a better idea to put them on in a parking lot, instead of making the freeway a parking lot. At the very least, pull over to the side of the road.
6. It is also not OK to just stop driving in the middle of the road, get out, lock your car and walk away just because you got scared. Seriously, what was that all about? At the very least pull off the road! Or at least leave your car unlocked so we can push it off the road. Between you and the guy putting on chains, I think I am going to go crazy!
OK, that is enough ranting for now. I feel much better. Now that I am finally home I can sit by my fire with a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy the snow. It really makes the trees look pretty!
You have me laughing. It must have been hellish driving today. However, I know how you got a lot of that information.
HA! Oh yeah, that’s why I moved to Florida!
Hey Cindy,
If this winter keeps up the way it is, I’m moving in with you! Who knew California could be this cold!