OT; Almost killed someone today....

[kota1342000]

I know none of my Friends here would do this, but please pass this on to people you know who might.

Driving in the snow isn't brain surgery, and if you're not a tiny bit nervous about it then you might be doing it wrong. But if you;

1. come flying off of a ice covered 25mph (40kph) on ramp to the highway at more than twice that speed,

2. smash into the concrete barrier on the emergency lanes after continuing around in a 180 degree slide,

3. slam your car into reverse and back up fishtailing across all three lanes of traffic,

4. clothesline the back of your car into the guard wires in the median,

5. get back into drive and spin out back across the 1 and 2 lanes of traffic,

6. and finally fishtail back around across lanes 2 and 1 before finally getting control.....

...well then you have a problem. Actually more than one, and the easiest way to resolve them all is when it starts to snow, stay home. Or at least don't do it in front of me when I'm loaded almost to gross. My 40 ton truck will win, and I'm not driving this thing to get anyone hurt.

[Targan]

I don't think I'll be driving in snow any time soon. I doubt it's snowed around here in the last 20,000 years or so. I hear you though, kota. I saw people do some crazy sh*t in front of me when I was driving trucks. Some car drivers seem to have a lemming-like need to off themselves in very messy ways.

[kota1342000]

I agree Targan. It really depends on which state you're in over here too. Oregon, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, and Montana seemed to have the least of that kind of thing.

Come to think of it, I read an article some time ago about the "land trains" that get pulled across the Outback through Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Four 53' trailers dollied up. I remember thinking those rigs must have awesome engine brakes, oil retarders, and go through LOTS of brake shoes.

[dragoon500ly]

Considering how badly most people drive in good weather, adding snow and ice just increases the odds of getting creamed by some idiot drinking their Starbucks, texting their friends and putting on their makeup (I used to live in San Francisco....and seeing a guy put on eyeshadow was always good for a double take....), or my favorite....they read the newspaper, in rush hour traffic, on the interstate.

And people wonder why I want to use a tank when I drive on the freeway?!?!

[Cdnwolf]

Would snow tires have helped? I always use the first snow fall to go to an empty parking lot and practice skidding and stopping and getting use to the vehicle in icy conditions.

Just hope you and everyone are alright.

[headquarters]

what you guys are describing is surely condemning for those individuals actually behaving like that. I have always stated that gun laws are ridicoulusly strict compared to the miniscule amount of effort going into backup checks for someone getting a 3 metric ton, 400 hp SUV with steel bars across the front.

Some people shouldnt be allowed to own arms. But the same applies to a whole bunch of people and their cars..

Once walked out of a bar in Canada. It was winter, snow and sometimes a icy or snowy surface.Two 20 year olds or something come out of the same bar, I saw them drinking quite alot inside - as they walk out they are discussing a group of high school friends recently killed in a car accident. Drunk driving apparently was these case. They are both sorry to hear about it . But also somewhat vexed that anyone would drive when too drunk.

With a slight drunken stagger they get to their car,eventually manage the carkeys and get in then drive away.

The guy drove perfectly btw.

[Legbreaker]

It's just as bad when you're on a bike. I nearly get run off the road at least once a month by some idiot (usually a mother with kids in the car) who can't be bothered to check their mirror, look over their shoulder, or at least glance in my direction before changing lanes.

[Targan]

It's just as bad when you're on a bike. I nearly get run off the road at least once a month by some idiot (usually a mother with kids in the car) who can't be bothered to check their mirror, look over their shoulder, or at least glance in my direction before changing lanes.

I can totally relate to that, too. I'm currently in the process of rebuilding my 900cc Kawasaki which was nearly written off some years ago due to the stupidity of a 4WD driver. I haven't bothered to rebuild it until now because the injuries I suffered in that accident made it difficult to ride (dislocated shoulder that has never completely healed and a banged-up knee).

[Adm.Lee]

I'll cop to the second half of #5 and all of #6. That got my heart rate going!

I know none of my Friends here would do this, but please pass this on to people you know who might.

Driving in the snow isn't brain surgery, and if you're not a tiny bit nervous about it then you might be doing it wrong. But if you;

1. come flying off of a ice covered 25mph (40kph) on ramp to the highway at more than twice that speed,

2. smash into the concrete barrier on the emergency lanes after continuing around in a 180 degree slide,

3. slam your car into reverse and back up fishtailing across all three lanes of traffic,

4. clothesline the back of your car into the guard wires in the median,

5. get back into drive and spin out back across the 1 and 2 lanes of traffic,

6. and finally fishtail back around across lanes 2 and 1 before finally getting control.....

...well then you have a problem. Actually more than one, and the easiest way to resolve them all is when it starts to snow, stay home. Or at least don't do it in front of me when I'm loaded almost to gross. My 40 ton truck will win, and I'm not driving this thing to get anyone hurt.

[Graebarde]

I know none of my Friends here would do this, but please pass this on to people you know who might.

Driving in the snow isn't brain surgery, and if you're not a tiny bit nervous about it then you might be doing it wrong. But if you;

1. come flying off of a ice covered 25mph (40kph) on ramp to the highway at more than twice that speed,

2. smash into the concrete barrier on the emergency lanes after continuing around in a 180 degree slide,

3. slam your car into reverse and back up fishtailing across all three lanes of traffic,

4. clothesline the back of your car into the guard wires in the median,

5. get back into drive and spin out back across the 1 and 2 lanes of traffic,

6. and finally fishtail back around across lanes 2 and 1 before finally getting control.....

...well then you have a problem. Actually more than one, and the easiest way to resolve them all is when it starts to snow, stay home. Or at least don't do it in front of me when I'm loaded almost to gross. My 40 ton truck will win, and I'm not driving this thing to get anyone hurt.

And the sad thing is IF you should have piled over shit for brains, WHO do you suppose they would blame? The trucker of course.. 4-wheelers are NEVER to blame when there's a chance to get $$$ out of a trucking company. Glad you didn't though.

[kota1342000]

Would snow tires have helped? I always use the first snow fall to go to an empty parking lot and practice skidding and stopping and getting use to the vehicle in icy conditions.

Just hope you and everyone are alright.

Snow tires really do help, though I prefer chains. much cheaper for trucks, but the only problem is finding a place to pull off and chain down when the road appears again. LOL
And the parking lot is an excellent way to train. Its not a natural act to turn into the direction youre skidding.

It's just as bad when you're on a bike. I nearly get run off the road at least once a month by some idiot (usually a mother with kids in the car) who can't be bothered to check their mirror, look over their shoulder, or at least glance in my direction before changing lanes.

Exactly. Some of the close calls I see bikes go through make me shiver. At least I have some protection...bikes have nearly nothing. One of my friends at the shop says that to get a driver's license, everyone should have to spend a day on both a bike and a truck.

Considering how badly most people drive in good weather, adding snow and ice just increases the odds of getting creamed by some idiot drinking their Starbucks, texting their friends and putting on their makeup (I used to live in San Francisco....and seeing a guy put on eyeshadow was always good for a double take....), or my favorite....they read the newspaper, in rush hour traffic, on the interstate.

The best one Ive seen so far is someone giving themselves a "manual release" by hand at several different speeds. I really wish I hadnt looked, but I was trying to see why he was "driving in spurts." Nyuk nyuk

And the sad thing is IF you should have piled over shit for brains, WHO do you suppose they would blame? The trucker of course.. 4-wheelers are NEVER to blame when there's a chance to get $$$ out of a trucking company. Glad you didn't though.

Yep, Id expect cuffs on scene before the investigation began. The good side is Im a company driver, and the company is big. We might be a deep pocket, but we have a business to run; the company has some pretty high speed lawyers on our side to help get us out of jams.

I'll cop to the second half of #5 and all of #6. That got my heart rate going!

Just remember whoever has the most tires wins! :D

[pmulcahy11b]

My mother tells me those studded tires one used to be able to get for winter in the US were great -- they improved traction in snow and ice a lot. Unfortunately, you can't drive in most places in the US with studded tires, even in ice, mud, and snow, because they tear up the road.

[Sanjuro]

It's just as bad when you're on a bike. I nearly get run off the road at least once a month by some idiot (usually a mother with kids in the car) who can't be bothered to check their mirror, look over their shoulder, or at least glance in my direction before changing lanes.
I've had some interesting moments on my bike, too. Here in the UK filtering between stationary lanes of traffic is pretty much accepted- I was doing that on the M40 into London (at perhaps 15mph tops) when White Van Man decided to try and jump his van across two lanes. I managed to miss him- then rode along the side of his van, banging on the side with an armoured glove. As I reached the front, the driver was an enormous guy with a shaven head and biceps like my thighs-and he was cowering in his seat!
I guess body armour and a full-face helmet make me look a lot more intimidating than I really am...

[Targan]

I've had some interesting moments on my bike, too. Here in the UK filtering between statioary lanes of traffic is pretty much accepted- I was doing that on the M40 into London (at perhaps 15mph tops) when White Van Man decided to try and jump his van acroos two lanes. I managed to miss him- then rode along the side of his van, banging on the side with an armoured glove. As I reached the front, the dirver was an enormous guy with a shaven head and biceps like my thighs-and he was cowering in his seat!
I guess body armour and a full-face helmet make me look a lot more intimidating than I really am...

I've kicked big dents in a few car doors over the years (in my younger, angrier days), always following near misses.

Non-bikers seem to forget that in a low to medium speed accident the most likely result is that they'll end up stopped on or off the road, pretty much unharmed and upright in their stationary vehicle. A motorcyclist involved in the same sort of accident will, at the very least, be sliding down the road having holes torn in his or her clothing and skin. Or maybe stuck under the bike having a hot exhaust branding a permanent scar into them. Or hit something solid and be badly messed up or dead.

[Graebarde]

My mother tells me those studded tires one used to be able to get for winter in the US were great -- they improved traction in snow and ice a lot. Unfortunately, you can't drive in most places in the US with studded tires, even in ice, mud, and snow, because they tear up the road.

Studs are better than regular snow tires, and chains too IMO. NoDak has a time frame you can have them on the vehicle. They actually don't start ripping the roads until it warms up and the asphalt gets softer. We ran them on all four corners too, not just the drive tires since the front brakes tend to lock down faster (this was pre front wheel drive BTW.. remember I'm an old fart) FB

The mention of chains reminds me of the time I hit Cajon Pass in SoCal going from Palmdale to Riverside avoidling the upper LA basin.. of course it was snowing heavy and CHP was making everyone either chain up or turn back.. I was in uniform, had Dr. appt at March AFB that I would not make if I had to backtrack.. asked WHY? NEVER in my life has I used chains and drove on snowpack/ice most of my life. He asked where I was from, NODAK.. showed him my DL.. take it easy he says and if you have problems there's a plow coming in a bit.. I didn't have a lick of problems, but the asshole in the gunboat with chains on did, nearly went over the side.. I just waved and didn't break traction.. made the appointment on time and had to take the long way home though.
FB