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Inconsiderate Drivers (share your stories, etc.)

21746 messages,  Last post on May 21, 2013 at 7:38 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Safety

Messages Page 2140 of 2176

#21384 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [steve_] by xwesx

Feb 13, 2013 (11:01 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 13, 2013 10:56 am)
People who haven't lived in Alaska (no, not even Minnesota counts!) just don't understand what six months of winter driving really means. For me, it actually feels strange for the first couple of weeks in April/May when the roads are dry. The car just doesn't move right.

#21385 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [xwesx] by steve_ HOST

Feb 13, 2013 (11:16 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 13, 2013 11:01 am)
We had to fly out midwinter for a family emergency back in the 90s to Newark, where we rented a FWD car for a two hour drive in the dark in a snowstorm on one of the turnpikes to NY. I was cruising along just fine at 50+ most of the time, except when I'd have to slow for the idiots literally parked in the middle of the three lane.

#21386 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [xwesx] by backy

Feb 13, 2013 (11:54 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 13, 2013 11:01 am)
I've had snow in October (30 inches) through May. Does that count? "Snow season" in MN doesn't end until June. It's not called "Minnesnowta" for nothing. Don't forget we get our winter weather from Siberia just like Alaska does... then it hits the warm air from the Gulf and... BOOM!

#21387 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [backy] by xwesx

Feb 13, 2013 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 13, 2013 11:54 am)
No, not really, because it's still periodic. It's difficult to get used to driving on icy roads when they aren't that way consistently. It'll snow, melt, snow, melt, repeat.... Here, it snows, stays, snows, stays, snows, stays, until eventually it all melts over a couple weeks' time frame in late April or early May. The roads are varying degrees of slick depending on temperature, but they are constantly covered in ice.
 
Granted, heavy snow storms are a tough slog no matter where you live, no doubt about it.
 
I'm not meaning to say that anyone's winters "don't count." I'm just saying that someone who drives on ice all the time can get much better at doing it than someone who doesn't. So, I say I was driving at 60-70 on ice, and the response is that person is suicidal. That's not really the case.

#21388 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [xwesx] by backy

Feb 13, 2013 (12:34 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 13, 2013 12:24 pm)
It's suicidal. Or idiocy--take your pick. Doesn't matter how often you've driven on ice. The laws of physics are the same.
 
I've been driving in MN winters for nearly 40 years. I've had many a winter where there's ice on roads for several months. Over the last few years, El Ninos and global warming have shortened the road ice season some. But still a lot of ice to deal with. Some people deal with it more safely than others.

#21389 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [backy] by steve_ HOST

Feb 13, 2013 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 13, 2013 12:34 pm)
This is the first really snowy winter we've experienced here in the UP, our third. We have bare pavement showing in lots of spots today. What I haven't seen much of is black ice. That was the main reason for having studs in Anchorage; otherwise you'd just sit and spin at the busy intersections.
 
It's a beautiful sunny day here (and the sun actually puts out heat) and no drivers crowded us on our walk over to the in-laws and back (we won't see the sidewalks for another couple of months so we're walking on the side of the road).

#21391 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [backy] by xwesx

Feb 13, 2013 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 13, 2013 12:34 pm)
Okay.

#21392 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [xwesx] by fintail

Feb 13, 2013 (3:53 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 13, 2013 2:32 pm)
Come to Seattle during a snow event if you want to see fun drivers. If you think the AK loonies are bad...imagine the skill people here show on dry roads, but on ice.

#21393 of 21746 Re: Couple of head-scratchers [fintail] by andres3

Feb 13, 2013 (5:16 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Feb 13, 2013 3:53 pm)
As long as they crash outside of moving lanes of traffic, it's hilarious.

Messages Page 2140 of 2176

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