Snow -- THIS is snow

[3fingeredsalute]

I would like to remind everyone that this morning the Washington, DC area had very few accidents (no moreso than other average mornings) even though the majority of the area had some snow blowing around. It was not MUCH snow, but THIS... THIS is the snow you silly people from the Midwest, Northeast or other regions refer to when you say "snow

Comments

[3fingeredsalute]

I am not suggesting there aren't better drivers than others on the snow/slush/ice (I'm looking at you SUV drivers!), but the fact remains that it is controlled disaster. I have been extremely successful in driving through this region's snow/slush/ice for DECADES, other than two incidents. One, I was hit by a driver who put on his brakes over a football field's length away before he slammed into me, and two, when I so-very-slowly and cautiously accelerated as the first car through a shopping mall traffic light, turning left -- and my car simply decided to continue spinning the tail-end into a curb. I guarantee you, it was completely unavoidable. The intersection was untreated and invisible black-ice.

So luck and skill notwithstanding, there is no way to "drive" in DC snow/slush/ice. There is only a way to too-briefly suspend the inevitable.

Give me SNOW like today's, and I can drive better than anyone (yeah, every last one of ya'll/you'uns) who complain about DC drivers "in the snow". I have had similar ice-training and there comes a point where you are simply unable to even avoid losing control.

[sestree]

Oh definitely it's like playing craps in Vegas - you can only beat the odds for so long.

However, remembering lower gears, less traveled roads (= fewer idiots) not relying on 4WD to save you when you're stupid (which I forget I even have - ask me how many times I've got stuck in the mud and forgotten about it *sheepish look*) and being sensible lowers your risk. I still say lay off the brakes - they're just not your friend in ice. All you do is make a sled out of your car.

I must admit, I much preferred the wide open spaces the few times I've spun out. *knock wood* each time I was able to recover but still ......

...and yes I drive an SUV because I wanted high clearance for the snow. When it snows 6 inches in Kansas they just close the friggin roads :D