Wintertime! Yearly snow driving gripe - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JB3 · #1 01-02-2014, 10:38 AM

I would like to renew my every year complaint about people who do not know how to handle their car in snow, drive way too fast, apply way too much power and spin their tires all the time, and never clean their windows off so they have no idea who and what is around them.

It drives me nuts to see people going about 50mph down my street in slick snow, distracted, texting, fiddling with the radio, yelling at their kid, and unable to stop or turn on low traction tires. I live on a 45 degree bend in the street which is semi blind as well, and im up high and can look down into most of the cars. Down the street from the bend is a temple school. From my living room ive seen 3 or 4 fender benders this season as idiotic people speed down the straight part, and cut the corner only to run into the line of cars waiting to drop off their kids.

It only gets worse in snow. People if anything seem to be even more reckless. Saw another fender bender this morning. Roar up the street, apply the brakes, slide in the snow, hit the car in front of you, drop off your kid and exchange insurance info. No cars have been wrecked yet, but its pretty consistent that people will tap. Im waiting for some poor kid to get nailed by another parent

SwampYankee · #2 01-02-2014, 10:57 AM

As a generalization (unsubstantiated claim of course), there are no worse snow drivers than southern New Englanders.

gatorblue92 · #3 01-02-2014, 10:58 AM

I am the a-hole driving way too slow in the snow. This is only my 2nd northern winter so I think I can be forgiven

SwampYankee · #4 01-02-2014, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

I am the a-hole driving way too slow in the snow. This is only my 2nd northern winter so I think I can be forgiven

You should be commended for driving responsibly! No need for forgiveness.

JB3 · #5 01-02-2014, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

As a generalization (unsubstantiated claim of course), there are no worse snow drivers than southern New Englanders.

I totally agree. We see just enough snow to assume we are experts in snow driving, and not enough to truly become experts.

elchivito · #6 01-02-2014, 11:32 AM

Just because the road is iced and hasn't been cindered or salted and it's near white-out conditions does not mean we have to forfeit our god-given right to drive the posted speed limit. Jeez what a buncha weenies.

SwampYankee · #7 01-02-2014, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

I totally agree. We see just enough snow to assume we are experts in snow driving, and not enough to truly become experts.

True dat! I was in my Suburban on the way to the hospital this morning to pick up my wife, following two ConnDOT plow trucks doing 50 on I-91, and we all got passed on the right by some DB in an Accord who just couldn't wait. Sliding and wagging his rear in the snow/slush combination cast off by the plows. I was really hoping that he'd eat the Jersey barrier. I'm sure he made it to his destination, pissing off and endangering many more folks along his way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Just because the road is iced and hasn't been cindered or salted and it's near white-out conditions does not mean we have to forfeit our god-given right to drive the posted speed limit. Jeez what a buncha weenies.

Clearly!

Simpler=Better · #8 01-02-2014, 01:23 PM

I love snowy days here. Quite literally, 50% of the drivers will get scared and call in sick. 45% are terrified and drive at 30-45 on the highway. %5 are transplants such as myself, and enjoy the now open road to cruise along.

martureo · #9 01-02-2014, 02:36 PM

I agree to all of the above.

However, I really appreciate fart can exhausts around this time of year. Especially when they're on WRX STi's and other four wheel drive "rally" vehicles. Whether they're warning me of the idiot approaching waaaaaaay too fast or calling out to the world "I'm an idiot!" revving, while trying to get their car out of the grassy median.

rs899 · #10 01-03-2014, 09:36 AM

I'm glad I don't have to witness this. I'd have a stroke. It's bad enough in dry (well, non icy) conditions down here.

Hatterasguy · #11 01-03-2014, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

As a generalization (unsubstantiated claim of course), there are no worse snow drivers than southern New Englanders.

But, but they have 4wd!

MS Fowler · #12 01-03-2014, 12:20 PM

My snow rants===
They must actually teach these behaviors in driver's ed, because they happen so often--at least here in the mid-Atlantic:
1) STOP, and force all behind you to stop at the bottom of all long grades. You lose precious momentum, and then slide all over the road, and into opposing traffic trying to get traction from a standing start on an uphill grade.
2) Find the critical intersections in your neighborhood ( there must be listing on the web by zip code)--maneuver your car to block all traffic, put on your 4-way flashers, lock, and abandon the vehicle.

And not quite so egregious.. drive too slow--like 8-12 mph in the "fast lane" of Interstate highways. If you are only comfortable at 8-12 mph, then PLEASE move to the right, and allow others to drive at the reckless speed of 15-20 mph.

Mölyapina · #13 01-03-2014, 12:25 PM

Oh sheesh (we were out on the roads yesterday). All this reminds me of what BC said earlier this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

The idiot percentage is now climbing north of 50%.

iwrock · #14 01-03-2014, 01:07 PM

Slow in the snow?!?!

I'm that guy that's completely sideways in the snow - taking up two lanes.

Need to fine tune my driving skills.

martureo · #15 01-03-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

My snow rants===
They must actually teach these behaviors in driver's ed, because they happen so often--at least here in the mid-Atlantic:
1) STOP, and force all behind you to stop at the bottom of all long grades. You lose precious momentum, and then slide all over the road, and into opposing traffic trying to get traction from a standing start on an uphill grade.
2) Find the critical intersections in your neighborhood ( there must be listing on the web by zip code)--maneuver your car to block all traffic, put on your 4-way flashers, lock, and abandon the vehicle.

And not quite so egregious.. drive too slow--like 8-12 mph in the "fast lane" of Interstate highways. If you are only comfortable at 8-12 mph, then PLEASE move to the right, and allow others to drive at the reckless speed of 15-20 mph.

I'm with you on these.

On my way home from Columbia on Tuesday I spent 20 minutes getting two miles from my office. Head on collision at a stoplight. Yesterday, as it was snowing pretty hard I did the same exact thing. Same light, same type of accident, but now it was in snow. 35 minutes to go the same two miles.

On the way home last night I saw two suburbans off the road in ditches, both were in 35 mph zones, no curves or hills in that section of road. Five more cars seen on the way home, yet I had no traction issues on my 18 miles commute over back farm country roads.

This morning was another story. After 4.5 inches of snow I made it a good ten miles before snow drift caught me off guard. 25 mph and braking too little too late turned it into a tank slapper, I ended up facing the wrong direction off the left side of the road in a field, right where the hard shoulder would normally be. I got pulled back on the road and had no other issues getting in this morning.