What's So Damn Hard About Winter Driving?

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Aramike

So it was a long day.

On my way home this morning, from meetings in Madison, some idiot driver in a 4WD SUV t-boned my car, totalling it and sending me to the hospital. Now my back's pretty screwed up.

Okay, yes - it was incredibly slick and snowy, as we just got our first storm of the year. That being said, how the HELL did someone think it was okay to be driving 40mph with no traction?

I overheard the guy telling the cops that he thought he could stop faster due to his 4WD. So let me clear up a myth for anyone who thinks like that - 4WD helps you get going. It does NOT help you stop faster.

Now the Vicodin's setting in, so more on this later. I just had to vent.

Sorry to hear about your accident Mike. Hope you recover quickly! The person that hit you, did they have Kali-fornia plates? They are hands down the worst divers in bad weather, then you throw in the SUV factor. I had my driver's ed in MN in February, so I have little patience for people that can't drive in bad weather.
I think the most dangerous drivers in bad weather are: SUV+female or teenage male driver. I hate SUVs (or jacked up monster trucks) to begin with. I think they create a false sense on security of invulnerablity.

I could tell you all of my horror stories from last year. (here in or-gone) All of the cars that slid off the road that I saw were suvs or those large pickup trucks. This state has VERY limited snow capabilities, meaning the they only plow the highways and they don't salt (they use gravel). They do allow studded tires here, but they absolutely destroy the roads.