I hate people...

...who don't know how to drive in the snow.

I lived in western NY for a number of years, where the towns up there don't plow unless there's a minimum of four inches. Having a car that could be picked up by four people easily, it is understandable that I quickly learned how to drive in the snow. To me, unless they are predicting a minimum of six inches, I'll go out without any problems.

That was until I moved to New Jersey.

For some reason, people in New Jersey can't drive in the snow. You get two types of drivers. The first are those who really freak out when the first flake drops and drive 10 mph. Yes, you should slow down in the snow. Common sense dictates that. However, you should not go so slow that people behind you get frustrated and take the risky move of passing you. That causes accidents.

The other ones are the crazies in the fancy SUVs who think they are invincible and drive 10 mph over the speed limit. They don't seem to realize that four-wheel drive will not help you when you hit a patch of ice. Instead of losing control of just two wheels, you lose all four. And anybody who drives fast in the snow is just asking to crash their vehicle. I just hope that they don't injure anybody in the process. What's worse? These tend to be the people who tailgate you if you're going even 1 mph below the speed limit.

So why am I complaining about the snow? This morning the tri-state area was hit with a whopping 1/2" of snow. What happened? Almost every single major roadway was partially or completely closed down due to accidents, most of them multi-vehicle. It took me two hours to get to work this morning. I'm just dreading the ride home this afternoon.

Comments

Having lived in South my entire life... I must say that most times if we get any snow then schools/businesses close or at least open late. However, most people down here do drive as you describe during thunderstorms!

Jen (the human servant)
Tiger Lily said…
I feel your pain. I lived in NJ for several years as a child and now live in eastern NM, but my heart home is the Finger Lakes area outside of Syracuse, NY. We try to stay off the roads out here when it snows just because we know someone will do something stupid, just as you describe.

Tiger Lily's Mom
LZ said…
I feel your pain completely! I live in NJ and the Lap Lady used to live in New England. The people in NJ SUCK at driving in the snow. Yup...1/2" and the neighbors are shoveling! I guess they just don't get it....

Kaze
We all lived in New Mersey for several years. (Except for Ozzie, he wasn't born yet)

You're all giving New Jersey drivers way too much credit. The problem isn't that they can't drive in snow. The problem is most of them can't drive at all!
Victor Tabbycat said…
Radcliff et al - LOL!
Sounds like here (Madison, WI). Every year, people have to "relearn" how to drive in snow. And they NEVER learn to drive in rain. I learned to drive in Los Angeles, with plenty of rain but no snow. I think rain is more challenging, assuming you drive with a modicum of common sense. Another thing about 4-wheel drive: you won't stop any faster. In fact, since your vehicle weighs more, you have more momentum. Oh no, not Physics! We never use that in the REAL world!
B&V's mom
Max said…
The flip side of that is people who, because they have 4 wheel drive vehicles, think they can still go 20 mph over the limit and that ice on the highway won't matter. When we were in North Dakota, I swear I saw more SUVs in the ditch than I did smaller cars.

I would be the weenie snow driver...snow is one reason we came back to CA. I think it's evil, truly evil ;)

~thumper
We live in Canada - need I say more! Snow, slush and ice are our way of life for at least 5 month of the year. They don't drive any better here!!

Brenda & Ninja
Iago de Otto said…
Hey, so you can log on at work too and play on the Internet. Cool!

But wait a minute here. What does this have to do with broken foot bones and ankle tendons with donut holes in them?

Am I being led astray? Is this misdirection? Are you trying to trip me up? Is it I that will suffer a pedal punishment? My God! Are you in my head!!!???!! What's happening here?

I need to take a deep breath.

Wow, that was close. I get pretty caught up in the adventure pretty quickly, you know. I am gonna hafta be more careful reading this two-year story or I might end up like that guy in Flicker.
Anonymous said…
Good words.

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