Driving on ice...not snow...

[zachnsamsmommy]

Okay...this is sort of a vent, but not exactly...

I live in Tennessee, and we maybe get one decent snow a year, if that (as in more than an inch or two). We just had that storm that started in OK, TX and now is heading to the Carolinas. We only got 3-4 in of snow, but did get about 1 in of ice.

Several of my out of state FB friends have made fun of southerners not being able to drive in snow, how 'panicked' the news around here gets, and so on. I'll have to agree about it being a little silly to call off school before we even get a flurry as just a 'precaution', and the overreaction by the news media.

But it really infuriates me to read comments on FB, news posts from people who 'know how to drive in snow b/c I grew up in ________ (fill in some northern or midwestern state)". I am the first to admit I am not a good snow driver, so I avoid it at all costs. But ice? We have super curvy roads here (I'm not that far from the mtns), black ice, and ice in general.

Apparently, no one takes the news seriously. We just had a 20 car pile up on I 75, and numerous other wrecks on our main, not even back, roads.

So...just a little vent that ICE is not SNOW. So don't assume that b/c you grew up driving in snow that you can drive on curvy roads covered in ice.

Okay...flame away! But this is SO worth it if it keeps another wreck from happening...


ETA...I do realize that people do have to go to work. I am talking about people on the roads b/c they think that driving on ice is fine...

 

[toddlers_mom]

I totally agree! I live in Indiana where I've been used to driving in the snow since I was licensed. Some of us tend to say that people must forget how to drive in the snow every year lol. But, ice is completely different than snow and even though some of us could drive in the snow blindfolded, ice kills me every year! Drives me crazy when I get no traction and slide all over!

 

[OhMari]

I agree,
no one can drive on ice,
doesn't matter where you live.
The only way, you can drive on ice, is about 5 miles an hour and you will still skid a few feet trying to stop.

 

[Shutterbug]

Yep another northerner that agrees..ice is nasty stuff to drive on. Even snow tires wont help you much on ice. Only tires that will help on ice are studded tires and even then you cant go fast.

 

[IMissEd]

Oh, I love this post. I live in East Tennessee. Many of my friends who moved here from up north have been making fun of the schools/churches/etc closing and I have been biting my tongue.

I had a horrible car wreck taking my kids to school two years ago this February. There wasn't any snow on the road, but there was a black sheet of ice. The back, country roads are terrible. Some of the roads will stay icy for a week because they are shaded by trees and don't see any sunlight.

By the way, we were all fine. My car sustained $10,000 worth of damage and the kids only had a few cuts and scratches.

So, yeah... I totally understand where you are coming from. All I know is I haven't left my house since 12 noon yesterday and don't plan on going anywhere until work Monday morning.

 

[Sparx]

i'm in tn, and no matter how "good" at driving in the snow someone is, living in a place where roads go unsalted is not easy for anyone, and shouldn't be attempted unless absolutely necessary.

my hometown didn't have the equipment to clear roads, so driving wasn't easy for anyone.

 

[hereyago]

I live in VA. and we actually have snow, it is hilarious. However,I don't drive in snow, well more like at night when the roads have iced over.

I was just watching the news and all these idiots out and about trying to see what is open. One lady who was out driivng said people should stay in-wow that should have been her to.

People were out trying to get essentials like milk, bread today-people are way to non chalant about hearing when a storm is coming whether it be snow or hurricane. I would rather much be safe then sorry.

 

[minkydog]

No flames from me, I live in Atlanta. If we get even an inch of snow they close everything down and go home. I know a lot of people make fun-- ahead, I don't care. I"m still going to sit my butt at home and make cookies all day. What they don't seem to understand is that none of the cities big or small have fleets of snow removal equipment. And why should they? It only snows here maybe once a year and it's usually less than 4 inches. It's cheaper for the city to shut down and everybody stays home for 3-4 days until the ice melts than it is to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in road equipment that won't be used more than 20 times in the next 10 years.

Hah! I'll take our little bit of snow and all the hoopla surrounding it anyday over 9 months of freezing Minnesota cold. If it's so great up there how come the snowbirds all move to Florida for the winter?

 

[luvthatdisney]

Right there with you! I am in NC and our roads are awful. We have about 5 inches of snow packed down with about 1 inch of sleet. Did not even bother getting dressed today, stayed in and cleaned house all day. Our street is ice covered and just watched the news showing numerous car accidents on the major highways (77 and 277 - I live near Charlotte).

I work with alot of "northerners" who make fun of us. But they can't drive on this either! Wanted to leave work early to get out of the way of the crazy southern drivers, yeah right!!

 

[mnrose]

Hah! I'll take our little bit of snow and all the hoopla surrounding it anyday over 9 months of freezing Minnesota cold. If it's so great up there how come the snowbirds all move to Florida for the winter?

Hey! It's not cold for 9 months of the year here. Only 7.

The one good thing is, though, we have LOTS of experience with ice and snow. And, our road guys do a phenomenol job with taking care of our roads. My brother (born and raised in Minnesota), but now lives in Atlanta says one of his favorite winter "sports" is waiting for that inch of snow to fall in Atlanta, and then going to a freeway overpass and watching all the southern drivers. He's got a wicked sense of humor though.

 

[bumbershoot]

I completely agree. Perhaps you should hide the comments on FB from those people until snow/ice season is done!

I lived in SC for a few years, and during/after one winter storm, the schools remained closed for almost a week. There was no snow on the ground. However, when you actually realized the problem and thought for more than a second, you realized that the kids mainly lived rurally, with big tree cover over the roads. The days weren't warming up until around 2, 3pm, and the ice would start to melt. Soon enough it would get dark again, and the roads would ice up. When, exactly, were the cars and schoolbuses supposed to actually get those kids, and get them safely? The answer is, of course, that one or two hour period...but that's not enough for getting to school and back, let alone learning. So when people actually opened their minds, it made absolutely perfect sense. But it's not a cute sound bite, so many of my acquaintances back them hadn't listened past "there was no snow on the ground".

 

[Ladygator]

I totally agree with you. We live in middle TN and I will be surprised if we go back to school even by Wednesday. Our county has many hilly roads that never see the sunlight. Until the temps are above freezing for several days the ice will not melt and the school buses can not operate. The main roads are fine but the rural roads are icy and dangerous.

 

[hereyago]

I know a lot of people make fun-- ahead, I don't care. I"m still going to sit my butt at home and make cookies all day.

I am right there with ya. I have made cookies, brownies, hot chocalate. I have the essentials and I am not leaving the house until maybe tuesday. VDOT is trying to keep the major roads clear, however, I live off the main roads and we don't get plowed.

Luckily Dd was off school monday anyway. Dd and our GS puppy have been loving it.

PSA: Do not tow your kids on a sled/boogie board behind your vehicle. Some yahoos were doing this today and the news anchor was making a statement for people not to do it.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Wow! So far, mainly agreement with my post . I was preparing myself for a mob carrying torches .

Just watched the 11 o'clock news... Most of the wrecks weren't people that HAD to be out (work related or emergency), just people that didn't think the roads would be bad.

I think what a lot of people from colder places don't realize is that most of us southern towns don't have a snowplow. Just what can be done with salt, sand, and brine mixes. Which only works to 15 degrees. You betcha I'm not leaving my house for another day or two...

 

[minkydog]

I completely agree. Perhaps you should hide the comments on FB from those people until snow/ice season is done!

I lived in SC for a few years, and during/after one winter storm, the schools remained closed for almost a week. There was no snow on the ground. However, when you actually realized the problem and thought for more than a second, you realized that the kids mainly lived rurally, with big tree cover over the roads. The days weren't warming up until around 2, 3pm, and the ice would start to melt. Soon enough it would get dark again, and the roads would ice up. When, exactly, were the cars and schoolbuses supposed to actually get those kids, and get them safely? The answer is, of course, that one or two hour period...but that's not enough for getting to school and back, let alone learning. So when people actually opened their minds, it made absolutely perfect sense. But it's not a cute sound bite, so many of my acquaintances back them hadn't listened past "there was no snow on the ground".

That's the way it is in North GA. We don't have to have any snow on the ground but if there is ice on the roads they'll call off school. Fine with me. I"m not putting my kids on the bus to go skating on the ice and I'm not driving in it either.

 

[Piecey]

Hey, I'm from northern West Virginia and even though I do know how to drive in the snow I still don't... ice? Heck, I don't even check the mail when there is ice!

My dad's best friend moved to Raleigh and he loves to tell stories of how when they get snow he'll take all his neighbors to the store. He loooves to drive in the snow. He also works at a hospital and said their last big snow he took people home/picked up the new people at the shift change.

 

[minkydog]

PSA: Do not tow your kids on a sled/boogie board behind your vehicle. Some yahoos were doing this today and the news anchor was making a statement for people not to do it.

Good thing we have those news guys to tell us what to do. Here in North GA we had 2 young men die when the fell through the ice on a partially frozen pond a couple weeks ago. The news guys had been drilling on the "don't get out on the ice" thing for days, but these boys still had to try it out. And now they're dead. For what it's worth, there is NEVER a time in Georgia that it's safe to get out on the ice.

 

[olena]

We have this every time there is a storm here in Atlanta, which is full of northerners who aren't afraid to drive on a "little snow". Maybe, but they slide all over the place on icy roads that aren't plowed/salted as well or as often as they are up north. (If we maintained the same snow removal resources that they do up north, taxpayers would be furious at the waste of money.)

My friend lives in a hilly and curvy neighborhood. To get out of the subdivision, cars have to climb a steep hill in front of her driveway that gets very little sun. During our last ice storm, she remarked at all her male neighbors who came from up north and thought nothing of the icy hill. She watched them slide back down the hill over and over and shook her head. Some of them slammed into others' property. They ranted about no plowing and how unprepared the South is for such things...... They also wonder why schools close for such situations. Why indeed! I can just see a school bus sliding off the road and into someone's house.

 

[tinatark]

I posted nearly the exact thing on the other thread!

20 car pile up on I-75 tonight - cars coming across an icy bridge. At one accident, the fire engine parked, responders got out to help the motorists, and their truck slid into one of the cars involved in the accident! A snowplow overturned west of here, but I think that may have been driver error.

We had alternating snowflakes/freezing rain last night and most of the day today. Tonight, once the sun went down, temps went down, too, and people started sliding all over the roads.

 

[DVCmom1960]

I posted nearly the exact thing on the other thread!

20 car pile up on I-75 tonight - cars coming across an icy bridge. At one accident, the fire engine parked, responders got out to help the motorists, and their truck slid into one of the cars involved in the accident! A snowplow overturned west of here, but I think that may have been driver error.

We had alternating snowflakes/freezing rain last night and most of the day today. Tonight, once the sun went down, temps went down, too, and people started sliding all over the roads.

I know!!! Its supposed to warm up tomorrow and should clear off by Mon. our school was about the only one open on Fri. I was really hoping for a snow day with my DD I think the only thing worth leaving E TN is for a few more good snows I want some snow cream & not Mayfields