Driving in the snow

[dmc]

Personally, I am surprised folks would not pull over to allow traffic to pass because I can not stand people driving up my rear being impatient.

If I'm doing the speed limit and weather is sketchy.... Screw them. let them wait in the line.

I'm sick of these impatient SUV drivers headed to VT - tail gaiting on the Thruway.. And usually they are the ones in the ditch....

 

[Kerovick]

Being from Maryland, I haven't had the opportunity that some of you have had to perfect my snow driving skills. That being said, being a skier I'm not afraid of driving in the snow in the least but will drive at a pace that I feel is safe. If it is to slow for the person behind me I will pull over if a safe opportunity provides itself and I'll also stop to pull them out of the ditch (I drive a Jeep) after they run of the road into a snow bank a mile further down the road (true story). If you’re behind me and you think I'm driving to slow in bad weather and I can't or choose not to pull over to let you by... get over it. My safety and that of the people in my vehicle are my responsibility and that is much more important than you getting first chair.

-K

 

[Greg]

Getting caught behind someone driving too slow is frustrating, but there's very little you can do about it...

What really gets me is when someone puts on their hazards when the roads are tricky. Yeah, thanks jackass, like I need you to tell me the roads are bad. That's more distracting than it is helpful.

 

[hiroto]

As far as pulling over, I understand the shoulders are not plowed and that just isn't safe. But there are many gas stations and businesses along the roads that they could pull over into. Which by the way, I actually see some drivers do. And typically, it is an older, gray haired gentleman who does this. Not always, but typically. It ain't like no one has never done it before.

One good place to pull over is under the bridge. Nice and clear space without snow, if you are lucky to have one over the road you happened to be driving on.

 

[hiroto]

I'm sick of these impatient SUV drivers headed to VT - tail gaiting on the Thruway.. And usually they are the ones in the ditch....

It was so funny it really happened to me once long long time ago. I was driving up to ski mountain with my friend and a four wheeler tail gated behind us. Eventually it managed to pass us and disappeared. Shortly after we passed the same truck which was stuck deep in the ditch :wink:

 

[tjf67]

As I get older I seem to drive slower. Someday i will probably be that person holding up the line. I will if it is safe pull over and let them pass. It is just as frustrating for the person with the tailgater on there ass as it is for the tailgater that wants to get by.

 

[loafer89]

I had a limited amount of driving on actual snow yesterday. Basically I-84 was clear except torward the M.A border where the two left lanes where snow covered. I had the car in cruise control at 70mph and would yield the middle lane where it was clear to the mostly out of state yahoo's going 80mph +

The side roads to Wachusett where snowpacked and traffic was at the speed limit or a bit less (35mph) with a speed limit of 40-45mph.

 

[snoseek]

If I'm doing the speed limit and weather is sketchy.... Screw them. let them wait in the line.

I'm sick of these impatient SUV drivers headed to VT - tail gaiting on the Thruway.. And usually they are the ones in the ditch....

You have a point here. It is very selfish to put others at danger because your late or whatever reason. Also you don't see a lot of small cars flipped on the side of the road-almost always SUV- it's not the SUV its the driver. I do think the drivers that are going slower than everyone else should pull off but if they don't, drivers should show some patience instead of tailgaiting. This is all a real problem in the Northeast that goes much deeper than the weather.

 

[danny p]

...What really gets me is when someone puts on their hazards when the roads are tricky. Yeah, thanks jackass, like I need you to tell me the roads are bad. That's more distracting than it is helpful.

someone who has their flashers on doesn't necessarily mean they are telling you the road is "tricky". It could be an indicator that this person's car isn't performing well in the snow, they are inexperienced driving in the snow, or it might be an indicator saying pass me as soon as possible, I know I'm going slow. Just my $0.02. I've put my flashers on when I see a car/suv approaching dangerously fast behind me. Sorry if I distracted anyone. ;-)

 

[billski]

Good Manners and relativity

I think everyone has good points. It points out to me the general decline in civil behavior over the past 30 years. It's every man for himself now.

When I learned to drive, there was an even older generation on the road: People who learned to drive on Model T's and remember horses pulling snow plows. That generation always drove a lot slower, they were not accustomed to speed. It was common to see people driving 45 or 50 on the Interstate in the 1960s. Over the years, people have busied their lives to a point that they feel they must go fast to squeeze all the events into their lives. 55 now becomes the minimum. My daughter even complained last week about how "slow" (25mph) I was driving on our residential dead-end street filled with playing children. Fast has now become the norm.

Studies have shown that many people's behavior changes when they get behind the wheel. They are more aggressive, hostile and impatient. It's that huge metal mass that is their weapon. The impersonal nature of vehicles permits things you would never do face to face.

Good Manners are in sharp decline. When I learned to drive, it was expected that you would pull over (or if safe, slow down and wave with your hand to pass) to allow others to pass, especially a line of cars would be behind, or in the mountain narrow roads, or where you knew there would be no passing opportunities for a long time. The the quid-pro-quo was that the overtakers would always show a good courtesy "thank you" such as flashing lights, or waving.

Unfortunately, overtakers have become rude and attempt to bully people into going faster by tailgating. This just escalates the issue and the slower driver thinks to self "to hell with you, you drive badly and rudely? You'll just follow me." I've even caught myself doing this on a bad day. When the overtaker finally gets the chance, s/he passes, often unsafely and oftentimes flips the finger. Talk about combative behavior. Both sides share the blame. I don't understand why people can't learn to tolerate the differences in each other.

I get some slight satisfaction when on occasion a driver exhibiting such bad driving courtesies passes me, and then a few miles up the road I see him/her off in the ditch. I am hopeful that they are unhurt, but the hassle and damage caused will be a lesson learned.

Sadly even when hothead drivers finally settle down, there is always another generation right behind them doing the same stupid things all over again.

 

[loafer89]

Driving in Connecticut and Massachusetts is a very different experience than I am used to in when living in New York State as tailgating is a huge problem. Many times, especially in bad weather I have another car 10' or less behind me, even going the speed limit.

I detest tailgating, it is extremely dangerous. Usually I would just speed up to give myself more space, but often times now with my son in the car I will sometimes pull over or find a slower lane of trafic if possible.

 

[dmc]

Also you don't see a lot of small cars flipped on the side of the road-almost always SUV- it's not the SUV its the driver. I do think the drivers that are going slower than everyone else should pull off but if they don't, drivers should show some patience instead of tailgaiting. This is all a real problem in the Northeast that goes much deeper than the weather.

In Colorado it gets crazy too....
People get off a plane from Texas or - rent an SUV to drive 70 to ski... Snow storm... They have NO idea how to drive...

 

[cbcbd]

People are afraid to drive in snow.. People have to work and deal with life...

Asking them to drive faster in bad conditions is unfair... Asking them to pull over and potentially go off the road is unfair and dangerous..

I agree.

I understand your frustration as I'm also one who's passing slowpokes and plows on the highway. But, asking folks who are being extra cautious and slow to pull over - meaning that they have to leave the tracks and go into the untracked highway - is just dangerous. They are doing what they need to be doing to stay on the road and not go flying off into a guardrail.

Like I said, I understand the frustration and get frustrated... but you just gotta pass them on the untracked left lane yourself if time is an issue - I pass on the untracked left lanes all the time... it sure is exciting

 

[billski]

I agree.

I understand your frustration as I'm also one who's passing slowpokes and plows on the highway. But, asking folks who are being extra cautious and slow to pull over - meaning that they have to leave the tracks and go into the untracked highway - is just dangerous. They are doing what they need to be doing to stay on the road and not go flying off into a guardrail.

Like I said, I understand the frustration and get frustrated... but you just gotta pass them on the untracked left lane yourself if time is an issue - I pass on the untracked left lanes all the time... it sure is exciting

There is another protocol that seems to be long-forgotten. Here's how it works. The slowpoke rolls down his window and waves to pass but at the same time decelerates by taking his/her foot off the gas (but NOT stepping on the brakes.) Slowpoke remains in his/her lane. Pokey then continues to slow until all the cars have passed, then resumes a comfortable speed. My mother used this method for years. Reminder to the over-taker, pull back in only after a safe distance (emergency stopping distance) and wave after you've passed him/her to say "thanks!"

This method was usually prefaced by a single light flash by the car who wants to overtake (tailing at a safe distance of course), which puts the play in motion.

This method works well and is safe, but takes the coordinated thinking of both parties. Works for all weather situations. It doesn't every require the slowpoke to leave their comfort-zone.

These are the kinds of civility we are missing on the roads today.

 

[cbcbd]

What really gets me is when someone puts on their hazards when the roads are tricky. Yeah, thanks jackass, like I need you to tell me the roads are bad. That's more distracting than it is helpful.

Lol, Greg...
I usually equate hazards with "there's something wrong with my car", or "it's a whiteout and I'm just helping you see me through all this stuff"... The other night I was behind a car during the snow... there was another car way up ahead with his hazards on...whatever. The car in front of me ALSO turns his hazards on... visibility was great and the road conditions didn't change... I was a little confused and just passed both.

There is another protocol that seems to be long-forgotten. Here's how it works. The slowpoke rolls down his window and waves to pass but at the same time decelerates by taking his/her foot off the gas (but NOT stepping on the brakes.) Pokey then continues to slow until all the cars have passed, then resumes a comfortable speed. My mother used this method for years. Reminder to the over-taker, pull back in only after a safe distance (emergency stopping distance) and wave after you've passed him/her to say "thanks!"

This method works well and is safe, but takes the coordinated thinking of both parties. Works for all weather situations. It doesn't every require the slowpoke to leave their comfort-zone.

I think there is just a lack of communication while driving in the US. Go to European and LA countries - a lot more waving and beeping used for communication.

 

[billski]

Lol, Greg...
I usually equate hazards with "there's something wrong with my car", or "it's a whiteout and I'm just helping you see me through all this stuff"... The other night I was behind a car during the snow... there was another car way up ahead with his hazards on...whatever. The car in front of me ALSO turns his hazards on... visibility was great and the road conditions didn't change... I was a little confused and just passed both.



I think there is just a lack of communication while driving in the US. Go to European and LA countries - a lot more waving and beeping used for communication.

That's a great point. Without communications, we are left to our own devices to interpret a movement. 4-way flashers is a good example. I can think of several reasons why they might be on; people are left guessing or assuming incorrectly then getting TO'd perhaps thinking it's something combative or obnoxious.

 

[billski]

Hijack!

I feel the same way.

HIJACK! CONGRATS ROARK ON HITTING THE 1000 MARK!

Take the day off and go skiing/boarding. Tell your boss I gave the OK! ;-)

 

[snoseek]

In Colorado it gets crazy too....
People get off a plane from Texas or - rent an SUV to drive 70 to ski... Snow storm... They have NO idea how to drive...

I know-i'm leaving in five min. to drive 70, it's possibly the worst road to go skiing i've ever experienced. Overall the driving out here is much better, 70 is the Big exception though-thank god for frontage roads.

 

[dmc]

I know-i'm leaving in five min. to drive 70, it's possibly the worst road to go skiing i've ever experienced. Overall the driving out here is much better, 70 is the Big exception though-thank god for frontage roads.

No doubt.... I've bailed off 70 before too...
People come flying out of the tunnel and hit the slop...

 

[dmc]

There is another protocol that seems to be long-forgotten. Here's how it works. The slowpoke rolls down his window and waves to pass but at the same time decelerates by taking his/her foot off the gas (but NOT stepping on the brakes.) Slowpoke remains in his/her lane. Pokey then continues to slow until all the cars have passed, then resumes a comfortable speed. My mother used this method for years. Reminder to the over-taker, pull back in only after a safe distance (emergency stopping distance) and wave after you've passed him/her to say "thanks!"

This method was usually prefaced by a single light flash by the car who wants to overtake (tailing at a safe distance of course), which puts the play in motion.

This method works well and is safe, but takes the coordinated thinking of both parties. Works for all weather situations. It doesn't every require the slowpoke to leave their comfort-zone.

These are the kinds of civility we are missing on the roads today.

Nice - but I aint sticking my hand out the window during a snowstorm.... thats why i got EZPass...