Accidents on snowy days

Schneller

Schneller

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You know, it's not people driving too fast for the conditions (which is what the police constantly say,) it's people who don't know how to drive in snow being out on the roads, and driving too slow for the conditions, causing backups and frustrations for other drivers, especially if they are behind someone who can't/won't keep up with the flow of traffic because they are being "safe" and heeding the police recommendation.
 
I'm pretty sure it's a combination of:

- idiots driving too fast for conditions
- idiots not knowing how to drive in these conditions
- idiots driving too slow in these conditions

Frankly, a lot of people just become stupid when it comes to rain/snow/fog whatever when conditions deteriorate. Simple as that....stupidity.
 
And people not knowing how to handle a car in a skid!
 
I agree with the people going too slow to an extent.

If you are in the slow lane doing 60km/hr and leaving room for people to merge that is completely fine.
If you ae in the fast lane with no one in front of you and no one in the lane beside you move over, I had to pass 3 people today on my way into work as they were going 60 or less in the fast lane.
One guy even decided to speed up to the same speed as me when I went to pass him only to slow back down to 60 once I got behind him again (The car in front of him was about 2 kms in front and a row of about 30 cars behind hiM). I understand some people don't like jumping from lane to lane on snowy days with the snow strips between lanes, But they had to do it to get to the fast lane, so if you can't keep up with traffic, then move over and don't cause a traffic jam behind you
 
Snobike Mike said:
Winter tires might help as well.........
Click to expand...

While I'm definitely on the PRO side of a winter tire debate, I find the following:

#1 - they can't help/fix stupidity on the roads
#2 - they can do more harm than good by making people overconfident in their (and their car's) abilities - similar to people with AWD on their vehicles

They are just a tool to be used properly in the right conditions.

I would take a good set of winter tires on my car over AWD any day.
 
The thing I find intriguing is that we live in a country surrounded by snow. Presenting adverse driving conditions for many months of the year. Yet, our driving standards to qualify for a license are sub par. I believe, the Ministry should make a commitment to ensure that our drivers are trained to control their vehicles in the snow. As taximan62 stated above, many drivers do not know how to control their vehicle in case of a skid. And, many others are afraid to operate in these conditions so they tend to drive slow, causing what I like to call a traffic recession. Aside from having the right tools for the job, like winter tries, brakes done, etc, I think it is important to learn how to effectively and safely operate a motor vehicle. I agree there are definitely people who are of the stupid regime, but we cannot blame hundreds if not thousands of accidents on mere stupidty. Certainly a big factor, but we should also consider suggestions to improve our driver training system to prevent unnecessary deaths on our roads.

I think that referring to the police recommendation to drive safe does not necessary mean to drive slow and obstruct the flow of traffic. If one needs the urge to drive safe by going 80 km/h on the 400 on a bright sunny day because he/she perceives it is safe - then that is just plain ridiculous.
 
mimico_polak said:
While I'm definitely on the PRO side of a winter tire debate, I find the following:

#1 - they can't help/fix stupidity on the roads
#2 - they can do more harm than good by making people overconfident in their (and their car's) abilities - similar to people with AWD on their vehicles

They are just a tool to be used properly in the right conditions.

I would take a good set of winter tires on my car over AWD any day.
Click to expand...

I agree.

Of course I was also stirring the pot a bit..... :)
 
Schneller said:
You know, it's not people driving too fast for the conditions (which is what the police constantly say,) it's people who don't know how to drive in snow being out on the roads, and driving too slow for the conditions, causing backups and frustrations for other drivers, especially if they are behind someone who can't/won't keep up with the flow of traffic because they are being "safe" and heeding the police recommendation.
Click to expand...
You and I finally agree on something 100%
 
This is what I wrote on my FB wall during the last snow storm. The driving was absolutely brutal and appalling at what some drivers were doing. It got a lot of likes and shares so maybe it will be enjoyed here as well.


I don't like writing rants or being negative but I felt I just needed to vent and I knew lots could relate to my drive today...

1. The fast lane on any hwy is not the place to stop and fill your washer fluid. Especially when vehicles are traveling at 60+ km/h

2. I know the road conditions are extreme today and agree everyone should slow down but that being said you should be able to control your vehicle at half of the posted limit.

If you cant or don't feel comfortable driving at such speeds get off the road you are a hazard to yourself and others.

3. Congratulations you purchased a fancy 3 series BMW with X Drive. Too bad your summer only tires suck in the winter and your $1000 car payments don't allow you to afford snow tires and rims. That or maybe that "bro" salesman claimed since you had AWD snow tires were not required.

4. To that big guy is his 4wd 1/2 ton truck that felt like giving me a free enema this morning. My *** never felt better. However if I would have had to stop your head would have been so far up my *** we could have made out. I drive a well equipped winter vehicle and don't trust the citidiots around me therefore I leave space. However that does little good when the guy behind me (you) leaves none. If I have to brake then your F250 turns into a wrecking ball and nobody wants to see a Duck Dynasty look-a-like try to imitate Miley Cyrus.

5. Most people drive the same route daily. For instance I travel HWY 400. I know that the least amount of lanes it has is 3. Therefore while driving I know to drive in the right lane my passenger door should be a few feet from the snow bank, in the left lane my drivers door should be a few feet from the guardrail and in the center I should be between these two points. If you cant do simple math or estimations then why are you on our roads?

6. If you are going to run with your hazards then remember that your turn signals no longer function. Therefore you need to take the appropriate measure of turning them off when you make a lane change and using that fancy stick on the side of the steering column to indicate doing so.

7. Lastly if you did not know if your brakes worked before leaving for your destination today then you likely shouldn't be on the road. There is zero need to "tap" them when the car 10 vehicles in front of you taps his because he is scared or is avoiding the idiot in example one. All this does is makes all the people in example 2 panic and have the people in example 3 and 4 end up in a collision with you in the middle now requiring you to be example 6.

Hope everyone gets to where they need to be safely today my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Adrian
 
rbjeepthing said:
This is what I wrote on my FB wall during the last snow storm. The driving was absolutely brutal and appalling at what some drivers were doing. It got a lot of likes and shares so maybe it will be enjoyed here as well.


I don't like writing rants or being negative but I felt I just needed to vent and I knew lots could relate to my drive today...

1. The fast lane on any hwy is not the place to stop and fill your washer fluid. Especially when vehicles are traveling at 60+ km/h

2. I know the road conditions are extreme today and agree everyone should slow down but that being said you should be able to control your vehicle at half of the posted limit.

If you cant or don't feel comfortable driving at such speeds get off the road you are a hazard to yourself and others.

3. Congratulations you purchased a fancy 3 series BMW with X Drive. Too bad your summer only tires suck in the winter and your $1000 car payments don't allow you to afford snow tires and rims. That or maybe that "bro" salesman claimed since you had AWD snow tires were not required.

4. To that big guy is his 4wd 1/2 ton truck that felt like giving me a free enema this morning. My *** never felt better. However if I would have had to stop your head would have been so far up my *** we could have made out. I drive a well equipped winter vehicle and don't trust the citidiots around me therefore I leave space. However that does little good when the guy behind me (you) leaves none. If I have to brake then your F250 turns into a wrecking ball and nobody wants to see a Duck Dynasty look-a-like try to imitate Miley Cyrus.

5. Most people drive the same route daily. For instance I travel HWY 400. I know that the least amount of lanes it has is 3. Therefore while driving I know to drive in the right lane my passenger door should be a few feet from the snow bank, in the left lane my drivers door should be a few feet from the guardrail and in the center I should be between these two points. If you cant do simple math or estimations then why are you on our roads?

6. If you are going to run with your hazards then remember that your turn signals no longer function. Therefore you need to take the appropriate measure of turning them off when you make a lane change and using that fancy stick on the side of the steering column to indicate doing so.

7. Lastly if you did not know if your brakes worked before leaving for your destination today then you likely shouldn't be on the road. There is zero need to "tap" them when the car 10 vehicles in front of you taps his because he is scared or is avoiding the idiot in example one. All this does is makes all the people in example 2 panic and have the people in example 3 and 4 end up in a collision with you in the middle now requiring you to be example 6.

Hope everyone gets to where they need to be safely today my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Adrian
Click to expand...
100% wrong on all numbers!!
(im the owner of a bodyshop) :lmao:
 
NTGUILTY said:
The thing I find intriguing is that we live in a country surrounded by snow. Presenting adverse driving conditions for many months of the year. Yet, our driving standards to qualify for a license are sub par. I believe, the Ministry should make a commitment to ensure that our drivers are trained to control their vehicles in the snow. As taximan62 stated above, many drivers do not know how to control their vehicle in case of a skid. And, many others are afraid to operate in these conditions so they tend to drive slow, causing what I like to call a traffic recession. Aside from having the right tools for the job, like winter tries, brakes done, etc, I think it is important to learn how to effectively and safely operate a motor vehicle. I agree there are definitely people who are of the stupid regime, but we cannot blame hundreds if not thousands of accidents on mere stupidty. Certainly a big factor, but we should also consider suggestions to improve our driver training system to prevent unnecessary deaths on our roads.

I think that referring to the police recommendation to drive safe does not necessary mean to drive slow and obstruct the flow of traffic. If one needs the urge to drive safe by going 80 km/h on the 400 on a bright sunny day because he/she perceives it is safe - then that is just plain ridiculous.
Click to expand...


one word: FINLAND.

they've got it down. the standards there to get a license are amazing. accident rates are lowest in the world. higher speed limits. and similar weather conditions to us. 70%+ of our drivers would fail their road test. and that's the 70%+ that just seems to have difficulty driving, and the reason for our archaic speed limits and police enforcement
(i.e. HTA 172).

Also, i think Finland produces the highest number of race car drivers in the world, not sure on that but i think it's valid.
 
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NTGUILTY said:
The thing I find intriguing is that we live in a country surrounded by snow. Presenting adverse driving conditions for many months of the year. Yet, our driving standards to qualify for a license are sub par. I believe, the Ministry should make a commitment to ensure that our drivers are trained to control their vehicles in the snow. As taximan62 stated above, many drivers do not know how to control their vehicle in case of a skid. And, many others are afraid to operate in these conditions so they tend to drive slow, causing what I like to call a traffic recession. Aside from having the right tools for the job, like winter tries, brakes done, etc, I think it is important to learn how to effectively and safely operate a motor vehicle. I agree there are definitely people who are of the stupid regime, but we cannot blame hundreds if not thousands of accidents on mere stupidty. Certainly a big factor, but we should also consider suggestions to improve our driver training system to prevent unnecessary deaths on our roads.

I think that referring to the police recommendation to drive safe does not necessary mean to drive slow and obstruct the flow of traffic. If one needs the urge to drive safe by going 80 km/h on the 400 on a bright sunny day because he/she perceives it is safe - then that is just plain ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. Canadians live in the snow, yet it seems that nobody wants to learn how to drive in the wintertime...

Apollo95 said:
one word: FINLAND.
Click to expand...

Now you are talking!!! :thumbup:
We should do it just like in Finland
 
I steam when police constantly bleat "slow down, slow down". Now we have people crawling along city streets at 25 km/hr with a huge traffic jam behind them. They should also be keeping better statistics on collisions and ditchers. Measure tire treadware depth and type of tires instead of just blaming road conditions. It would be interesting to see the data.
 
DJM said:
I steam when police constantly bleat "slow down, slow down". Now we have people crawling along city streets at 25 km/hr with a huge traffic jam behind them. They should also be keeping better statistics on collisions and ditchers. Measure tire treadware depth and type of tires instead of just blaming road conditions. It would be interesting to see the data.
Click to expand...

The police are right to say slow down.

Its easier and safer to do 40km in 3 hours then shut down the entire highway for 12 hours because there is a 80 car pileup.
 
Paul1000RR said:
The police are right to say slow down.

Its easier and safer to do 40km in 3 hours then shut down the entire highway for 12 hours because there is a 80 car pileup.
Click to expand...

+1

I see no problem advising people to slow down in those conditions. The people going stupid slow aren't doing that based on a police recommendation.
 
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