I just drove back from New York to Philadelphia skating all the way...

[PCIntern]

I saw no fewer than 50 assorted accidents: fender-benders, jack-knifed tractor trailers, barrier hits, spinouts, and the like.

so, and I'll be blunt, why the fuck were people passing me going 60 on sheer ice at places, and spinning their wheels and worse? They posed a hazard not only to themselves but to everyone around them. One car which flew by me like I was in reverse I swear I saw as part of an accident two to three miles later down the NJ Tpke.

Is this part of this Great American Aggressive-Entitlement Program which seems to have taken over every aspect of behavior; from discourse to driving? A few years ago, a former dental student of mine perished with his family in a plane which he was piloting. He had become a very well-to-do orthodontist and was certified to some fair degree. After he was killed, I asked a US Airways pilot who is a long-term patient of mine about the incident, and he told me that this guy had been flying the largest plane which does not require a copilot or navigator in the cockpit. He said that he would never ever fly this plane alone and he has tens of thousands of flight hours logged in commercial jetliners. He thought that as a pilot it was the height of arrogance to have put his entire family in this brand of jeopardy. As an aside, as luck would have it for one of the dead pilot's stepsons: he didn't want to accompany the family and stayed with his biological father for the weekend. He was the only survivor of the involved members of the family.

Yes yes: I know people have always taken unnecessary risks and jeopardized others' lives. Hell, Bush and Cheney did it to our military and by extension an entire region of the world as well as everywhere else. But for crying out loud, what is the point of all of this rushing? So you're gonna get there 15 minutes or a half hour sooner but in doing so risk life and limb for many others who have nothing to do with your plans. I would suggest people follow the perennial mantra of my mother of blessed memory: "Be reasonable - do it my way." Slow the fuck down. And live. And let others live.

[Demit]

1. I discovered an amazing trick recently...

I leave earlier than I used to, always leaving more time than I need. This leaves me feeling calm on my drives. I don't have to run yellow lights or pass cars because I'm afraid I'm going to be late.

It's the damnedest thing. I'm not being snarky, lol. Leaving yourself enough time really works. Wish I'd realized it when I was younger.

[libdem4life]

8. I got that, too. Then, having to drive LA freeways, my next stress buster was to make it a point to

let every car get in front of me that started to hone in. You could almost see their stunned expression when I slowed down to let them in. Ha. They gained 10 feet or so and I felt great that I wasn't upset. Funny the things we respond to in our busy world.

[Arugula Latte]

17. I used to commute in the Bay Area.

I would make it a point to wave people into traffic at a certain place that was always congested. They were invariably stunned (as you experienced). STUNNED. They didn't expect simple human decency in Bay Area traffic. After awhile, it began to make my mornings to surprise people with this slight act of kindness.

I realized that it was easy to stigmatize other people in cars as competitors, the enemy, assholes, etc., when, really, 97% are just regular nice people trying to get to work or to get home to their kids or whatever. The rest are jerks.

I currently live in Portland, where it is common for people to yield to others, wave people in, and leave gaps at busy driveways so people can turn in/out, etc.. I try to be a courteous driver, because I want this good driving karma to last as long as possible here in the Northwest.

[libdem4life]

33. I got 25 years in Bay Area too, mostly Sonoma County, but when my son was old enough to think

about driving I started just talking about it while I was driving. He said, "Mom, you drive like an old lady." (and I wasn't one yet) and I thought about it a minute and said, "Yes, I guess I do." His Dad BTW was one of those "Idiots!!!" driver. I said "I drive as if everyone is an idiot" then the they don't become one in my space very often. He's a pretty darn good driver today. Maybe it worked.

[democrank]

2. Motorized aggression is frightening and foolish.

Thanks for posting this, PCI.

[Downwinder]

3. The V tailed Beechcraft Bonanza was known as

the Split Tailed Doctor Killer.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. One thing that comes to my mind is this:

In a society where we are more and more constrained by rules, regulations and what-have-you, there are very few places where you can do pretty much what you want.

Driving (or flying) a vehicle is one of those places. Ads urge us to speed and we want to do it. Perhaps I am overgeneralizing, but it seems to me that young males especially feel no vulnerability.

So they speed, because they can and because they want to.

Their thinking (if you can call it that) goes no further than that.

[mcar]

5. That sounds terrifying

I see people driving like that in the massive thunderstorms we have here in FL in the summer. You can't see two feet in front of you and people still insist on going 70 on the interstate.

[chillfactor]

6. I agree...

I have excellent snow tires with studs on my van which gets through just about everything....but I leave early for where ever I am going and drive in a sane manner...other vehicles drive past me like their life or others lives are not their concern....I have never understood dim-witted minds that cannot adjust to severe driving conditions....

[steve2470]

7. I agree

When I went to NYC in January, I knew I had no experience driving on ice and snow, so I drove 45 mph in the right lane, on the NJ Turnpike. Everyone was flying past me. I didn't see any accidents, but all it would take is one icy patch.

[treestar]

9. I am on a similar trip

The NJT. A couple people slammed by covering our windshield. The rest are ok though.

[ohheckyeah]

10. Even my husband

who has a four wheel drive truck doesn't drive on icy roads. Even driving slowly isn't advisable on ice.There's no real defense for driving icy roads IMO.

[GP6971]

27. All wheel drive, 4 wheel drive

Means nothing on ice. Studded tires do make a slight difference though.

Out here, we've had a lot of black ice.....not fun. Although, not too many times over the last couple of years.

[ohheckyeah]

28. Everything here is

frozen right now. We didn't even get a newspaper today.

[VScott]

11. Ignorant, brain dead assholes.

I'll bet that the ones who had to go around you were cursing you because you were going too slow.

I was just out to run a quick errand that was all residential/business 25mph-35mph streets with a
light cover of snow, sleet mix and there was clearly reduced traction (and I drive an older model
Jeep Cherokee). Yet there were drivers out there like it just another warm summer night.

They've convinced themselves that just because they have an SUV with 4WD/AWD and snow tires, that
the laws of physics and common sense don't apply (the truckers really should know better).

As a side note, I bought a dash cam not that long ago in part to document any accident or mishap I
might be involved in, and in part to capture the fucked up shit that's going on out there for my own
amusement and/or 'holy fuck' misfortune of others.

[CANDO]

12. I've driven truck professionally for 26 years

And while I'm not on the road today, I would've been passing you. I learned a long time ago if you stay behind some slower drivers, they'll just drive slower. At what point is it ok to pass you? Some people drive so slowly that they create hazards for others. And at that point they should have just stayed home. I'm not saying there isn't excessive speed going on, but on 2 and 3 lane highways, there are more competent drivers driving more capable vehicles who are more comfortable getting around the slower ones because the slower drivers are clearly exhibiting that they are less comfortable about the weather and their vehicle. I've had slower drivers actively try to block me from passing them many times over the years. That is absolutely a very dangerous tactic and completely uncalled for. For the record, I've never been in a weather related accident despite spending 26 years driving all over the northeast in some horrible storms. I get around slower drivers because I view them as potential hazards that I'd rather have behind me instead of in front of me.

[enough]

15. This is true for me as a non-professional driver on backroads in the place I have lived

for many decades. People seem to mistakenly think that going slowly up a hill, for instance, is safer. Where the fact is you need some controlled momentum to get up that hill and not become an unexpected obstacle in the road for the next person coming up behind you. Driving too slowly in icy conditions can be as much of a problem as too much speed.

That said, I'm completely sure that PC Intern knows exactly what he or she is doing on these roads, having had lots of experience.

[CANDO]

16. Here here

Yes, I don't mean to diminish someone else in my response. And of course, everything is situational in the extreme. As you mentioned, hills and momentum. Traffic volume. Daytime vs middle of night. Leaving one's self an out is critical. Of course there are moments when there is no out and you just trust the other driver not to do something stupid as you get past them.

[MH1]

18. I'm one of those "slower drivers" but I would NEVER try to "block" another vehicle.

That's just effin' stupid.

I don't drive often on highways or for long trips any more. So when I do, if the conditions are really terrible, let's just say I know my limitations. I do my best to avoid being in those situations. But if I am, I stay in the slow lane, and use my flashers if appropriate.

I still shake my head at people who seem to be driving crazy fast in really bad conditions. I just hope I don't run into them in a pileup further down the road. But as long as I don't, not my problem or my concern.

[LiberalEsto]

13. Better 5 minutes too late, than 25 years too early

That's what my mother always used to say

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. these are the same drivers

that live in the southern states who feel that because they have a 3 ton SUV with all wheel drive they can drive any damned way they please and the physics of friction coefficients be damned...

sP

[a la izquierda]

19. Don't I know it.

I grew up in NJ, and lived for 7 years in Oklahoma. I remember driving during a terrible storm. I have a Jersey Girl magnet on my car and more than a few truckers gave me the thumbs up as they passed me (when it was safe). I was driving slow and steady on the crappily plowed, icy interstate. Smart Oklahoma drivers stayed behind me. Morons in SUVs bombed past me and a few that did ended up in the ditch a few miles down the road. It took me awhile, but I arrived safely home to Christmas dinner.

SUVs and 4WD do nothing in ice.

[Fumesucker]

24. Many years ago I had one of the first generation Subaru 4WD wagons..

I can't tell you how many Blazers and Broncos and other large SUVs I motored past when they were in the ditch during icy conditions.. I got a lot of dirty looks from the drivers standing there waiting for the tow trucks when I cruised by their great hulking machine in my little hamster wheel powered station wagon.

[leftyladyfrommo]

32. I used to drive a Wrangler.

It wasn't any good on ice. The little Yaris I drive now is a lot better on ice.

[handmade34]

20. I am glad you reached your destination safely...

I just pulled into Erie, PA starting from Vermont this morning... but, as you have witnessed, it was in the company of idiots driving too fast for conditions and passing on slippery roads... I have no idea why people think this is ok

[rocktivity]

21. I call it "SUV-itis"

Last edited Sun Feb 9, 2020, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

"So what if it's wet or foggy or icy or dark? I can keep doing 55 -- I have four-wheel drive!"


rocktivity

[elias49]

22. And no-one drives the speed limit, regardless of the weather!

My pet peeve - if the speed limit is 40, they drive 50
65 means 75, because the police are unlikely to write you a ticket unless you're 10+ over. At least that has always been commonly accepted where I've in New England. It may be different out west..

[rocktivity]

29. I'm sorry that the speed limit went up to 65 on the (New Jersey) Garden State Parkway

Last edited Wed Feb 2, 2022, 08:45 PM - Edit history (4)

It took all the fun out of doing seventy!

When the limit was 55, doing 70 was badass and authority-defying. Now it's only five miles over the limit -- I'd be embarrassed to be ticketed for that!


rocktivity

[elias49]

30. Ha! As well you should!

Rte 2, the major east-west route that runs from Boston west to the NY border still has a 55mph limit. It hasn't changed since I was a kid living in Mass. Seems archaic. Sometimes I do 55 just to pretend I'm my father, who would NEVER exceed the limit. It takes forever to get anywhere (or so it seems).

[snooper2]

31. it's 10% not 10 over FYI

[Skittles]

23. I hear you PCIntern

I think about it every time I see a driver texting - WTF could be so damned important?

[phylny]

25. I left PA this morning at 7:30 a.m.

to beat the worst of the weather on my way to my first stop, in northern Virginia, and did it in about 3.5 hours. I still have to make it to southern Virginia tomorrow.

Here, it's a sheet of ice outside. I do have an AWD, but know enough that no amount of "traction" helps on ice (grew up in New York). There were a few cars in Maryland on the side of the highway, but most everyone was in the right lane, driving slowly. The slowest car had its flashers on, and I couldn't figure out why until I got close: Florida plates

I'm hoping it thaws enough for me to finish my trip tomorrow.

[Mira]

26. I would like to give this thread

and all sentiments involved about 1000 recommendations. And I will have my family look at it as well.

[Jamastiene]

34. That is why we shut everything down in the south.

Most of what we get is ice. None of our infrastructure is designed with ice in mind. Driving on ice on these curves and hills and embankments down here would get even the most seasoned ice driver killed. For those of us not used to driving on ice, we'd rather not see our car insurance go up when we have the inevitable wreck. So, we avoid it. Because it is so rare anyhow, once or twice a year, though, we can do that.

I still don't know what is up with the milk sandwiches though. I can't explain that to save me. I do know there is only wheat and rye left in the bread aisle, Merita and Bunny white bread is the most popular, and whole milk is the most popular. So, whatever people are doing with all that bread and milk involves white bread and whole milk specifically. One local meteorologist theorizes they might be making French toast. That is where the milk sandwich thing came from. Don't panic if the store is out of cinnamon. Stay calm and eat your milk sandwich.

Whatever the case may be, I agree with what you said. Endangering other people's lives just to be "first" to get wherever they are going in that kind of situation is ridiculous. I hope you can stay safe from them and from that ice.

[PCIntern]

38. We call it the French Toast Brigade:

Bread, milk, and eggs. You'd think every two inch snowfall were the Apocalypse.

[Jamastiene]

40. There are actually a couple of hashtags that people use.

One is #SnOMG and the other is #Snomageddon.

What is odd to me is that they close everything down for just snow too. I can understand it for ice and sleet, because those are very slippery, but there is a way to drive mostly safely in snow. I started looking up information about it and it turns out that because our daytime temperatures down here are usually above freezing, even snow can turn into ice and become a hidden hazard to drive in.

I know on the north side of my house, snow will stay several days longer when the rest has melted. That same side usually stays somewhat safer to walk on than the other side, until the other side melts and is gone, at least. But, that same north side is where I busted up my left lower leg and knee and my right knee really bad on black ice one morning. We had a 2 hour delay for college classes and I hadn't been living here for very long yet. I went bopping out the door and the black ice on the handicapped ramp taught me to be more careful when we've had ice and freezing rain.

[leveymg]

35. It's drivers that are untrained, unaware, and unprepared. Some are more dangerous at 15 mph than

someone who has well-developed skills, experience and good reflexes on slippery surfaces is at 115mph. The problem isn't speed, in itself, or lack of 4wd or anti-lock brakes, or radar-controlled brakes - it's the overconfidence that such vehicles give underskilled drivers. The more driver-assistance technology in vehicles, the less people pay attention to road conditions.

Overconfident and inattentive people in technology-packed SUVs and pickup trucks with big off-road tires are the first to end up in ditches upside down. We've all seen it.

Licensing requirements should be far more rigorous than they are at present in the U.S., and most people shouldn't be driving. Particularly on ice. But, that would violate some sort of economic imperative and a sense of entitlement in this country.

[a kennedy]

36. I hate that.....and NO LIGHTS ON during bad weather or very cloudy days......

my pet peeve. Ugh...... but the speeders in horrible weather conditions is right at the top of my list also. Ugh..... So happy I'm retired can stay home on bad weather days.

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. I drove in torrential rain this weekend and was appalled...

by the number of people I saw exceeding the 70 mph speed limit, typically with no headlights on despite it being state law.

And don't even get me started on the FUCKING DUMBASS decision to text, email, or surf the web on a phone while driving. People who do that are telegraphing their complete and total disregard for the sanctity of life.

[Taitertots]

39. When I see someone driving slow, I like to....

Pull in front of them and go even slower than they are going. Then I laugh when they get angry and pass me.

It's hilarious to see the second slowest driver on the road getting upset at the slowest driver.

[Jamastiene]

41. That wouldn't work with me.

I just slow down too and appreciate that I'm no longer the slowpoke that is pissing everyone behind me off any more. Thank you for doing that for some of us who just aren't comfortable speeding and possibly causing an accident and making our car insurance go up or possibly hurting someone, which would be worse.

[nikto]

42. I have come to this conclusion...

Black ice matters.