Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

houndshmix t1_j20ln8y wrote

Next time find a spot to pull over a bit and let traffic go by. If four cars needed to pass you, you we’re probably going too far under the limit. It sounds like the road you were on had plenty of packed snow to make a good base- this isn’t as unsafe as light/fresh snow or ice.

39

WhaleDinosaurDog OP t1_j20lx2f wrote

The four cars that passed me were over the course of 30 miles- I was going less than ten under. It had just started to snow so no plow or sand trucks had come through yet.

13

bugdude666 t1_j20wphx wrote

I understand your apprehension, but going significantly below the speed of your fellow drivers can be dangerous too.

If you’re genuinely worried about your speed in weather like this, please take side roads or pull to the side when there are a bunch of cars behind you and then get back on the road when it’s clear for you to do so.

I, and many other Mainers, not only learned to drive in these conditions, but have a lot of experience in them. We know how to drive safely in snow. If you do not, you should not be on frequently travelled roads in these conditions.

34

AbrasiveDad t1_j210qoc wrote

Especially when the road has hills. I've been behind traffic on a couple occasions where 1 car going too slow up a hill in the snow loses momentum and traction and causes an entire line of traffic to have to stop. This then compromises the safety of others in multiple ways.

30

startbox95 t1_j21m7ds wrote

This is my BIGGEST pet peeve when driving in snowy conditions.

7

bugdude666 t1_j2ab7d6 wrote

It’s seriously unsafe. I’ve also been on the end of a lineup on a hill where someone decided to be ~super safe~ and slid down the hill and it’s fuckin terrifying. At that point it doesn’t even matter how far back you are from the car in front of you or how defensive a driver you are, it’s fuckin dangerous.

3

New_Sun6390 t1_j20q89m wrote

>It had just started to snow...

IOW, no snow had actually accumulated on the road. You are doing 40, have a huge line of cars behind you, and are holding up traffic.

News flash: you do not need to slow to a crawl at the sight of the first snowflake.

If you are that scared to drive on snow, do the motoring public a favor and stay off the road.

27

WhaleDinosaurDog OP t1_j20qtnr wrote

It had been snowing for about 15 minutes so there was accumulation. I was going slow because there was enough accumulation that the lines were covered and I couldn’t tell where the edge of the road was. There were no cars behind me. The only cars that came behind me over the course of 30 miles are the ones that passed me. I wasn’t holding anyone up.

−7

bugdude666 t1_j20xjyw wrote

If this level of accumulation and not being able to see the lines is a problem for you, I have really bad news for you regarding the rest of the winter.

26

houndshmix t1_j21l6z2 wrote

So 100% of the drivers who came up behind you on the road thought you were going slow enough to pass, but they’re the problem??

12

cepheus42 t1_j23b70l wrote

I don't know where you were, but we were out driving all day in the weather yesterday, from Gilead all the way up to Farmington, and down to Portland before returning to the Farmington area. Weren't even enough snow to do more than blow away when cars passed. Roads were fine.

6

houndshmix t1_j20m2rc wrote

Do you really think your PSA is going to change anything?

10

Antnee83 t1_j20q452 wrote

It changed me. I'm currently typing this as I go 20 over, speeding towards the ocean to chuck a car battery in there

39

4rastapasta2 t1_j21iqab wrote

If you're going under the speed limit let people pass or don't complain that they passed you. If they did it safely they apparently knew how to handle the conditions they were driving in. Just because you can't handle the conditions doesn't mean someone else can't and being forced to go ten or twenty miles below the speed limit is obnoxious when it isn't necessary.

9