morbidlyintellectual t1_ix2ivn0 wrote on November 20, 2022 at 6:18 AM

I learned about driving in snow growing up in upstate New York. Most of what happens around here on snow days provides hours of entertainment for people from parts of the country that get real snow. BUT, it is a learned skill.

First of all, some short practice trips is a really good idea. Get the chains and learn to put them on. If you're driving a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, put the chains on the front tires. In really bad weather, put chains on all the tires.

Keep your speed down, remember, the four-wheel drive gets you going, but stopping and turning are a little more difficult.

Don't be afraid to just give up. Being overly cautious is better than being upside down in the ditch.

Twenty (ish) years ago we went to Idaho to visit wife's family. A storm followed us all the way across the state. It was not a fun drive and we won't do it again. Between North Bend and Cle Elum I starting counting cars in the ditch. I lost count at 26 when we had to snake our way across a bridge with about ten cars smacked together.

Wellcraft19 t1_ix2nmwz wrote on November 20, 2022 at 7:18 AM

And as usual it’s often not the weather that’s the problem. For that we slow down and do quite fine. It’s all the other drivers that totally lack any sense while out in the white. Big SUV (I have one) or truck does not equal hood traction on the white. Quite the opposite. A light and nimble car always have better traction (grip to stay on the road). But drivers feel invincible in large 4x4 vehicles. And hence those are often the first in the ditch.