Snow - How To Drive In It

Be safe !!!!

IDMtnGal, of you mean on I-90, I was W/bound stuck in the snow for a few hours in that pass (Ryegrass?) .

As for the speed, others may feel it's ok, but witness the recent I-35 mess in Ft. Worth. Most of those people seeming to speed head on to disaster thought nothing of going fast until they realized there was a big crash ahead.

Yes....I pulled off on the Tyler ramp. Only one lane clean when I took off at 1030 thismorning. Now I'm in the Indian John Rest Area debating on chaining up here (mm 86) or going to the chain up area at mm71. Don't really want to do this at all.

Laura

Yeah but he said clear lanes there were no clear lanes on I 35 or the 45

Flack for Mikey:

It is true that driving in snow at 20 MPH will be nerve wracking for following drivers are well as the truck's driver. It will take 4 - ever to get anywhere. But I'll drive 5 MPH in that single lane (4-ways on) if I need to go get to a safe place to stop. I mean safe truck parking, not the next off ramp.

It's already a dangerous situation and I bet most drivers will be rolling in the 20 MPH range anyway. I mentioned in the first post, and in that one about the Ft. Worth crash that it's not hard to go fast on snow or ice, it's just really hard to safely stop when you want to.

The same guess for heavy rain. Only drive as fast as you can see. If you can't see farther than 50 feet between the raindrops, you'll be down to 20 MPH anyway.

I agree about driving with flashers on. But it turns out state laws are a real patchwork on this. Check out AAA Digest of Motor Laws - Hazard Lights

Uggh that pass is where I got my education in chains and winter driving you be careful. Slow an easy best words ever told to me in snow pretty sure it was yall

Yes....I pulled off on the Tyler ramp. Only one lane clean when I took off at 1030 thismorning. Now I'm in the Indian John Rest Area debating on chaining up here (mm 86) or going to the chain up area at mm71. Don't really want to do this at all.

Laura

I was told to do 3, these 2 and one on the trailer. By the time I got them done, I was soaking wet and WSDOT shut down Snoqualmie Pass. As of 0800 WA time, they will reassess the avalanche threat at noon. They got 3 ft of snow in 48 hours.

The chain on the front tire is not as far down as it looks in this picture but farther down the side than I figured they should be. I readjusted that one.

Laura

Uggh that pass is where I got my education in chains and winter driving you be careful. Slow an easy best words ever told to me in snow pretty sure it was yall

The Pass opened up 45 mins ago. No chains needed (so far)...so got mine off and let the fools head out. Will head out in a few. 90 miles to my drop.

Another storm coming in they are saying.

Laura

I fought my way across Montana last week, then down through Oregon on 97 (bad idea). It was slow going but as everyone else mentioned, take your time and drive at your comfort level. If it gets bad enough that you want to stop, then stop. I did see a couple people mention about using their 4-ways. My suggestion on that is don’t do it. People will get the idea that you’re parked and look for ways around, potentially causing more danger. Turn on your CB, turn off the stereo, take off the damn headset and pay attention to everything. Driving on snow and ice takes full concentration, what you can see, what you can hear and what you can feel. It’s the one time you need to get rid of any and all un needed distractions.

The Dragon breathes:

I did see a couple people mention about using their 4-ways. My suggestion on that is don’t do it.

I personally prefer 4-ways for parking, not driving. If you check out that AAA link you'll see there's no rhyme or reason to what various states say about 4-way flashers. And use not worth keeping a list handy.

Yeah never stops hit okc to snow blowing pulled up shut down I’m done all the way from Conroe to here has been a fight

Uggh that pass is where I got my education in chains and winter driving you be careful. Slow an easy best words ever told to me in snow pretty sure it was yall

The Pass opened up 45 mins ago. No chains needed (so far)...so got mine off and let the fools head out. Will head out in a few. 90 miles to my drop.

Another storm coming in they are saying.

Laura

The Dragon breathes:

I did see a couple people mention about using their 4-ways. My suggestion on that is don’t do it.

I personally prefer 4-ways for parking, not driving. If you check out that AAA link you'll see there's no rhyme or reason to what various states say about 4-way flashers. And use not worth keeping a list handy.

What about just 'lightly tapping' the brake pedal when someone is coming up behind you, so they know you aren't moving quickly, and may consider coming to a stop?

The Ohio law 'allows' it, sadly. I don't recall Tom running w/flashers for snow/ice when I was along, either.

Just thinking out loud, thanks!

~ Anne ~

Anne wonders:

What about just 'lightly tapping' the brake pedal when someone is coming up behind you, so they know you aren't moving quickly, and may consider coming to a stop?

Usually, especially when going up a grade on the interstate , trucks will use the flashers when they are moving under 45 MPH. No "tapping" required. The only time I do tap the brakes like you say is for those sudden stops when you come up on a traffic jam.

Anne wonders:

What about just 'lightly tapping' the brake pedal when someone is coming up behind you, so they know you aren't moving quickly, and may consider coming to a stop?

Usually, especially when going up a grade on the interstate , trucks will use the flashers when they are moving under 45 MPH. No "tapping" required. The only time I do tap the brakes like you say is for those sudden stops when you come up on a traffic jam.

Thanks, Errol. Makes sense. Gotcha! I'll collectively learn so much MORE in a year, until 'freedom!' Appreciate y'all more'n ya know. Not many 'grades' here in Ohio; I never DID travel with him out West.

Tom is tired of teaching me the little 'innuendos.' When he gets home, he doesn't even care to discuss the 'why this/why that' scenarios.

~ Anne ~

ps: I just learned what a 'polywog' was the other day, discussing diesel as opposed to K1 or K2 .. Does anyone EVER really know it all ?!?!? Thinking not. Probably why that ex member had that name; wasn't about 'baby frogs!' LoL.