An old mans moan..... I appologise already

[100K+]

Once again the media is full of images of vehicles getting stuck in the snow. Its the same story every year. These stuck hapless individuals blame everyone from A-Z, except themselves. These images are not of vehicles buried up to their axels in the white stuff and going nowhere, no, on this occasion the snow is only 50mm deep if that, yet there they are spinning their wheels for all to see. Yet somehow the media "we've been driving around all day" crews have no problem in getting their story.
When will drivers learn that if you want to drive on/in snow get the right equipment -get some snow tyres. With snow tyres you can even drive up hills without getting stuck - don't believe me check out you tube its full of video extolling the benefit of fitting snow tyres. Two wheel drive with snow tyres is even better that AWD on Summer rubber - that was a bit of a shock.
The last day or so I have had a blast driving around in the snow - lets go up this hill, now this one. It actually even started to get boring, so easy was it to make progress. A couple of times I even stopped on steep hills to see how difficult it would be to re start... it wasn't.
Would you use a hammer to fasten a screw into two pieces of wood? Of course you can do it, but that's the wrong tool in the same way summer tyres are the wrong tyre for driving in snow...
We know there will be snow in the winter time, drivers just need to take some responsibility.
Rant over.... sorry

Cheers

Bob

[Dippydog]

I think it was made illegal some time ago to accept responsibility for your own actions and you must blame anyone/everyone else when things go wrong.You could face stiff fines/lengthy prison term if you don't

[green van man]

While I agree with all you said there is the added problem of just in time deliveries.
When the nations warehousing is in 42 ton trucks traveling the roads 24/7 and they get stuck, because let's face it 1 or even 2 driven axil is going to struggle with that load behind them no matter how good the driver, then he road is blocked end of story.

I can only imagine how difficult it is to reverse those rigs downhill when you have little grip and an uncontrolled trailer leading the way, given the problems I experienced reversing a trailer downhill through 4 inches of slurry with a full fat 4x4 with decent tyres not the easiest of jobs, complicated by moron motorists that will not hold back and give them room.

Driving in snow is relativly easy given the right tyres which are 90% of the problem solved the crucial factor is 10% of driver input. With the wrong tyres it is possible but the ratio of tyre to driver input are reversed.

Once you are sliding it's in the lap of the gods where you end up and how many will let go the brakes in that situation to regain steering no matter the speed of travel?

Paul.

[DSK]

I think over the last 20 years, cars have become quite advanced that very few people in this day and age even know 'how to drive'. The number of people I generally hear talking about their car having 4wd or this system or that system, I think...... systems cannot compensate for no skill or common sense. That's why 20 years ago I remember myself and many others driving around in 'proper' snow, making the stuff we get now look like nothing.

Cars these days also run tyre sizes where most people are probably running tread patterns closer to the sports spectrum rather than all season stuff that we used to get many years ago. So having a suitable set of tyres or, a spare set of wheels fitted with winter tyres at the ready is quite essential, if you want to get around in icy snow without grief. However, people generally refuse to pay more than the price of a budget tyre so they are even less likely to invest in a set of winter boots.

[ITSv40]

When I started driving back in the '70's I had an Austin A35 fitted with Town and Country tyres. The only time driving on snow was a problem was when the snow was so deep it was above the bumpers - in effect turning the car into a snow plough. Now the Volvo's on wide summer tyres struggle to even get out of the garage if there is more than 2cm of snow.

I keep a set of snow socks in the boot and they are brilliant on the few occasions when we get snow and I need to be out on the road.

[christheancient]

To me, the biggest problem is that with this country's normally benign weather is that very many people don't know how to even drive on snow: winter tyres or not.

These people are the ones that think 'giving it a bit of wellie' and spinning the wheels will get them moving. We see it all the time on the tv - even as those drivers must.

Do those idiots learn from what they've seen? It seems not.

As more intelligent drivers know and realise, that method doesn't work. However, that one stupid dullard at the front can make things impossible for the long queue of people behind.

[john.wigley]

Fade out violins ... I also concur with all of the above posters - but then again, I also am an 'old man' who has seen it all before!

Stay safe and warm!

Regards, John.

[bobby2000]

I'm afraid modern driver's just don't know how to drive on a slippery surface, I was always taught to drive in as higher gear as possible with as lower revs as possible, not rev the guts out as it seems is the way now a days. Also keep your foot off the brakes, just a gentle dab accasionally if needed.
Driver's today are just not used to snow, this can also make them over cautious. We also have to bear in mind that there is a lot more traffic on the road when I started driving back in the 60s.
No matter how good our vehicles and tyres are, if the road is blocked by another vehicle, you aren't going anywhere.

[biggbn]

I made a similar comment to my Mrs and daughter the other day. My point was when the road is white and shiny people can see the danger. When it's wet or freezing and slippy they don't. I would like, I said, for our roads to be white, slippy and inclement all year round as it would

1. Ensure people know it's dangerous and drive appropriately with more care

And
2. Would exert a bit of Darwinian selection as those who don't realise its slippy and dangerous or are too selfish too take care won't last long...which would be a plus for society and would raise our collective IQ and common sense quota to an acceptable level...


Uncharacteristically harsh from me to be fair but hey, we gotta do something😈

[DSK]

Originally Posted by biggbn

I made a similar comment to my Mrs and daughter the other day. My point was when the road is white and shiny people can see the danger. When it's wet or freezing and slippy they don't. I would like, I said, for our roads to be white, slippy and inclement all year round as it would

1. Ensure people know it's dangerous and drive appropriately with more care

And
2. Would exert a bit of Darwinian selection as those who don't realise its slippy and dangerous or are too selfish too take care won't last long...which would be a plus for society and would raise our collective IQ and common sense quota to an acceptable level...


Uncharacteristically harsh from me to be fair but hey, we gotta do something😈

As harsh as it sounds, there's too many safety features and technology in cars that stops the natural selection from being dished out.