[Uncle ENzo]

So up here in North Bmore we are slated to get roughly 5 inches of white stuff. I love snow. I grew up in Ohio and was taught from an early age how to drive and deal with it.

But sitting here in bed with my wife watching the news, I cant get over the ridiculous amount of coverage over a few inches of snow. The freaking gov was just on to tell how screwed we all are. When did we all become such pussies? When our kids grow up they are going to think anytime it gets chilly or starts to flurry they wont have to go to work or even get out of bed as you might die in a 3 inch snow drift. My kid has missed over a week of school thus far this year and he goes to a school where all kids get dropped off in their parent's range rovers that were driven out of heated garages.Ok...I'm done ranting.

[Jazzbass]

24 hr news cycle. They need something to fill the time, so everything is an emergency and/or tragedy. It's the same reason that most people think that crime in this country is out of control compared to 30 yrs ago, despite almost every indicator showing that crime is lower now than it was.

[ducatithunder]

"Bread & Milk" -THE ORIGINAL VIDEO- www.vic-comedy.com - YouTube

"Bread & Milk" -THE ORIGINAL VIDEO- www.vic-comedy.com - YouTube

[ducatithunder]

Vic DiBitetto - Blizzard 2015- The Aftermath - YouTube

Vic DiBitetto - Blizzard 2015- The Aftermath - YouTube

[Uncle ENzo]

Originally Posted by ducatithunder

"Bread & Milk" -THE ORIGINAL VIDEO- www.vic-comedy.com - YouTube

Nailed it!

[cmartin]

Really strange out there. I was in my truck coming home tonight and the roads were white but passable, at least to a sane driver. I topped out around 50 on the highway mostly because there were cars, flashers on, in each lane, making new lanes.. maybe going 30. Hmm, I tried to keep my distance but it took me a few minutes to figure out wtf was going on.

I wonder if folks just freak out because of the excessive news coverage or if they really are scared of snow.

[photoeditor]

I think it's a combination of the breathless coverage and thousands of people from other places who have no clue how to act in snow. My wife teaches in Fairfax county and they had something like 11 snow days. She taught in Colorado for 15 years and they didn't have 11 snow days in that entire time.

[Otto]

a week or more ago a radio traffic reporter on wmal gave a great account of why dc area drivers are the worst in the nation, weather good or bad

the dc area is host to the most transient population, possibly in the world!

this means there is a *large* contingent of *new* drivers on the area roads every year, *new* to the area, perhaps *new* to driving, *new* to the area driving culture

it only takes a few uncertain drivers to mess up the roads for anyone who knows where they are going, how to get there, and how to drive

also, some years ago i heard a report from a driver survey in which 85% of people surveyed said they were an *above average* driver - just think about what that means!

[John Clay]

Originally Posted by cmartin

Really strange out there. I was in my truck coming home tonight and the roads were white but passable, at least to a sane driver. I topped out around 50 on the highway mostly because there were cars, flashers on, in each lane, making new lanes.. maybe going 30. Hmm, I tried to keep my distance but it took me a few minutes to figure out wtf was going on.

I wonder if folks just freak out because of the excessive news coverage or if they really are scared of snow.

First off, the driving in the dry isn't too good around here, so I don't know why you would expect something different when it snows. But understand that reasonable people may have different ideas of what is a safe speed on a snow covered road. On winter tires, I wouldn't top off much faster than 50 unless it was really open and straight. My choice based on my perceived risk. From what you described, I may choose 40. So who's to say 30 is wrong? Now 20 on the other hand......

I got hung out a bit last night in the FRS on not so good in the snow tires. My fault for not leaving work early enough. I wasn't going anywhere near 50, other than when I was approaching an uphill. My only problem is when I create a gap in front of me to get a run up a hill, someone always pulls in front of me and kills my momentum.

[Robert in Potomac]

It is very frustrating and at time dangerous driving when the roads are poorly plowed and many of the drivers have no idea of how to drive on snow and ice.

Perfect example - this morning - looks like we had 3-5 inches of snow in Washington area, and all the main roads that I drove on were plowed before 7am. However, there is nothing you can do about idiots who tail gate you or drivers who proceed along plowed main roads at 25 mph or less, but that is what you need to anticipate and deal with. Lot of patience required, otherwise, accidents become inevitable.