[ale] OT: Driving in snow...

[Mike Murphy]

I believe chains are illegal in Mass and CT. It doesn't matter. Any 
Interstate, Federal Highway, or State Highway in New England (well, 
except maybe extreme upstate Maine) are going to be plowed adequately to 
be passable in all but the worst weather.

The rules of thumb for driving in a snowstorm up there are pretty 
similar to driving in heavy rain here: keep your speed under control, 
keep extra separation from drivers in front of you, and be aware that 
you might hit a slick spot here or there. Keep an ear out for road 
advisories if the weather is icky, just in case (especially in case of 
an ice storm, which can happen in CT and MASS, and is just as dangerous 
there as it would be here).

Two other tips: if you find yourself on an unplowed road, that's not 
necessarily a bad thing, just drive slow and easy. Check wheels and 
tires for snow and ice buildup before setting out if you have been 
driving in snow. And turn into the spin! (If you have followed other 
advice, you shouldn't get into a full out spin, but it could happen).

Finally: something every Atlantan needs to hear: clear the snow off your 
car! This includes the roof, hood, trunk, bumpers, etc. Its bad form to 
drive around with snow built up on top of your car (where it tends to 
billow off at speed and blind people behind you). Any good rental car 
company in the winter up there will include a scraper/brush tool.

Mike


Christopher Bergeron wrote:
> Speaking of which, I'm going to Mass. for an X-Mas party in a few 
> weeks.  I'm going to be driving a rental car into Mass from CT. and I 
> was wondering if Rental Cars up there have chains in the trunk and/or 
> snow tires.
> I've driven in snow here in ATL, but never in real snow like up in New 
> England.
> 
> Anyone have any pointers?
> 
> 
> -CB
> 
> tfreeman at intel.digichem.net wrote:
> 
>> On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Brian J. Dowd wrote:
>>
>>  
>>
>>> This ex-Bostonian says:
>>> New Englanders have inherent advantages:
>>> snowtires (or studs or chains)
>>> [on their tires not on their bodies...]
>>> and well sanded roads.
>>> Otherwise "equal abilities".
>>> -Brian
>>>   
>>
>>
>> Point taken, although I don't think it fully explains the situation. 
>> FWIW, in six years of winter driving in NE, and another in Ohio, I 
>> have yet to purchase snow tires, or studs. A friend of mine gave me 
>> chains once, but I lost them the first time I used them.
>>
>> As to well sanded/salted roads, the roads aren't generally prepared 
>> ahead of the snow, yet you don't see as much craziness at the 
>> beginning of a snow in the NE as you do in this region.
>>
>>
>>  
>>
>>>> On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Geoffrey wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>> Jason Fritcher wrote:
>>>>>  
>>>>>       
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dow Hurst wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    
>>>>>>         
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jason,
>>>>>>> Welcome to the ALE group!
>>>>>>>      
>>>>>>>           
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks! :)
>>>>>>    
>>>>>>         
>>>>
>>>> <<snip linux and reasonable stuff>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>> Yeah, wait till the first snow and you see on these idiots on the 
>>>>> road.   I've never understood that since probably 50% of Atlanta 
>>>>> consists of relocated Yankees, like myself.
>>>>>
>>>>>  
>>>>>       
>>>>
>>>> I've kinda noticed that myself - although I'm up in Charlotte. "Up 
>>>> here" (where the heck is "Up" anyway?), I think we have similar 
>>>> rates of bumper cars during a good rain as Boston has for the first 
>>>> snow, based upon living in New England twenty odd years ago. During 
>>>> a snow storm, go over to a resturant on a busy corner, get something 
>>>> warm, and _watch_ the locals sliding through the intersection. Them 
>>>> as are walking, seem to fall down a lot. Great entertainment for the 
>>>> sadistically inclined...
>>>>
>>>> As to reasons; I've got some guesses and no idea how to test them. I 
>>>> do think many times the Atlanta/Charlotte/southeastern snow fall is 
>>>> somewhat slipryer(sp?) than many northern locations because the 
>>>> ground is much closer to freezing, and the snow tends to be wetter. 
>>>> Also, low traction driving seems to need regular practice - once or 
>>>> twice every year or two just isn't sufficient practice. The 
>>>> arrogance of "I come from the north and I understand snow driving" 
>>>> plays a part of it also. And finally, I suspect most drivers are in 
>>>> too much of a hurry to stop and think, or even to leave space ahead 
>>>> to stop.
>>>>
>>>> YMMV of course
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>
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>>>
>>>   
>>
>>
>>  
>>
> 
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Mike Murphy
781 Inman Mews Drive Atlanta GA 30307
Landline: 404-653-1070
Mobile: 404-545-6234
Email: mike at tyderia.net
AIM: mmichael453
JDAM: 33:45:14.0584N  84:21:43.038W
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