[ale] OT: Driving in snow...

[Bob Toxen]

I spent 10 years in the Bawston Suburbs with the worst possible snow car.
Suggestions:

  1. If you get a rental car, be sure to pay for full insurance coverage
     so that a wreck won't affect your regular insurance.

  2. Driving in a New England snow is far harder than the inch or so we
     get here.  I recommend against it.  If you must, practice in an empty
     parking lot and decide if you still want to do it.  If it's a heavy
     snow, wait at least 3-6 hours for the snow trucks to plow and sand
     the roads.  Plan on going about 2/3 to 1/2 of normal speed, if that.

  3. No, the rental car companies do not supply chains and probably supply
     the cheapest tires available.

  4. If it is a severe snow, you are better off taking a taxi to the
     bus or train station and using those to get near your people in
     Conn. and a taxi from the bus or train station to them.  It is
     well-worth the extra cost to avoid a wreck and possibly hurting
     yourself or others.  In bad snows I preferred a $50 taxi ride
     to my clients rather than a wreck.

Bob Toxen
bob at verysecurelinux.com               [Please use for email to me]
http://www.verysecurelinux.com        [Network&Linux/Unix security consulting]
http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [My book:"Real World Linux Security 2/e"]
Quality Linux & UNIX security and SysAdmin & software consulting since 1990.

"Microsoft: Unsafe at any clock speed!"
   -- Bob Toxen 10/03/2002

On Wed, Dec 01, 2004 at 04:20:03PM -0500, 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