The snow tradition here in Portland, OR is as it is just getting slippery, hop in your pickup with bald tires and see how far you can drive up canyon road. Once stuck abandon you vehicle and walk back into town, pausing for a beer at the Goose Hollow Tavern.
One thing I noticed over 35 years as an over the road trucker, at the first snowfall or bit of ice on the roads, MOST of the vehicles in the ditches or upside down in the median were SUVs, and 4WD pickups. 4 Wheel Drive DOES NOT allow you to drive like a maniac on slippery roads! Once you break traction, it doesn’t matter HOW MANY DRIVING WHEELS YOU HAVE, you are gonna slide! PERIOD!!!
Most states license folks who shouldn’t be allowed to drive, ANY time of year, because folks haven’t been TAUGHT how to actually drive for a couple decades now. Part of the problem is the “safety” of “self driving” features like lane change warnings, automatic braking, and lots of cameras for folks to ignore what’s going on around them even WITH the electronics. Then add in cell phones, texting, with even a dash of snow, or rain, and the cartoon becomes understatement! (Raced in SCCA, taught pursuit driving techniques, taught defensive driving, and frankly, I’m starting to have panic attacks getting on the roads with these idiots anymore!)
Back in 67, a taxi driver passing between streetcars going opposite directions in Tokyo, at speed, was an “experience”. Today’s US drivers are worse.
In Portland, the first rain of the Fall is always fun. Snow? I do not leave the house. Learned to snow drive in NJ in the winter, but the average Portlander? Not so much. Last year, my van almost got clobbered while sitting in my driveway! The guy’s monster 4×4 missed by about 8".
Eh. Ok. How are you at navigating highways infested by love bugs? How about paved roads that have dips to let the very occasional (flash) flood pass over?
brwydave Premium Member about 5 years ago
The snow tradition here in Portland, OR is as it is just getting slippery, hop in your pickup with bald tires and see how far you can drive up canyon road. Once stuck abandon you vehicle and walk back into town, pausing for a beer at the Goose Hollow Tavern.
AndrewSihler about 5 years ago
Even in Madison, WI (where I lived for 40 years) many drivers seemed to forget over the summer how to drive in snow. Human nature, I guess.
Masterskrain Premium Member about 5 years ago
One thing I noticed over 35 years as an over the road trucker, at the first snowfall or bit of ice on the roads, MOST of the vehicles in the ditches or upside down in the median were SUVs, and 4WD pickups. 4 Wheel Drive DOES NOT allow you to drive like a maniac on slippery roads! Once you break traction, it doesn’t matter HOW MANY DRIVING WHEELS YOU HAVE, you are gonna slide! PERIOD!!!
Dtroutma about 5 years ago
Most states license folks who shouldn’t be allowed to drive, ANY time of year, because folks haven’t been TAUGHT how to actually drive for a couple decades now. Part of the problem is the “safety” of “self driving” features like lane change warnings, automatic braking, and lots of cameras for folks to ignore what’s going on around them even WITH the electronics. Then add in cell phones, texting, with even a dash of snow, or rain, and the cartoon becomes understatement! (Raced in SCCA, taught pursuit driving techniques, taught defensive driving, and frankly, I’m starting to have panic attacks getting on the roads with these idiots anymore!)
Back in 67, a taxi driver passing between streetcars going opposite directions in Tokyo, at speed, was an “experience”. Today’s US drivers are worse.
david_42 about 5 years ago
In Portland, the first rain of the Fall is always fun. Snow? I do not leave the house. Learned to snow drive in NJ in the winter, but the average Portlander? Not so much. Last year, my van almost got clobbered while sitting in my driveway! The guy’s monster 4×4 missed by about 8".
Concretionist about 5 years ago
Eh. Ok. How are you at navigating highways infested by love bugs? How about paved roads that have dips to let the very occasional (flash) flood pass over?
Radish the wordsmith about 5 years ago
Rubber tires and ice don’t mix, best to stay home.