Jeager76

wtf? come on people...

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=4525071


Monday Morning Snow Causes Traffic Headache Across Hampton Roads

(AP) -- Less than 1 inch of snow triggered more than 100 minor accidents Monday along a stretch of Interstate 64, prompting Virginia State Police to advise motorists to avoid the highway.

State police called in additional troopers to respond to approximately 115 accidents, primarily along a stretch of I-64 from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg, State Police Sgt. D.S. Carr said.

"We're just telling folks not to drive if they don't have to," Carr said. The Presidents' Day holiday kept many vehicles off of I-64, a major commuter link in Hampton Roads and the principal highway between the region and Richmond.

Carr said most of the road surfaces were clear but icy patches primarily on overpasses had caused my drivers to spin out of control or off the road. Bridge surfaces freeze up soon than other road surfaces.

"People just aren't driving for the road conditions," Carr said.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield said a band of snow moved across Virginia, leaving one-half to 1 inch of snow throughout most of the state.

Several dozen crashes were also reported on interstates around Richmond, and dozens of schools throughout the state delayed school openings. A few canceled classes.

Bryan Moore of the Hampton Roads section of the Virginia Department of Transportation said crews were out at the first sign of snow, salting and sanding major interstates.

"The extra challenge is for the crews to have to maneuver around some of these accidents," he said. "So they have to use caution as well and keep clear of the accidents as they spread salt and sand to prevent future accidents."

(Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

rotarygod

If it's icy, it's understandable. If it's just snow, it's careless (or if you're on sport tires it's stupid!). If the road conditions seem fine and then you hit a random patch of ice, you're just along for the ride at that point. People do need to be more careful based on weather conditions though. Alot of Houston drivers can't do all that well in just rain.

vectorwolf

That's one reason I'm glad I live in the north... We actually deal with weather like that on a regular basis, and now how to handle ourselves in it. Well, MOST of us know how to, anyways.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

In the 70's, I worked for a company that built telephone switching systems. A friend of mine, went to northern Georgia to install one. There had been an ice storm one nite. On the way to work, my friend was stopped by the state police. They were turning everyone around to get them off the road. They checked my friends licence and said, your from Chicago you know how to drive on this. He contined on his way on the empty roads.

JRichter

A little drizzle in Texas and people freak out...

Smashed cars and ditches full of cars every where.

Ike

My nephew from Texas was living with me for a little while and we had a decent size snok, maybe a few inches. The roads were not very bad by our standards. He drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee and was whining about how he was sliding all over the place and how bad the roads were.

Me: Well did you drive a little slower and more carefully than usual?
Him: No
Me: Well that would be your problem
Him: Well how was I supposed to know that?
Me: Common sense?

It's pretty pitiful how some people turn into complete morons when there's a little snow. I used to spend some time in St. Loius and it was the same exact thing, they'd get a tiny bit of snow and people were freaking out and driving like complete morons causing accidents all over the place.

JRichter

You are 100% accurate. This is the mentality of alot of drivers down here....
The scary part is it's usually a 6000 lb truck or suv.

jskup1

iTrader: (7)

I think this is a more accurate mentality...."Me and my pick up truck/SUV can go off-roadin so this snow aint gonna stop me. My 4-wheel drive can handle anything." as they spin out and lose control.

Crazy Rx-8 Driver

up here in minnesota i see that all the time.. an SUV will fly by me..and not even a few minutes down the same road.. there it is in the ditch! haha

BunnyGirl

My mom's from Wisconsin and is used to driving in snow. She just hates when it snows here. She says she knows she can handle it and do fine but it's the other drivers she's worried about because it isn't a common thing for there to be much snow on Oregon roads in our area so people have very little experience with it. She tries to avoid driving in the snowy weather if she can basically just to avoid all the stupid drivers out there.

playdoh43

did you rx8 take delivery yet? rx8 sucks *** in the snow, and most rwd cars for that matter especially the lighter ones.

saturn

I hear/see the whole 4wd drive phenomenon all the time. People think someone their magical 4wd car will defy the law of physics when they barrel down the road in a 3 ton vehicle with a center of gravity 4 feet in the air.

When I first started driving I didn't realize how much road conditions changed when it rained. I hydroplaned a bit when I tried to stop at a stoplight. Luckily no one was in front of me and I only went passed the stop line about a car length so no real danger. Granted it was a 15 year old Camry with bald tires, but it scared me straight. I feel I drive quicker than most people when it's dry and slower than most in wet/snow conditions. Unfortunately, many people's first bad experience with bad winter involves ending up in a ditch.

BunnyGirl

No, and thank God it has been delayed until mid to late April due to a parts availability issue (something electronic)!!!! My company has been undergoing "restructuring" and caused significant financial hardship on me at this current moment which leaves me unable to actually pay for it until I find a new full-time job and keep this rotten one part time at least for a few months. See thread for details.

https://www.rx8club.com/lounge-4/i-hate-my-work-company-83044/

Iceis8

Have you driven an 8 in the snow? Were you using the stock tires? I love the 8 in the snow. Blizzaks+DSC = Easy snow driver for the kind of car it is. The low torque at starting rpms makes it easy to get/keep traction. Granted its not a 4wd SUV but thats no fun. Course the only other light sportscar I have driven in the snow was a Miata. (now thats a good time)

playdoh43

it just happens i had to help one of my friends to get her rx8 out of the driveway. it was on stock tires i couldnt even get it out of the driveway for a while. the tire was just spinning and car not moving. Then after i got it out of the driveway, it slipped 2-3 times when i was trying to make my way to the first stop sign on the street. I just gave up after that. My g35 coupe is the same. so during the winter when theres a lot of snow i use this old beat up 1991 camry. and yeah even if you have awd you still better becareful, AWD dosnt mean youre invincible.

I also happen to live in MD, which is pretty much the same as VA during this snow storm lol, it was petty bad. and yeah im aware that winter tires makes a heck of a difference.