Look At The Snow!!!

[HTL]

Can hardly see out of my window because of the snow, going to be fun getting into work tomorrow at 6:30!

Was going to take a sicky this week but re thinking that plan because the course is going to be shut

 

[Imurg]

Hah! Got most of the next 2 days off and HID is on nights so I need to be out or dead quiet at home. Hopefully we wont get too much snow here and I can get out to play.

Fat chance!!

 

[theeaglehunter]

I've got a good couple of inches outside already. I played football in a snow flurry today that should have seen the match abandoned with about 10 minutes to go as the settled snow had covered all the lines etc but the ref was insistent on finishing, after that it began to melt however since 8 o clock it has been snowing non stop pretty solidly and there is a fair level of accumulation now.

 

[medwayjon]

2-3 inches at my gaff.

Our site is on higher ground so expecting 4 inches atleast on previous form.

I love the snow to look at but it causes too much grief.

Popped out for some wine earlier and saw loads of abandoned motors. Why cant people drive in the snow?

 

[Cernunnos]

I don't know just starting to think about playing a little golf now the flu has abated & the knee is starting to improve & having played my first game of 2009 & now its snowing.

Okay so its only half an inch, but not really a good idea to be out golfing.

Not only that, but peoplem around here can't seem to drive in any amount of snow no matter how little. It really amazes me.

 

[haplesshacker]

Like any other skill, it's something that has to be learnt. Years ago everyone had rear wheel drive cars, and you could get them going sideways at relatively slow speeds. Todays cars with front wheel drive, traction control and anti-lock brakes have taken away driver skill. People just drive too damn fast for the conditions, thinking that their purpose is more important than anyone else's, and they think that their car will 'save' them. Personally I love taking the old MX5 out when it's a bit 'challenging'. But then again I was brought up on rear wheel drive cars with no gizmos. Before anyone says it, I know the pic below isn't of an MX5!!

Still waiting for the snow here. We had a short flurry earlier, but that was it.

 

[Canfordhacker]

Still a balmy -3 here in Dorset, but no sign of snow yet. Bit nippy watching my lad play football this afternoon though!

 

[Cernunnos]

I think after living in Northern Northamptonshire, amoungst the villages for many years I got used to driving in drifting snow. Got used to heavy fog. Niether would fase anyone around there. Its beyond belief 20 years on, with now living in a Town & one tenth the snow & people seem none plussed by bad weather, slipping & sliding everywhere, when the techniques for snow driving are relitively straight forward & to be honest common sense.

I've driven in all snow conditions with FWD, RWD & 4WD cars. Ironically the worst car in the snow I've owned was the 4WD Vitara I used to have. I had a big RWD Rover 820 that never would put a boot wrong in any sort of weather. FWD MkI & MKII fiestas that were great in any conditions.

A few years ago It took over an hour to get out of town, for what was barely a sprinkling. And why...? Was because either people had forgotten or new drivers had never had to cope with snow before. I remember when I was learning to drive my instructor instructed me on proper techniques for snow driving & even had to put it into practice on a couple of lessons.

Clearly it must be something not even touched on these days, either that or its something that doesn't sink in or get used after some have passed their test. At least around here. Or it could be the amount of forigners living in burton these days that have passed their test abroard in countries where to pass all they have to do is start the car drive it forward a few yards then back it up to pass. And then somehow manage to get Taxi badges.

All said & done Burton is in a valley & with the river that was warmed by the warm water output from several powerstations, snow really is a rarety in this town. Or at least used to be. But now with the powerstations closed down, the warming effect on the Trent has been removed, the town hence does get colder than it used to. Maybe an explanation at least partly for for Burton drivers lack of ability, but in my mind, no excuse.

 

[Imurg]

A few years ago It took over an hour to get out of town, for what was barely a sprinkling. And why...? Was because either people had forgotten or new drivers had never had to cope with snow before. I remember when I was learning to drive my instructor instructed me on proper techniques for snow driving & even had to put it into practice on a couple of lessons.

Clearly it must be something not even touched on these days, either that or its something that doesn't sink in or get used after some have passed their test.

As we get this sort of snow so infrequently you don't much get a chance to teach slippy driving techniques. The kids will forget it all within a few weeks anyway because they wont get to use it. We are not allowed to teach skidding as such, only outline what to do in case it happens and the Test can't cover it because of Health and Safety for the examiners.

Biggest problem, as outlined before, is that people just drive too fast. You may be the best driver in the world but driving at 30mph in 6 inches of snow means you need about a separate timezone to stop safely - simple as that. people don't leave enough time for their journey and hurry.

Could go on for hours about this but I've got to check the schools - The Boy's getting quite excited!!

 

[USER1999]

We have 6 to 8 inches of snow.

That means the course will be closed all week.

It also means the tresspassing little tearaways will be toboganning onto our 16th green, which causes a massive amount of damage.

 

[viscount17]

Before driving military vehicles in Norway we had to pass a test. This comprised being shown and practising hand-brake turns in Sherpa vans and Land-Rovers, which with a transmission lock was interesting.

 

[medwayjon]

I saw so many cars this morning overunning junctions etc, abs is ok but in these conditions is not perfect.

The answer is cadence braking, brakes on/brakes off repeatedly. This has a slowing effect and prevents lock ups and once practised is ace.

 

[TonyN]

I tend to do alot of engine breaking, fine tuned clutch control is great, this along with gentle breaking never causes me any problems. I hate the snow now that I golf.

 

[medwayjon]

Been fun in my motor, loads of power through the back wheels is always fun.

 

[USER1999]

Fun all the way until you hit someone.

I used to think driving in snow was ace, but then wrote off a 3 series BM when it hit a massive boulder outside a hotel (6 ft diameter), and decided may be it isn't fun afterall.

Best method is just drive very very slowly in my view. Or walk.

 

[medwayjon]

I remember you saying about that boulder incident, scary that.

By fun I was being ironic, I meant scary!

Bet the wifes car is as lively as heck.

 

[USER1999]

Yeah, she drove off to work today, and if I had been any sort of a gent, I would have swapped cars. I just didn't fancy it either. Hope she gets home ok. Who's going to cook my dinner?

 

[viscount17]

it's not that bad if you keep a light foot on throttle and brake, and a light hand on the steering.

where it gets nervous is the morons around you that have not the vaguest idea of what to do and that includes far too many impatient hgv drivers.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Phoned the station and they said the trains weren't running and hey couldn't give me a guess when the next one was due. Wasn't going to take the car to the station or walk the 3 miles so phoned in and said I couldn't get in. Just as well as I'm full of cold today anyway.

 

[Dave3498]

To get to the main road from my house, I either have to go down a steep hill, or down a very steep hill. Last February I wrote-off my Jaguar XJ6 on the steep hill when I hit some black ice at the top and the car was, from then on, completely out of control. There was no hope of any clutch control, it being an automatic, and although I did some steering in short stretches of about 10 yards, the car finished in a farmer's hedge with enough damage to make it a write-off. Altogether it had travelled about 100 yards completely out of control.

I no longer take a chance on this hill since I now have a Jaguar XJ8 and it is just as bad as the XJ6 in icy conditions. It's not getting up hills that is the problem, it's trying to maintain control going down.