Why do people forget how to drive in the snow?

Question

It never ceases to amaze me that every first big storm of the year there are so many idiots that don't remember to slow down!

Answer 1

Basically they never learned the art of defensive driving in snow and they do not have the desire to learn. The entire process is a conditioned feel that is learned and the ability to register and remember what may happen under what condition. Very much like sailing a Hobie cat. I do that too. At a very early age I learned to cope because it was necessary in upper N.Y.S. winters. I grew up on a dairy farm driving large farm tractors, trucks and heavy equipment in snow conditions. There are many tricks of the trade to allow drivers to become confident and courteous while driving in these conditions. I considered it to be a challenge to overcome. People should first prepare their vehicles in the fall for winter driving by choosing the proper snow tires, making sure the wiper blades and wiper system is working properly and evaluate the entire cooling system IE. thermostat belts hoses. Other items to check are the braking system and headlight alignment. Also by neutralizing the cars tendency to understear or push the front end in snow by adding 50-100 lbs of sand bags as close to the rear axle in the trunk as possible Open tread-ed narrow studded snow tires front and rear tires are really the best choice. I wouldn't consider an SUV under any condition. They are too top heavy and new drivers in these vehicles think they have more security than anyone on the road. They tend to drive over their heads. When these vehicles start to wiggle the least bit while being driven too fast their in the ditch or on their roofs. The weight distribution is terrible in these vehicles. After College my work place was 20 miles away and the only way to get there was a wind and snow swept highway. I traveled this route 38 yrs. On winter highways I've never had an accident or caused one. I'm 62 yrs. old and still learning.

Answer 2

This is a question that comes up every year....it never ceases to amaze me that people born and bread in the Northeast, Midwest and any other snow area ALWAYS get stupid on the roads for the first snow storm. And look at this year... in the east we have only had one snow all season until now...and it will be gone in a day. And yet, there they all are, without fail speeding around the bend and slamming on their breaks at the traffic light...just another thing to make you say hmmmmmm.

Answer 3

lol I don't know but my thing is they drive like 2 mi per hour and its only 1 in of snow on the ground. Or even when it raining really hard, they just creep along and I cant stand that. I'm all for safety butdam.

Answer 4

The same reason why they forget how to drive in the rain...They think they can beat the odds of a multiple car pile up and speed on the slick roads.

Answer 5

its all mental

during the good weather we tend to speed up, tail gate, and even change lanes without really looking

even tho we know the road is crap and we need to be more careful and slow down our mind and foot do not connect and well we slip slide and end up in the ditch

Answer 6

yes and you have those slow people that - after the snow melts off the road - are afraid of the snow on the side of the road. what do they think its gonna jump out in front of them?

Answer 7

I love it. You see them driving by you at 65mph and then, a few miles later, you get to smile and wave as you pass them in the ditch.

Answer 8

Every year...but they catch on after the first one.

Answer 9

Coz they don't know how to drive in the first place!

Answer 10

its never snowed here so i duno how to drive in the snow