Midwest winter and driving

[Pathrat]

I am sitting here in my brother's living room in Madison WI, while my sister in law works and my nephew is asleep. It is snowing like crazy. When I walked up to the house, kids were outside, taking a sled somewhere, and they said hi and even commented on the weather. I forgot what it was like to have kids speak to strangers. I am staying a block away and on the way over, I was looking at what people had in their driveways. The vehicles of choice seem to be sedans, things like Corollas, some Subarus, Chevys, VW...there is one truck, a T100 across the street. The ice on the tree-lined neighborhood streets here does not melt. There is four inches of snow on the roads. What spurred this was the people eating breakfast at the B&B I am at expressing such joy over their hybrids. I asked how they did in the snow, and of course had to add that I liked my gas sucking pig that does not yet come in a diesel or a hybrid, and the people said 'oh great'. Compare this to Colorado where the predominant vehicle on the road is an SUV and the majority seem to have great difficulty driving in any amount of snow. Do people just understand winter driving better out here? Lots of snow tires? Anyone from the Midwest want to fill me in?

[Chris]

Yes, people just understand driving in snow & ice in the Midwest. I chuckle at Coloradans with their 4WD on whenever there's snow on the street. As a Minnesota transplant I'm used to driving in snow & ice with whatever 2WD I owned and rarely ever had a problem. Madison isn't that far from where I lived in the Twin Cities so there's not much difference.

When the snow that falls in October is still on the ground in April you don't have much choice. I can't remember ever getting stuck now that I think about it, it's just a matter anticipating what your car or truck will do and slipping and sliding is all part of it. My least favorite conditions were deep ruts in frozen streets, driving in ruts that didn't always go the direction you wanted to go.

[Chris]

I like Madison a whole lot more than Boulder, almost moved there a number of years ago when Barb had a job offer.

[SCRubicon]

They get a lot of practice driving on snow/ice. My father-in-law grew up in Beloit, WI and I don't think he ever owned a 4x4 in his life. I think the dingleberries out here forget how to drive in crappy conditions between snow storms.

[gragravar]

They get a lot of practice driving on snow/ice. My father-in-law grew up in Beloit, WI and I don't think he ever owned a 4x4 in his life. I think the dingleberries out here forget how to drive in crappy conditions between snow storms.

Seriously, Beloit? wow. I dont meet many people from there. My wife and I both went to college there. My wife grew up just outside Belivdere IL about 20 min from there.

As for driving in the snow, yeah, people out there just learn to handle it. people learn their cars and what they will do in the snow. CO is a funny place because we have a mix of drivers that handle it well, and other drivers that, well, dont. Watch the drivers out there, they give extra room and take some extra time to get where they are going when its snowy. we could all learn from that.

[Funrover]

Yeah we have bad drivers here... but it's fun for me when I pull them out!

[Chris]

Seriously, Beloit? wow. I dont meet many people from there. My wife and I both went to college there. My wife grew up just outside Belivdere IL about 20 min from there.


My brother went to Beloit College.

[gragravar]

My brother went to Beloit College.

Wow, its a small world.

I take it he went there a few years before I would have?

[Chris]

He graduated in 1970, probably before you were there. :lol:

I lived in the Palatine/Arlington Hts area of IL for 10 years or so.

[gragravar]

He graduated in 1970, probably before you were there. :lol:

I lived in the Palatine/Arlington Hts area of IL for 10 years or so.

LOL, um, well, since I was BORN in 1970, yeah he was there a little before me. :D

[Brody]

Most of my Moms whole side of the family still lives in Madison. Her Dad donated the Arboretum to the city many, many years ago...Been to Madison alot...

[Pathrat]

Most of my Moms whole side of the family still lives in Madison. Her Dad donated the Arboretum to the city many, many years ago...Been to Madison alot...

No kidding. My brother lives a block away from Monroe St right where one of the borders of the Arboretum lies. It was a pleasant town, but too cold.

I agree with SCRubicon...people forget how to drive. And yeah, if you behave, understand your vehicle and leave room it seems to me you should be fine.

[Chris]

people forget how to drive. And yeah, if you behave, understand your vehicle and leave room it seems to me you should be fine.

I'm not so sure about that. Every time there was fresh snow in MN the freeway would be full of people driving too fast for conditions and ending up spinning out and landing in the ditch. These were locals that got too casual.


Oh, most frequently they were 4x4's :lol:

[Pathrat]

I'm not so sure about that. Every time there was fresh snow in MN the freeway would be full of people driving too fast for conditions and ending up spinning out and landing in the ditch. These were locals that got too casual.


Oh, most frequently they were 4x4's :lol:

They were not behaving :D Snow and ice driving in Driver's Ed should be mandatory! They didn't really touch on it in Hunter's class so we have been teaching him.

[Chris]

When my son picked up the Colorado driving skills he got a collection of tickets, a couple crashes, etc. The courts took his license and I told him he wouldn't drive under my insurance until he took, and paid for, the Master Drive program. He hasn't had so much as a ticket since then. Money well spent, especially since it was his. ;)

[Chris]

If you're not familiar with it - http://www.masterdrive.com/about/

[Pathrat]

Thank you!

[Chris]

They have a class when parents ride along - kind of scary to be shotgun when the kid does evasive maneuvers! :eek:

Reassuring when they do it right! :cool:

[Funrover]

If you're not familiar with it - http://www.masterdrive.com/about/


Masterdrive hahahahahahahaha Everyone I know that took the class are the worst drivers and have the most tickets... They are confident though hahaha

[Chris]

Scary thought, confident & stupid. My opinion stands. ;)

[Pathrat]

Not much worse than an idiot who is sure he is right. :eek:

[gragravar]

Not much worse than an idiot who is sure he is right. :eek:

Hey I resemble that remark. ;)

[Pathrat]

Hey I resemble that remark. ;)

hahaha! Bet not. I think the people who thought like that didn't stick around on this site very long.

[gragravar]

hahaha! Bet not. I think the people who thought like that didn't stick around on this site very long.

Well, I am usually sure I am right, I just try to avoid convincing other people of that. :thunb: usually works out better that way.

as for the idiot part, well, you probably shouldnt talk with my wife...

[Funrover]

Well, I am usually sure I am right, I just try to avoid convincing other people of that. :thunb: usually works out better that way.

as for the idiot part, well, you probably shouldnt talk with my wife...

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Pathrat]

Well, I am usually sure I am right, I just try to avoid convincing other people of that. :thunb: usually works out better that way.

as for the idiot part, well, you probably shouldnt talk with my wife...

:lol: :lol:

Gatemonkey? is that you?

[Brody]

Yeah...don't talk to LaDawn about that either...she has never driven us into holes we had to be pulled out of...only ridden along as I have done it....