From: gee7759@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Glenn Elliott)
Subject: Re: driving in snow (or other low traction conditions) 
Organization: Boeing Computer Services
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 18:48:02 GMT

Mark Crispin (mrc@Ikkoku-Kan.Panda.COM) wrote:
: Some of these people who talk about how they ``know how to drive in
: snow'' (and by extension, most everyone else doesn't) and spin yarns
: about how they made it through snow-covered passes without bothering
: to put on chains remind me somewhat about those general aviation
: pilots who brag about how they know how to fly in thunderstorms, and
: how they do it all the time.  True, you can fly into the side of a
: level 3 cell and come out the other side none the worst for wear.  But
: you can also fly into the side and come out the bottom; and even
: experienced pilots do so.

And you NEVER make posts like this, do you Mark?

While what you say is true, you are just as guilty of condescension
as anyone else.

: There is another factor to consider as well -- no matter how good you
: or your vehicle may be on poor traction surfaces, that isn't going to
: help you if the pickup in front of you loses it in an oversteer and
: spins into you.

This is the main reason that I don't like to drive in the snow in
Seattle.  While I, personally, do not have any trouble driving in the
snow, it seems that most (not all) drivers out here DO have trouble.
I'm more worried about being hit than I am about losing control of my
car.

: Choosing not to drive in snow or ice unless absolutely necessary is
: not a mark of wimpiness; it is prudence.

Definitely!

: This is particularly the
: case when you have individuals on the roads who observe adverse
: conditions and who intentionally push the margin even narrower.  Foul
: weather seems to encourage Seattle drivers to tailgate more, even when
: traffic is moving at or above the speed limit!

If the majority of Seattle drivers would abide by standard rules of the
road, this could be dramatically reduced.  Regardless of the condition
of the road.

For instance, if you do not wish to drive fast, then DON'T DRIVE IN THE
FAST LANE.  I observe two or three cases every day in which someone
merges onto the freeway and immediately moves as far to the left as
possible.  Once they've reached the far left lane, they slow down and
set their cruise control, blocking traffic.  But I digress...

: Risk assessment is one of the important aspects of a performance
: driving school (*not* high-school driver's ed or the K-Mart Driving
: School).  Those individuals who are self-taught, or taught by family
: or friends, miss out on this and other benefits of professional
: training.  They may acquire some ``seat of the pants'' folklore along
: the way, but in the long run they end up disproportionately
: represented in the accident statistics.

Really?  Do you have numbers to back this up?  I would guess that the
self taught (inclement weather driving) people are the ones who are
driving normally.  NOT driving too fast, and NOT driving too slow.

While it is ALWAYS true that there will be assholes out there who want
to overextend themselves, it is not fair to label the self-taught
and/or family taught people in this way.  It has been my experience
that these people are the best drivers.  It seems to me that the ones
who have taken a performance driving school of some sort are about
50/50.  Half learn from the school, and half THINK they've learned.

Glenn
-- 
Glenn E. Elliott               | Anyone who believes that what I say or do
Computing Systems Analyst      | represents the policies or procedures of
Boeing Computer Services       | The Boeing Company has more lawyers than
gee7759@eeidf002.ca.boeing.com | they have common sense.