Driving in all kinds of weather.
@GardenGerty (160665)
United States
December 30, 2006 1:03am CST
Is there any type of weather you just absolutely hate to drive in? Tell me one of your worst experiences. I was taking my daughter to a baton twirling competition one icy day, and before I had gone 30 miles, I had slid off the road 3 times. The last time I spun around 360 degrees. I made up my mind that if I went off one more time, we would turn around and go home. Right after that we drove out of the storm and ice area and had beautiful sun the rest of the way on a three and a half hour trip.
9 people like this
60 responses
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I do not have the mountains to contend with, and only a little drive. I get worried mostly about people who are careless and too self assured. Thanks for responding.
@babray06 (1787)
• India
30 Dec 06
I am very cautious on rainy days. Once I was returning home from my office. It was just drizzling then. While I had already covered half of the distance, suddenly I slided off the road. Fortunately may be due to rain there were not much of traffic there and I was not being followed by any vehicle. This was a very important lesson for me also. I am yet to forget that day.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
30 Dec 06
Thanks for responding. A lot of people are fooled and do not think rain is very dangerous, but it certainly can be. I am glad you are safe.
@kris55 (848)
• Canada
31 Dec 06
I hate being on the road when it is snowing heavily. My tires are all season, not winter, because we dont get snow here in vancouver. We did this year though. We usually get for like 1-3 days then melts away. I think it stayed for 2 weeks this time. Torture!! I kept getting stuck everywhere!!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
1 Jan 07
You have had your share and mine too it seems. We are getting our first snow today. I have not had to drive. What little we did, hubby did before he went to work. I have stayed home an done myLot all afternoon. Happy New Year.
@tba123 (457)
• United States
30 Dec 06
I absolutely hate being out on the roads when there is snow and ice out there. My worst experience so far is back in 1999. They were calling for a big snow/ice storm, we usually don't get hit with anything big though. IT was suppose to hit by 6pm, well it didn't hit so about 11pm that night me and my now sil went to a club thinking oh its not going to hit. We get circling by the door every 15 minutes. The last time we went by the door the ground was covered in snow that quick.
We hurried out of there and got on the interstate trying to get back to town before it got to bad, we got 5 miles up the road and hit a guard rail. We managed to get off the guard rail and back out on the road.
About another 5 miles or so up the road a mustang side swiped us, we did a full 360 turn in the middle of the road. How she managed to keep us on the road I have no clue but am glad since there was a big dropoff on the right hand side. The mustang went in the median. We all got lucky, no one was hurt in the wreck.
I was adamant after the 2nd wreck that night I wasn't moving till my dad came and got me. Him and friend did and we all made it home safely to my house, then my friend had her dad come and get her to take her home about 30 miles from here.
That was the last time I didn't listen to the snow/ice warnings and go on out anyway lol.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
30 Dec 06
Colorful story, and very scary. You never can tell when the weather is gonna turn bad. Sometimes it misses it's cue, and catches us off guard. Sure am glad you are okay.
1 person likes this
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@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
30 Dec 06
One night I was driving alone in a VW near the East Border in Germany when my car started skidding on ice. It seemed like the car was dancing in slow motion and I went nose first into a ditch. I totally panicked...tried to lift the car out .. how crazy can you get! It was pitch black, trees were rustling and I was scared silly. I just new one of the Vopo guards was going to shoot me I started walking (in high heels) trying to bargain with God telling how good I would be if he would just keep me safe. Finally I came to a tiny German town where these was small service station where the owners lived nearby. I woke them up (3am) thank heavens I spoke German, I was crying, frozen and they got up. The owner with his sons got a tow truck and pulled my car back on the road. They wouldn't accept any payment! I must have said "Thank you God" a million times on my way home. I remember every minute of that scary night.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
30 Dec 06
I am glad you are safe. My brother completely rolled a beetle once when he was in college. He righted it, changed a tire, and drove home covered in red mud. I am glad you are safe and God listened.
1 person likes this
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
10 Jan 07
I learned to drive and got my license in high school when we lived in Utah, so I'm fairly comfortable driving in snow. But I refuse to drive in heavy fog. If I can't see more than a few feet in front of me and I'm startled when an oncoming car (with it's lights) on comes at me and I don't even see it until it's just about right on me, forget it!
My life and my families lives are more important to me than to risk a trip, even to grocery store.
I drove school bus first 3 months last year and when they told me that we'd have to drive in heavy fog, I quit!
An elderly bus driver told me her horrific story about the fog. She was picking up her children and couldn't even see the side of the road; didn't know if she was heading off road or not. She came to a stop sign from a side street and had to turn to get on highway; she couldn't see in either direction, let alone in front of her. She sat there for several seconds, heart pounding and on the verge of tears.
What could she do? She had to continue, so she said a quick prayer and trusted the He'd protect her and the children.
To me, that's just absolute insanity! Would you want your child riding in a school bus on those occasions? Not me. If it's too foggy out, I call the bus company and tell them that I'll take CJ to school when the fog lifts enough to see.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
14 Jan 07
This discussion seems to touch a chord with people. It is an old one, but has come up to the surface again. I was watching the news tonight. I grew up in the Oklahoma City area, and drove some of those expressways in all kinds of weather. The broadcasters were standing beside the highway, there had been 21 accidents so far in that vicinity, and people were still barrelling along at maximum speed--CRAZY. I want to arrive alive. All my friends out there, be careful if you have to drive in these winter conditions this weekend.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
31 Dec 06
We were living in Kansas near junction City at the time. My son had a chevy x10 pickup and I was following him into town. We were on one of those roads that had steep slopes on either side. The road were very icy. Suddenly I saw him spinning round and round .. He spun several time. I kept expecting him to go oaver the enbankment. but he stopped spining and was facing the way we werre going. I could just see them going over the side and laying in the ditch below.God was guiding the pickup at that time.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I am familiar with that area. How frightening. I saw someone drive down an embankment from the interstate on purpose last year. Goofy kid.! I am glad your son is safe.
@14missy (3183)
• Australia
31 Dec 06
Having lived most of my life in sunny Queensland (australia) I have never had to drive in icy or snow conditions. I do hate driving in a thunderstorm though. It can be raining so hard you cannot see the road at all. Thank goodness I have never had any real accidents due to weather conditions.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Rain can be pretty challenging, too. I bet you have some pretty heavy downpours. Happy New Year.
@kawillow74 (1416)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I late ice as well but I really hate the fog i have know idea why I just feel like I could get lost even though I lived in this area my whole life.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
My husband hates fog as well. It does cause you to get disoriented.
@harsh1985 (593)
• India
31 Dec 06
yes driving in raining is very very problematic.I also get suffered from sliding many times..but every time it is limited to grazing.
condition vehicle especially tires is very important while driving in bad weather.smooth tires is the main cause in the sliding of vehicle...
so drively safely!!..and enjoy driving..:)
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Yes, it is important to pay attention to the tires of your cars. Thanks for the post.
@edelweiss (1929)
• India
31 Dec 06
i hate driving on a foggy day. i dont mind travelling on a cold, or a hot or a rainy day. but foggy days scare me.
i am never in a hurry. i drive really carefully even on sunny days like a responsible citizen.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Fog may be the hardest, because it shifts and you cannot tell what you are seeing. Happy New Year
@ursjosh077 (19)
• India
31 Dec 06
yeah .. am crazy about driving ... i cant tell u its my passion.. cause i really havnt understood the meaning of passion yet.. so u can say am mad.. i never wan any one else to drive when am there not even my driver..
once i had to drive on a sunny day along iwth my dad and t heat was so stubburn that my dad got exhausted and i couldn ask my dad to drive to .. my eyes got dried up and i felt like some thing is gonna happen worse.. usually i don go down from hundred.. and hundred km speed is t fastest u can drive in medium sized cars on indian roads... so i usuallu keep up t speed al t time... and u know what it was tsunami at the same time.. and i was going near a highway thats near t beach... i was too confused as how am i gonna manage.. and thank god v had to bath in the showers only once ... and ther was a huge strech of wall the next few steps down which guarded us for t rest of our journey and thank god nothing happened to my dad,.. who is t most important to me...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Heat can really be oppressive when you are driving. It is important to get plenty of fluids, wear sunglasses. Glad you and your dad are ok.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
That would be very hot. You would need to wear a hat, and sunglasses, and carry water too.
@samraphael (140)
• India
31 Dec 06
night driving on snow time is very dangerous and you have to keep very carefull
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I agree. Either night time or snow is dangerous, and they are really bad together.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
My hubby is a yoooper. I know a little about Michigan. Thanks for the response.
@budsr03 (2350)
• Canada
31 Dec 06
My father once told me about a caterpillar infestation in northern Alberta. Some vehicles had to attempt second and third tries to make it up this certain hill. It must have been very slick. Personally I am afraid to drive when the highways are icy.
@brightbluesea (1143)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I absolutely hate driving on icy roads! You just have no control over your vehicle and there are so many bad drivers out there that forget to use caution during bad weather that I just tense up sharing the road. Snowstorms are not my favorite driving conditions either
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
The smart people stay inside if it is at all possible. Those bad ones are scary. Have a Happy New Year.
@Crystalwatson345 (441)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I dont like to drive when it is pouring down rain we dont get snow or ice in Louisiana but if we did I probally would hate driving in that too lol.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
You are probably right about snow and ice. I am sure you get your share of pouring rain, though. Thanks
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Ah, yes, construction...one of my least favorite things. I know it must be a nightmare when you add flooding.