It happens every year – one centimetre of snow hits the ground, and without fail a cataclysm of nonsense ensues on city roads and highways.
Despite the fact that we Canadians spend a good chunk of our year in the chillier months, many of us simply forget how to drive during that fateful first snowfall.
An especially rough recent morning commute inspired this list of “the stupid things people do when driving in the winter:”
- “Snow tires? What snow tires?”
Alberta sees more snow and colder temperatures during the winter months compared to other regions. Yet some people still refuse to use winter tires. All-season tires are not meant for Canadian winters. Winter tires have special tread patterns and groove capacity, which increase traction, allowing you to stop metres shorter compared to all-seasons. Winter tires are also made from softer compounds that provide better grip in frigid temperatures, whether there is snow on the ground or not.
- “If I drive five centimetres from the car in front of me, we’ll all get to work faster. It’s science.”
Following too close is quite possibly one of the stupidest things you could do while driving in general, let alone in a snow storm. Unless your car is actually from the future and possesses braking abilities that defy modern physics, back off. Always leave room between your car and the cars around you. It can take up to ten times further to come to a stop your car in icy conditions – so best to use the ten second rule – follow at least ten seconds behind the vehicle in front.
- “My SUV makes me indestructible.”
Sure your SUV is big, and you’re likely to come out of a collision in better shape than someone on a motorcycle. But, is your name Bruce Wayne? No? Then your vehicle is, in fact, destructible. Even if you’re not worried about yourself getting injured in an accident, have some consideration for the little people and cars on the road and drive like a courteous civilian.
- “Wow, these driving conditions are horrible. I should tweet about it immediately.”
After all of the fatal accidents, distracted driving safety campaigns and fender benders, it’s mind-boggling that this still needs to be said – do not text/tweet/talk and drive.
- “Headlights are for suckers.”
Often uttered by the same drivers who believe things like item #3, driving in poor visibility conditions without your headlights on is not only stupid, it’s discourteous to your fellow drivers who would prefer not to get into an accident on their way to work.
- “Snow and ice won’t slow me down. Only I can slow me down.”
A statement often uttered during self-motivating morning rituals and coordination of power-suits and accessories. Self-confidence is great, denial of logic, science and common sense is not. Leave extra time to get to work and slow down.
- “Leaving the foot of snow on my car roof as I drive makes me look cool.”
No it doesn’t. And it’s actually creating hazardous driving conditions for the people behind you as your foot of snow blows onto their windshield. Clean the snow off your car before leaving the driveway. Which leads us to,
- “I can see through snow.”
This bad habit is often born of laziness or aversion to cold temperatures, where drivers will scrape the minimum amount of snow off their windshield, hop in the car, and drive blindly to work. Another ill-advised method is to continually pump anti-freeze onto a frozen windshield, peering out quickly for roadblocks, pedestrians and the like before the glass freezes over once again.
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