Winter weather driving tips?

Take your time, give yourself LOTS of space, take your time, remember, LOTS of space, take your time...

 

The Crab Mentality. Biggest problem in traffic. Perfect day, not a cloud in the sky, great stretch of road. Car comes up on you 10 mph faster than what you were going, but for some reason has to slow down and match speed beside you. They finally get in front of you when other cars appear, and they all go down the road clustered together. They slow down, and you jump out to pass them, and they pick up speed. "If murder wasn't against the law...."

So the weather is crappy. You're running down the road at a safe pace. You can feel the slickness, but everything's cool. Suddenly, for some reason, some idiot driver is butthugging. It's the Winter Crab.

'Driver, on the next straight, I'm gonna back out of it. Come around me.'

"Ummm, I think I will just follow you."

'If you are going to follow me, back off 1000 ft. You are too close. You cannot see around me. You will not be able to stop in time!'

"But I am scared!"

But they can't do it. They HAVE TO drive clustered up. They don't know of any other way. And you have a ticking time bomb. When I have to go around these guys, I have to pass 4-5 trucks bunched together. If they're spaced out, it's easier and much safer for everyone.

Had on cluster running down the road in tennesee, everything was iced over on I40. I'm following the cluster a safe distance behind. Hit a straight, I jump left and hammer. I'm passing 6-7 trucks when we started going uphill. The lead truck slows and comes to a stop to engage his power divider. I blow on by. Drivers are screaming and cursing on the radio. It's their own fault. They should have never been following ach other so close.

If you are afraid, stay parked. Please stay parked.

I did run out of San Antonio one night with a driver that followed me for hours. He stayed a half mile behind me. I ran front door and told him everything he needed to know on CB. Car here, jackknife there. Got to the hi rise bridge in Lake CharlesLA. Kicked my speed up to 60 and went up the bridge in the left lane. YES, IT WAS SLICK!!!! Kept my rpms high, and throttle light and as soon as she'd start to spin, downshift. Made it up and over. Told the driver behind me how I do it. He made it too. Heard on the radio that the 18 mile BasinBridge was closed. The bridge on 190 was closed too. Stopped in Frog City and called it a day. The sun came up. Traffic was backed up. We took 10, and the driver that was running with me decided to get out and try to make it to the TA LafayetteLA to fuel. Go right ahead, amigo. I'm staying here until traffic thins out. The sun went down, and traffic thinned out and the roads were clear. Hammered out of Frog City and made it to my stop in LaGrange Georgia for Monday delivery. Love it when a plan comes together.

 

If youre on an interstate like for example by little rock that has a bunch of trees by it.
They fall down into the road frequently when it snows.

Just somin to watch out for. If the trees can reach the road falling over pay attention.

 

Was that Lake Charles bridge experience two winters ago after the ice storm? I was headed east on I-10 that night, topped out at about 10 mph and then let it coast on the way down. Hit about 60 at the bottom, but there was no question that any application of brakes would be begging for "issues". Fortunately nobody else was on the road. Parked it for a day at the first available truck stop shortly after that.

 

That was it. Glad to see I wasn't the only one working that night.

 

Geez, what a night. I-10 closed in Beaumont and a train of trucks were running through industrial and residential streets, following detour signs. Trucks were making parking all over, but nothing looked good. I kept following the detour until it came to an entrance ramp back to I-10. It wasn't blocked off, so I got back on the big road.

Pretty soon I realized there wasn't ANYONE following me. After the bridge I finally raised someone on the CB, and learned I-10 was closed up ahead. Stopped in Egan for a day. Got the last spot in the yard just after midnight. Good ribs.

 

#1, always keep abreast of the near-term weather for where you are
#2, always keep abreast of the mid and long term forecasted weather for where you're going to be tomorrow and the next day

When parking for your 10 hour break or other extended period and new snow is forecasted, park headed downhill if this is an option. Don't be the guy that parked on dry pavement and wakes up with 9 inches if super-slick powder on the ground and can't get going up the hill where he decided to park because it was easy at the time.

 

I don't necessarily agree with the park it mentality. Yes, sometimes that is your best option. However like stated above if you're never in it or park all the time you won't know what to do if you find yourself in it. You have to find your comfort level so you know when to park and there's only one way to find it. I've been dealing with this on a personal level. Moved back to my hometown in South Dakota with my fiancé in tow, who was born and raised in CA. I made her drive the first few times it snowed. She's still not sure about the highway but she can get where she needs to go now.

 

Some (Rand) have wifi connect option that provides radar overlay and weather but I found it to be more trouble then was worth.

I like radarscope and weatherunderground apps and a few links to noaa web sites

 

Slow down then slow down some more. You'll be alright if you just slow down and drive in your comfort zone.