(no subject)
Dec. 12th, 2003 05:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hafoc
Here lies the body of Edward Gay
Who died maintaining his right of way.
His right was clear, his will was strong,
But he's just as dead as if he were wrong.
Look, driving on the snow isn't that hard, people. If you're Not From Around Here, you'll get used to it; just keep calm and be careful, and you'll make it. If you're from around here and you're a superior driver who knows how to drive in snow and can get anywhere, get out of the car until you realize you aren't, you don't, and you can't... even if you could last year, by now you're out of practice. Slow down until you get your touch again.
The first and most important rule is, whatever you're going to isn't as important as you think it is. If it's going to get you killed, stay home and go later.
After that, remember to be gentle. Your control depends on the delicate traction between your tires and the first layer of snow crystals. Don't break your traction. There are eggs between your foot and the accelerator and brake, between your hands and the steering wheel, and you don't dare break them. That's it. Gentle, slow control movements. Never push quickly, never push hard.
When the snow gets deep enough that it might physically block your car, momentum is your friend. Slow down and crawl up to a red light so it changes before you get there. Creep up to stop signs and, if you can, creep right through. Sure, a rolling stop is illegal, but the cops probably aren't going to hit you for a one MPH rolling stop when the snow's that deep. They know why you did it.
And remember that little rhyme that started this screed. Stop thinking that the other guy has to stop at the intersection you're approaching. He doesn't have to stop. It may well be that he can't. If he's a Floridiot bombing up to the sign on black ice at 65 MPH, you can be pretty sure he WON'T. Oh, yeah, the cops will ticket him for the accident, if he survives it, but that's little compensation for your becoming roadkill.
Who died maintaining his right of way.
His right was clear, his will was strong,
But he's just as dead as if he were wrong.
Look, driving on the snow isn't that hard, people. If you're Not From Around Here, you'll get used to it; just keep calm and be careful, and you'll make it. If you're from around here and you're a superior driver who knows how to drive in snow and can get anywhere, get out of the car until you realize you aren't, you don't, and you can't... even if you could last year, by now you're out of practice. Slow down until you get your touch again.
The first and most important rule is, whatever you're going to isn't as important as you think it is. If it's going to get you killed, stay home and go later.
After that, remember to be gentle. Your control depends on the delicate traction between your tires and the first layer of snow crystals. Don't break your traction. There are eggs between your foot and the accelerator and brake, between your hands and the steering wheel, and you don't dare break them. That's it. Gentle, slow control movements. Never push quickly, never push hard.
When the snow gets deep enough that it might physically block your car, momentum is your friend. Slow down and crawl up to a red light so it changes before you get there. Creep up to stop signs and, if you can, creep right through. Sure, a rolling stop is illegal, but the cops probably aren't going to hit you for a one MPH rolling stop when the snow's that deep. They know why you did it.
And remember that little rhyme that started this screed. Stop thinking that the other guy has to stop at the intersection you're approaching. He doesn't have to stop. It may well be that he can't. If he's a Floridiot bombing up to the sign on black ice at 65 MPH, you can be pretty sure he WON'T. Oh, yeah, the cops will ticket him for the accident, if he survives it, but that's little compensation for your becoming roadkill.
