[ale] OT: Driving in snow...

[Christopher Bergeron]

Speaking of which, I'm going to Mass. for an X-Mas party in a few 
weeks.  I'm going to be driving a rental car into Mass from CT. and I 
was wondering if Rental Cars up there have chains in the trunk and/or 
snow tires. 

I've driven in snow here in ATL, but never in real snow like up in New 
England.

Anyone have any pointers?


-CB

tfreeman at intel.digichem.net wrote:

>On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Brian J. Dowd wrote:
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>>This ex-Bostonian says:
>>New Englanders have inherent advantages:
>>snowtires (or studs or chains)
>>[on their tires not on their bodies...]
>>and well sanded roads.
>>Otherwise "equal abilities".
>>-Brian
>>    
>>
>
>Point taken, although I don't think it fully explains the situation. FWIW, 
>in six years of winter driving in NE, and another in Ohio, I have yet to 
>purchase snow tires, or studs. A friend of mine gave me chains once, but I 
>lost them the first time I used them.
>
>As to well sanded/salted roads, the roads aren't generally prepared ahead 
>of the snow, yet you don't see as much craziness at the beginning of a 
>snow in the NE as you do in this region.
>
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>>>On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, Geoffrey wrote:
>>>
>>> 
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>>>>Jason Fritcher wrote:
>>>>   
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>Dow Hurst wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>     
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>>>Jason,
>>>>>>Welcome to the ALE group!
>>>>>>       
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks! :)
>>>>>     
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>><<snip linux and reasonable stuff>>
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>>>>Yeah, wait till the first snow and you see on these idiots on the road. 
>>>>   I've never understood that since probably 50% of Atlanta consists of 
>>>>relocated Yankees, like myself.
>>>>
>>>>   
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>I've kinda noticed that myself - although I'm up in Charlotte. "Up here" 
>>>(where the heck is "Up" anyway?), I think we have similar rates of bumper 
>>>cars during a good rain as Boston has for the first snow, based upon 
>>>living in New England twenty odd years ago. During a snow storm, go over 
>>>to a resturant on a busy corner, get something warm, and _watch_ the 
>>>locals sliding through the intersection. Them as are walking, seem to fall 
>>>down a lot. Great entertainment for the sadistically inclined...
>>>
>>>As to reasons; I've got some guesses and no idea how to test them. I do 
>>>think many times the Atlanta/Charlotte/southeastern snow fall is somewhat 
>>>slipryer(sp?) than many northern locations because the ground is much 
>>>closer to freezing, and the snow tends to be wetter. Also, low traction 
>>>driving seems to need regular practice - once or twice every year or two 
>>>just isn't sufficient practice. The arrogance of "I come from the north 
>>>and I understand snow driving" plays a part of it also. And finally, I 
>>>suspect most drivers are in too much of a hurry to stop and think, or even 
>>>to leave space ahead to stop.
>>>
>>>YMMV of course
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
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