RE: the Madison pile-up on the interstate
I decided not to hijack that thread, so here are my follow-up comments:
I can't help but say this: ARRIVE ALIVE! We can go much faster than we can stop!
Several years ago my ex-wife was driving on Christmas Day in -20F weather (road salts work down to about -15 to -10F). I was in the car with her. We had a manual shift car and she sensed icy roads as we crossed a bridge, so she let off the gas, which, of course slowed us, but didn't activate our brake lights. A 16-car pile-up happened right behind us because the driver behind us had to tap his breaks when my then-wife took her foot off the accelerator. The guy behind us lost control on the icy bridge, and then the car behind him lost control and the car behind that one and.....sixteen vehicles, no serious injuries. We drove away, bodies and car entirely intact. As much as I fail to respect that woman, I still don't think it was her fault. The guy behind us was following too closely for the conditions. And so were a lot of other people. Perhaps we were, too, but my ex-wife had the time and presence of mind not to hit the break, but rather just to let off the gas.
Collisions in fog are no different. If you can't stop in the distance you can see, you're driving too fast!
Rant over.
I can't help but say this: ARRIVE ALIVE! We can go much faster than we can stop!
Several years ago my ex-wife was driving on Christmas Day in -20F weather (road salts work down to about -15 to -10F). I was in the car with her. We had a manual shift car and she sensed icy roads as we crossed a bridge, so she let off the gas, which, of course slowed us, but didn't activate our brake lights. A 16-car pile-up happened right behind us because the driver behind us had to tap his breaks when my then-wife took her foot off the accelerator. The guy behind us lost control on the icy bridge, and then the car behind him lost control and the car behind that one and.....sixteen vehicles, no serious injuries. We drove away, bodies and car entirely intact. As much as I fail to respect that woman, I still don't think it was her fault. The guy behind us was following too closely for the conditions. And so were a lot of other people. Perhaps we were, too, but my ex-wife had the time and presence of mind not to hit the break, but rather just to let off the gas.
Collisions in fog are no different. If you can't stop in the distance you can see, you're driving too fast!
Rant over.
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quote:Originally posted by spurgemastur
I decided not to hijack that thread, so here are my follow-up comments:
I can't help but say this: ARRIVE ALIVE! We can go much faster than we can stop!
Several years ago my ex-wife was driving on Christmas Day in -20F weather (road salts work down to about -15 to -10F). I was in the car with her. We had a manual shift car and she sensed icy roads as we crossed a bridge, so she let off the gas, which, of course slowed us, but didn't activate our brake lights. A 16-car pile-up happened right behind us because the driver behind us had to tap his breaks when my then-wife took her foot off the accelerator. The guy behind us lost control on the icy bridge, and then the car behind him lost control and the car behind that one and.....sixteen vehicles, no serious injuries. We drove away, bodies and car entirely intact. As much as I fail to respect that woman, I still don't think it was her fault. The guy behind us was following too closely for the conditions. And so were a lot of other people. Perhaps we were, too, but my ex-wife had the time and presence of mind not to hit the break, but rather just to let off the gas.
Collisions in fog are no different. If you can't stop in the distance you can see, you're driving too fast!
Rant over.
...been wondering where you were at Spurge! Good to see you back.0 -
Agree with you 100% on that one spurge.
Jon0 -
Been spending a LOOOOOONG Christmas/holiday break with my family in the midwest. It was good. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spurgemastur
Been spending a LOOOOOONG Christmas/holiday break with my family in the midwest. It was good.
Almost every winter I'll have someone pass me when on hazardously slick roads, just to see them in the ditch a few miles down the road.[?][8][?]0 -
I am a SoCal boy and don't know much about handling a car in that kind of weather but my wife went to college in the mid west and drove in ice and snow all the time in the winter. When we are driving to or from our townhome in Vail and the weather turns nasty I just hand the car (actually the ML550) over to her. There is no reason to play macho because she is a better winter driver than I'll ever be. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spurgemastur
Been spending a LOOOOOONG Christmas/holiday break with my family in the midwest. It was good.
Glad to hear it![8D]0
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