Grrrr! Muppet drivers in snow!

[Archie_tect]

The number of people's cars that I've been pushing over the last 5 days makes me realise that there is a certain type of driver who hasn't got a clue.... Several sit in first gear, foot hard on the accelerator not moving while the tyres melt a depression creating a perfect slip surface. Telling these people to allow the car to rock back and forward in second, while I push, to escape the depression and then burble away without revving in second and then third as soon as possible comes as a revelation to them.

One woman passenger trying to push her car even got back in the car when I offered to push so that 'they wouldn't have to stop once they got going'!

People should have to take a bad weather/ winter driving course before they are given a full licence... and a motorway driving lesson.... and a considerate driving lesson...

Bah, humbug!

 

[Globalti]

That kind of stupidity isn't restricted to winter driving. Many years ago I pushed an old bloke whose car wouldn't start. We got quite a long way down the road and he still hadn't dumped the clutch so I ran alongside his window to see why and..... he was sitting turning the ignition key to try to start the engine.

 

[Night Train]

People should have to take a bad weather/ winter driving course before they are given a full licence... and a motorway driving lesson.... and a considerate driving lesson...

Bah, humbug!

I learnt to drive in the snow and ice back in '83, that taught me a lot about how to keep a car under control. I also have a certificate of competance for driving off road in mud, deep water and on rocky and unstable ground. I do think that driving under hazardous conditions should be part of the driving test, alongside motorway driving.

That kind of stupidity isn't restricted to winter driving. Many years ago I pushed an old bloke whose car wouldn't start. We got quite a long way down the road and he still hadn't dumped the clutch so I ran alongside his window to see why and..... he was sitting turning the ignition key to try to start the engine.

I remember offering to tow start a car and after several failed attempts along the road I stopped to check why it hadn't started. The driver was letting the clutch up, in second gear, as instructed but didn't bother turning the ignition on!

 

[ianrauk]

Snow? What Snow?


My gripe is fog lights. Put them on in the fog. Turn them OFF when it is not foggy anymore. Dont drive around with them on for the next week.

Get's my friggin goat too

 

[Archie_tect]

I learnt to drive in the snow and ice back in '83, that taught me a lot about how to keep a car under control. I also have a certificate of competance for driving off road in mud, deep water and on rocky and unstable ground. I do think that driving under hazardous conditions should be part of the driving test, alongside motorway driving.



I remember offering to tow start a car and after several failed attempts along the road I stopped to check why it hadn't started. The driver was letting the clutch up, in second gear, as instructed but didn't bother turning the ignition on!

I agree NT that a sensible person like you and me gets out there and practises driving in all conditions but we aren't talking about sensible people, some of these dimwits are so hopeless they're beyond stupid. They should have a catch-all lesson to show these people what to do.... I too have found people incapable of bump-starting a car from a push or a tow. One immediately panic-braked to stop once her engine was running during a tow-start despite instructions to flash the lights.... another had the car in reverse during a forward pushstart...

5 of us managed to push a bus sideways yesterday with the wheels turning on ice to overcome the friction! ...which was very satisfying!!!

 

[vernon]

Get's my friggin goat too

I got stuck behind a car whose driver was not coping with a gentle incline. I get out to give him a push and spotted three able bodied passengers in the car willing to accept the push. I withdrew my offer pretty sharply I can tell you.

 

[vernon]

I once helped to bump start a tractor unit at the Le Mans 24hr motorcycle race. That was even more satisfying.

 

[asterix]

Why do British people drive like muppets as soon as there's a bit of snow around? My German colleague told me this morning that he thinks snow contains a chemical that turns them into idiots.

Momentum, a sensitive right foot and good anticipation are all you need and you can continue driving at almost normal speeds. But no, everybody dithers around hugging the left hand lane and spinning their wheels.

GRRRRRR!

Yeah, that was me, taking the cat to the vet just now! Sweep 30cm of snow off car - only just got out of the drive snow was so deep. Got to the main road and the car just slid down the hill.. Once I was parked (in the bus stop - there are no buses today), took the cat in - it's got to have a scan, Friday - then tried to unpark but only just made it. Really tricky getting back to the house, then couldn't get back into the drive as car bellied on deep snow. Loadsa digging (have shovel may travel) and it's back now.

 

[Archie_tect]

... taking the cat to the vet just now...it's got to have a scan...

A cat scan!!!.... do you have to pay for a lab report too?

 

[Night Train]

5 of us managed to push a bus sideways yesterday with the wheels turning on ice to overcome the friction! ...which was very satisfying!!!

I remember when I was 14 at school one winter. The coach came to take us to the swimming pool but ended up stuck on a steep hill in snow and ice.
Stupid teacher got all nine of us to push the coach!
When that didn't work he nicked a sheet of plywood from a building site and shoved it under the back wheels of the coach and got us to push again. I refused and got a serious telling off. As soon as the coach tried to drive the wheels shot the board out the back right into the ankles of the kids pushing. Because I had expected that to happen I had stayed at the corner of the coach and managed to jump out the way.

I then did the 'I told you so' to the teacher so he called me a few names (it was allowed then) and then asked me what I think they should do 'if you're so clever!'.
I told him to get the shovel from the building site and shovel snow and ice from ahead of the wheels so the coach could get some momentum!
Unsurprisingly, it worked!

 

[Globalti]

Oh yeah, I've seen the sheet of plywood stunt as well......

 

[asterix]

A cat scan!!!.... do you have to pay for a lab report too?

Well, they say they do it themselves in house. I don't like the way you say 'pay'! Are we talking serious money here (he asks naively)?

 

[Black Sheep]

I have two words ... snow chains! Whip 'em out, stick 'em on, no more dithering in the left-hand lane with the wheels spinning!

If I remember correctly, snow chains aren't allowed in the uk - however, snow socks are

Fog lights are the ultimate waste of money. I've tried driving in fog with them alone and with headlights and I can't see any difference at all, I'm still blinded by scatter from the fog.

most 'fog lights' on cars now are actually what used to be driving lights, use them with / without, full beams on little country lanes to throw a bit more light at the edges of the road to help you find your way.

I've never really accepted the idea of dangerous driving conditions. You're either driving when you shouldn't be or you're not driving in the correct manner for the conditions you find yourself in. Simples?

I'd rather not be, but I'll be driving until I don't think I can make it through for one reason of getting my wife to and from work, she's a pediatric nurse and so needs to get to work, it's on main roads so the hardest part is getting out of our road.

other than getting my wife to work, i'll be walking most places of have got the mountain bike out.

I did make a mistake yesterday turning round in a dead end by my printers, I went nose first to the kerb, putting one wheel on snow, the other on a drain full of leaves, had to get my wife to drive while I pushed it back up.

had to go again later, reversed to the kerb, wheels up on top of the road camber and was fine.

 

[asterix]

If I remember correctly, snow chains aren't allowed in the uk -

Is that because they damage the pot-holes?

 

[Black Sheep]

probably