Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 123,000 members

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:35 pm Subject: Icy roads and a 4x4

We had a good amount of snow that fell today. So the wonderful road crews used a ton of salt to melt the snow on the roads. Well as night fell and the winds picked up those nice wet roads turned to glare ice Mad

The best part was that I had to take my son to a school fundraiser. His school is about 20 miles away. The roads were not much of a problem going there. But on the way home after they turned to ice sucked big time. So here I am driving home on the highway doing 25 Mad

The wind starts to gust up like 40 mph. Well what happens next, tons of cars and trucks in the ditch, tons of accidents. Now my truck starts to slide (going 25mph) so I try and slow down even more. The truck in front of me starts sliding all over the road then goes in the ditch. The wind chills are well below zero, I stop to make sure they are ok and if they needed to use my cell phone. They were ok. But then I left went 5 miles down the road and I really thought I was gonna kiss the ditch. My son is in the backseat just speachless and wide eyed. I pull over into a driveway to calm down. I was soooo scared. I didn't even want to try and drive the rest of the way home. The snow was blowing so bad you couldn't see the road and the road was so icy that when the wind picked up it blew you towards the ditch. What usually takes me like 10 minutes took me almost an hour and a half Embarassed

I thought I was gonna have a panic attack. I kept my cool and finally made it home. I told my son to go in the house. I ended up staying in my truck a little longer, because as soon as he was in the house I was crying like a baby. I was that scared I wasn't going to make it home. But what kept me from showing I was scared was my son in the back seat, I didn't want him to be scared and my only thought was I HAVE to get him home safely. I think thats why I broke down after he got out. So far tonight there has been tons of accidents and ditch runners Wink

but no major injuries thank god. It's good to see the semi drivers slow down and put their flashers on ( I did that also because I was going so slow) Just thought I would share that with you, now that I am all calmed down (after 2 1/2 hours Embarassed

) I will NOT be out and about at all this weekend. Because we are supposed to have the high winds ALL weekend with -35 wind chills. So a blanket and the remote will be my best friend this weekend.

So just remember snow+salt+wind=ice=ditch Mad

4 wheel drive does no good on ice Crying or Very sad

drive safe, no matter the road conditions!!

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:10 am Subject:

So it took you an hour and a half? Big deal! You made it home, all those ditch runners didn't. Ya done good.

Listen, there's nothing out there that's important enough to get in a hurry for. Leave a little earlier, or get there a little late. It'll still be there when you get there. The important thing is, you'll get there.

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:23 am Subject:

You arrived in one piece and nothing drives perfect in ice even with chains.Glad you are ok. Very Happy

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:04 am Subject:

It's scary enough when it's just you trying to get home, but when your kids are with you, it gets scarier!!

I am glad you mad it home ok--I wouldn't get out either, you can freeze to death with temps and wind chill like that!! Take Care..karen Very Happy

Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:50 pm Subject:

Thanks

I am glad I made it home ok. I do feel bad for all of those that didn't. I was also worried that hubby would go in the ditch on the way home from work. But he made it home ok also. So for the few hours I slept last night(this morning) I slept good. The roads were much better today, but it's still freezing with the wind. I am glad I am not going to the packer game on sunday they are still calling for wind chills of -25 to -35 Shocked

I will be warm in my house watching it Smile

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:56 pm Subject:

4X4 doesn't mean you can drive like a dry road on snow and ice, It means you can driver farther in to the snow and ice before you get stuck. Truthfully, Ice is ice, and having 4 WD won't change the nature of ice our how it can affect a cars handling on slippery/icey roads.

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:00 pm Subject:

LCW, great post, It's funny,I drive a 4x4 but I've seen more wrecks of 4x4s in bad conditions than 2WDs. 4x4 is a false sense of security for many people