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Bad Weather - Driving Tips & General Discussion.
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14-12-2010 12:51am#1
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www.thefreedictionary.com wrote:Accident:
a. An unexpected and undesirable event, especially one resulting in damage or harm: car accidents on icy roads.
b. An unforeseen incident
I'm sure (most) people are being cautious, and driving to within their abilities, however, while everyone agrees that the council are TRYING to keep the roads as safe as possible, we must also acknowledge that we are just not able to handle this type of weather!
If the grit lorries are flat out, covering as much as they can, yet it doesn't seem to be enough, then perhaps we need more grit lorries???
I honestly believe that the council are putting 100% effort into keeping us safe, but they have limited resources.
It's brilliant to see local communities getting together to grit estates, or back roads, and we should be encouraging that spirit. I made an effort to keep clear 40ft of footpath, outside my house, and cleared some snow for a few elderly neighbours. A few hours of effort, made a big difference.
When the snow does come back, please consider what you can do to help, rather than sit on the fence and tut.
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I'm sure (most) people are being cautious, and driving to within their abilities, however, while everyone agrees that the council are TRYING to keep the roads as safe as possible, we must also acknowledge that we are just not able to handle this type of weather!
You are so right there, mrmac. However, if all the indications come to pass, we are going to HAVE to get a handle on this type of weather sooner rather than later. Either that, or we close the country and hole up at home for the duration of winter.
It's a bit like the dreaded R word and having to cut down - yes, it's hard having to cope but this is a winter of discontent in more ways than one. Doing practical things to help yourself and your community is the only answer.0 -
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Good question!
Perhaps a thread on "Bad Weather - Driving Tips & Discussion."?
I'd like to hear what people think we can/should do to make things safer. Be that suggestions for the Council/Government to improve the number of gritters, schedule, call out etc. - or more interestingly, what we can do ourselves to help out.
I mean, I have NEVER seen snow fall like this in Letterkenny, and if it is the start of a trend, then I'd like to know what people think about how best to deal with it (apart from emigrating!
).
/quietly ignores previous poster.... :P0 -
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Seeing as I can't afford one of these yokes.....
.... what's the best advice you have for winter driving?
Not directly related to this topic, but my Dad once told me to pack a warm blanket, a bottle of water, some mars bars and a packet of biscuits, into the car during the winter. You could end up getting stuck somewhere, or maybe come across some one else who got stuck, or had an accident.0 -
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Met Eireann have a weather warning in operation
http://www.met.ie/forecasts/warnings.asp
Forecasting between 10 and 15 cm of snow tomorrow, if it arrives very fast it will mean very bad conditions.
Take care folks, I haven't read all this tread but is there a list of items anywhere that people would recommend keeping in the car while driving in snowy conditions?
Must be bad if they issue an warning
A full tank of petrol, extra clothes such as a jacket, gloves, scarf and hat. Check all your bulbs and make sure your windscreen wash is topped up with anti freeze.
Towards more extreme end, a flask and food if going on a longer journey0 -
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Here's the man who'll show you what to do:
"....and don't say you weren't tould"0 -
irish-stew wrote: »Must be bad if they issue an warning
A full tank of petrol, extra clothes such as a jacket, gloves, scarf and hat. Check all your bulbs and make sure your windscreen wash is topped up with anti freeze.
Towards more extreme end, a flask and food if going on a longer journey
Apologies if this is off topic but be careful using anti-freeze if you or the neighbours have any pets, especially cats, it's highly poisonous to them and for some reason they seem attracted to it, anti-freeze poisoning is actually quite common. If you have any suspicions that they may have even ingested a tiny amount do bring them to a vets asap.
Hope it stays free of the white stuff until tomorrow evening when I get home.
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Apologies if this is off topic but be careful using anti-freeze if you or the neighbours have any pets, especially cats, it's highly poisonous to them and for some reason they seem attracted to it, anti-freeze poisoning is actually quite common. If you have any suspicions that they may have even ingested a tiny amount do bring them to a vets asap.
Hope it stays free of the white stuff until tomorrow evening when I get home.
Some are quite flamable as well, so dont use near a hot engine.
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My mother (who is perfectly capable of driving on our roads in icy conditions)was told by a 16 year old (who had passed his therory the week before:rolleyes:), and a 14 year old to... use second gear, not first or third. Don't brake because you'll slid. When going up the hills, step on the accelorator or you'll not get up it. Stay near the edges because there is more grip. Don't go into the tracks, it's icy. :pac:
Needless ta say, it was slightly annoying; and I was only the passanger. Mum only threatened to kick them out of the car if they didn't keep quiet and stop telling her how to drive :P
Some of it is right, some slightly wrong depending on how you interpretate it.
And i'm slighty guilty of advicing some of that my self dispite only passing my test earlier this year
But some do recomend starting in second gear in icy conditions due as there are lower revs, hence less wheel spin, and build up through the gears quickly once moving, again to keep the revs down.
In relation to the hills, is more about keeping the momentum and the revs down, its no point hitting the accelerator only half way up the hill as your wheels will spin then.
In re to the brakes, you slow down using the engine, ie, using the gears and extremly gentle on the brakes, too hard and you'll start sliding, some advice pumping the brakes, ie, brake, release to gain traction through the moving wheels, brake again to slow down further, release to keep traction, etc. Id you are sliding, take the foot of the brake, and turn in slide to try and get that traction back.
Theres lots more advice out there, I'm still learning some it my self.
Not sure about avoiding the tracks, only explantion I can see there is that the tracks may have compact frozen snow.
Basically, drive slower than usual, extreamly gentle with the brakes, learn to slow down using the gears, mulitply the distance you usally keep between you and the car in front, only go out if you need to. (rant part) Switch on your friggin lights, learn where the switch is for your fog lights, and turn them off, unless thick snow is falling, or if its foggy. 0 -
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