I now live in northern Texas, where we're currently experiencing our coldest temperatures of the 2016/17 winter thus far. It's down to all of 42°F outside. I know, you folks in the snow-and-ice belt are unspeakably sorry for us about that . . .
Nevertheless, I did feel sorry for the good people of Montreal, Canada, who were caught up in this. Watch the video in full-screen mode for best results.
I'm sure the nice policeman was less than amused at becoming part of the problem, rather than the solution . . .
Peter
9 comments:
Even in snow country the first winter event has everyone resetting their brains to the different physics of the slippery stuff, both for driving and walking.
Grew up in Northern Illinois and still recall the sensation every year that first time you felt the tires break free from the pavement. That Oh shit you idiot, it's winter again. Friction is no longer a major player here.
I was in something like that once. Very icy conditions, folks driving down the highway were all going ~25 or so. Someone up front lost control. 20 car slow motion pileup, like slow montion bumpercars.
(This was also northern Illinois. US Route 20, 1993 or so.)
If you're living in northern Texas just wait until the first ice storm of the season
...which usually comes somewhere between a streak of 50-to-60-degree weather patterns, usually from late-December to early-March.
Oh, yeah, it still warms up in-between. You get "all four seasons" between late October to early April. From May to September it's all just ...HOT!!! HOT!!! HOT!!!
I notice the cop just had his brakes locked while he slid backwards. If he had stayed off the brakes, and spun up his drive tires, he might have kept from hitting.
Seems the plow has his pavement runners set for non-contact with the blade. Maybe for manhole cover clearance? Can't use if for stopping if it doesn't touch the road!
BTW, that isn't snow causing the problem, it is a sheet of ice under that fluffy stuff. Those vehicles are sliding much too easily for just snow.
Back when I was young, I worked the late shift at a megamart. While I was inside, the rain turned to sleet, then snow. When my shift ended, I went to my car and headed home. I ended up sliding sideways past the front of the store, over a hundred yards, at less than 5mph.
Love the shot there close to the end with the bystander waving "Bye Bye" to the snowplow truck.
Not unusual here in North Texas to see some idiot bypassing a line of traffic at 50+ on solid ice because they have 4 wheel drive.
Yes. I'm unspeakably sorry for your plight. having lived in Texas, I remember a few "Blue Northers." It can, and will, get worse.
I lived in Michigan (mostly Northern exurbs to Detroit) for 30 years - then lived/worked in Connecticut (Hartford area) for 2-1/2 years; I well remember time like that...NOT "fond memories" at all.
Also did a winter season overseas, working on-contract in Sweden - fortunately, I did no driving while there...
Moved - at last - to S/E coastal NC - where such "winter fun" is almost-purely "theoretical"...8-)
Two phrases come to mind for those folks in Montreal: 1) "Studded tires", and 2) "Stay home"
Presently enduring the mid-40s hereabouts at night, mid-50s daytime - rains, and now and then we get some big winds (i.e., hurricane "near-misses"), but even icy pavement (much less actual snowfall) is, as stated, pretty much theoretical - and that's the way we like it.
J. S. Bridges
Wilmington, NC
Got our first snow last weekend. Made me get busy and put the snow tires on and get chains dug out. Too many people don't use proper snow tires these days. All-Season tires just mean they suck in all seasons. Oh and those mud tires on your 4x4 suck in snow and ice. Most all-terrains I've tried do too. A set of chains on a 4x4 will let you go about anywhere. A set of good Bridgestone blizzaks are better for variable conditions and not the pain in the ass chains are. Well worth the investment if you drive in winter conditions.
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