There is a point of too cautious. They even had a state trooper on the news here that basically told people that if you're too cautious to go over 20 on the freeway, then take a different route. Cautious is one thing, driving like you're scared out of your wits is just dangerous.

And, since the roads were much better and I had time, I was watching other drivers more on the way to work this morning. A couple tried to race me (go ahead, numnuts, I'll see ya in the ditch), and the only vehicles I noticed that needed to regain control after a turn or a stop were 4x4'* (including the Lexus SUV that had not Cat judging by the smell). They do seem to think that they are either invincible, or that they own the road during weather like this....

I just relax. I leave early for work with my coffee, cigs, and tunes. No need to stress or hurry.....

I can't agree more about 4x4 drivers.

Except when I hop in mine. Because of the following.

4wd helps move out quicker, and it'* a bit better on the corners.
However......I realize
Having a second axle and transfer case increases my vehicle weight. Physics call this momentum.
This increases the stopping distance needed, therefore I leave more room between me and the next vehicle.

Each year I take a little time and go to an empty parking lot. Induce slides and quick stops to reaquaint myself with how the vehicle will react. This way my panic reaction is calm and intuititve.

So far this approach has kept me safe.

I am agree about 4 wheel drive driver my cousion is worst all. She has had 3 4 drivers suv has totaled all them three years. One night coming home from family xmas party I was riding along side her and she kept doing these jack rabbit stops and manuver to get around traffic. My arrpoach to snow driving don't expect you car to be able to make really quick lane or (tight turns) change and give yours time to stop. This rule has servered my well and yes even heavy snow sometimes I speed little if the car feels like it griping well

Here'* a thought. What if, instead of avoiding adverse conditions, driver'* education teachers took their students out in ALL weather, instead of just sunshiney and pretty? I realize that this would result in SOME accidents, but it'd give the teacher the opportunity to give students firsthand experience, so that when they get out on the road with a license they know what to do?

My fiance and I both have 4 wheel drive pickups. His first pickup was a 2wd, and he caused more accidents with THAT, so please don't generalize with 4x4 vehicles. My truck fishtails more in two wheel drive, but I DON'T use four wheel drive when I'm going down the road. I only use it when the going is REALLY tough, think: four inches of snow on the road.

Keeping my 4x4 in 2wd reminds me to SLOW DOWN when the back end of my truck starts sliding a little.

Then again, I'm a farm girl, and us farm girls are weird folk... :kidding:

that is actually a very good idea. when i was in drivers ed it was summer so natuarly we only learned in sunny conditions. I ended up teaching myself how to drive and handle in winter conditions. Its best to have some experence on how to drive and manuver in those conditons. btw I wasn't an idiot and did this on a public road instead i taught myself snow manuvering in an empty parking lot away from any cars/objects

I made it threw a New England winter in an '88 RWD Chrysler Fith Ave and then three in 2WD S10 with out going of the road once. Now that I have the FWD Bonne I don't worry to much, Just keep it in accord with the weather conditions. Yes, sometimes that means going 35-40 on the highway because it'* 3am and there'* 6 inches on the road.


That'* the way I am in our Jeep, But then I was a New England Plowboy, yeah us farm folk are weird.

I think most people who are dangerous in their 4x4 are just uneducated in how to drive in them. But I think there are just as many responsible, competent 4x4 drivers like my wife and I as there are stupid ones.
I would never do something like that

guess I'm the overly cautious type. If there'* anything more than 1" of snow on the road I usually drive between 35 and 45. (backroads here.. not highway.) When we had gotten 8" of snow overnight I didn't drive any faster than 25 MPH. There are too many chances for error and an accident going any faster than that. if it'* snowing, or there'* a bit of snow on the road, I usually turn on my rear fog lights to help with visability with drivers coming up behind me. (but that doesn't happen too often.)

That'* not over cautious. The overcautious ones I believe we were all referring to are the ones that literally will not go over 15-20 MPH on a plowed road!! So, you're "cooking" along at 35-45 or so, come around a bend, and SUPRISE, there they are. Or, they are straddling the center stripes (usually happens to me) to avoid the drifted dusting on the left or right shoulder (again, doing maybe 20, if you're lucky) with a mile of cars backed up behind them because noone can pass safely.... Oh, and of course, this is always on a highway or freeway, during rush hour....