Mess in the South

[WarrenJ]

I consider myself a pretty good winter driver.  I have lived in rural Wisconsin for over a half century and have only gotten in trouble once or twice.  Where we go skiing in Montana, they run busses from town up to the ski hill about every half hour.  They are rear wheel drive and without studded tires.  Those drivers whip those busses back and forth up those switchbacks, 10 miles each way, in whiteouts, snow, slush, crap, ice, fog every day all day.  Impressed the tar out of me - I would have been afraid running my jeep up and down those roads.  I always leave a big tip and a thank you to those drivers - my hats off to them!  They are the best winter drivers I have ever seen. 

[Scooter Montgomery]

BTW: have plow will travel

Why not just put plows on city buses?

[MendoDave]

This paralyzed city stuff just doesn't make any sense. None of that stuff happens here. Sure there are a few wrecks here and there once in a while, but for the most part people just slow it down and get to where they are going.

I got me one of those trendy AWD SUV's this year for the snow and put some good tires on it. Makes a big difference. Before I had just RWD and couldn't make it up some hills.

I don't think 2 inches of snow is worth getting the plow out for.

[LMT]

K Falls has what, 25,000 people? The metro Atlanta area has 6 million!

Big difference.

[kopfjäger]

K Falls has what, 25,000 people? The metro Atlanta area has 6 million!

Big difference.

Ding ding

[MendoDave]

K Falls has what, 25,000 people? The metro Atlanta area has 6 million!

Big difference.

Well not that it matters much but its more like 40,O00 people. The population density is  definitely less than in seattle but theres enough traffic that a wreck on one of the busier streets or highways could mess things up, but it just doesn't happen very much.

[duccarlos]

Again, the difference would be the fact that the 2" of snow turn to ice very quickly. With no road treatment whatsoever, everything turns into a skating rink.

[Triple J]

Again, the difference would be the fact that the 2" of snow turn to ice very quickly. With no road treatment whatsoever, everything turns into a skating rink.

Bingo

The problem usually isn't when it's snowing, or immediately after, it's after it's been on the road for a while, has been melted by traffic, then re-freezes as temperatures drop. Without sand/salt it just freezes into a sheet of ice. Combine that with cars with the wrong type of tires, and inexperienced drivers, and it's chaos.

I lived in Reno for a long time, and drove over Donner Summit a ton of times in horrible weather. I can drive in the snow. That said, Seattle is a pregnant dog to get around when it snows...much harder than Reno or Truckee were with even more snow. Preparation is key, and places that don't get much snow are hardly ever prepared (the DOTs as well as the drivers).

[Ducatamount]

Was this the first time that this has happened? No. 
Will it be the last? Probably not.   

[Triple J]

Correct. But it doesn't happen enough for cities to spend millions on plows and such...or for people to put winter tires on their cars.

[duccarlos]

People just need to stay home when any snow storm hits the south. Unless they're willing to invest in chains.

[ItsaDuc]

Correct. But it doesn't happen enough for cities to spend millions on plows and such...or for people to put winter tires on their cars.

True is doesn't happen often, but Im sure it happens at least once a year. One thing cities south could do is purchase salt for when it does happen, its not like the salt goes bad and converting a dump truck to a spreader isn't that expensive. No its not an expense im sure cities south want to spend, but Im sure avoiding just one storm like you all just had would have off set the cost.

[kopfjäger]

True is doesn't happen often, but Im sure it happens at least once a year. One thing cities south could do is purchase salt for when it does happen, its not like the salt goes bad and converting a dump truck to a spreader isn't that expensive. No its not an expense im sure cities south want to spend, but Im sure avoiding just one storm like you all just had would have off set the cost.

For the last make the beast with two backsing time it's Y'all. 

[ItsaDuc]

For the last make the beast with two backsing time it's Y'all. 

Ah crap. I effed that one up.

[fastwin]

What's this you all? That's as bad as youz guyz.