Driving with Perky Nipples
Yes, it’s cold out. Which makes certain parts of the body perk up, and other parts of the body go hide. But that’s not my point.
The light dusting of snow a couple days ago and the predicted freezing rain for this evening lead to many things such as reporters standing on the Sylvan overpass, folks chaining up on wet pavement, and a bunch of SUV-driving soccer moms thinking that because they have 4WD they can go 50mph when it’s icy. Technically, they can. They just can’t stop.
And yes, we’re well aware that back in Chicago/New Yawk/wherever you moved here from, a little snow and ice wasn’t a big deal. Here, it is.
I saw this on another Portland-area “blog”:
We live up on the hill in West Linn (right off the 10th street exit), and driving home last night I was slipping and sliding all over the road. Driving at 20 MPH, I slid straight through a turn and almost crashed head-on with oncoming traffic.
To get to school, I have to drive down this giant hill and up through Lake Oswego over towards the Terwilliger curves.
Is it safe?
My response: if you have to ask, and apparently have demonstrated you can’t drive safely, please stay home. We all thank you.
I’m not sure I have one solid theme here… maybe it’s just “try not to do something stupid?” Think? Plan ahead? </optimism>
I’m guessing the 50mph folks in 4wd drive vehicles don’t have it in 4wd. Which is even scarier. Top speed in H4 on most vehicles is 35-40. 40 is pushing it, anything faster and you risk turning the transfer case to a trail of small metal pieces behind you. AWD is totally different, of course. Portland has a great public transportation system from what i keep reading, and that person should use it, probably.
And, um, if you have to put chains on your 4wd thing to go anywhere, you should probably just stay home.
Public transportation in West Linn?? I don’t think so. That’s such an urban concept.
In this weather, once you’re on the hill, you stay on the hill. Don’t all West Linners (West Linnians, West Linnies, etc) have high speed and laptops for telecommuting. I know I do.
Get a Subie.
Har!