Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:04 pm
ahoteinrun wrote:*feels very albertan now*
Still. Freezing rain, ice on the roads, larger then normal amounts of snow, and cold have never given us a snow day. *Shrugs* But I supposed in some freaky way we're used to it.
And I think... that I like it that way. I know how to drive on ice, and on snow, it's not hard as long as you're not a stupid head and don't do stupid things driving.
*shrugs* But I suppose I was raised in the environment.
But this doesn't mean snow days still don't make sense to me.
It hardly ever snows here so when it does everyone is completely unprepared and it brings everything to a standstill.
Also the roads around my town are very small and wind alot which makes it difficult to drive in the snow.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:12 pm
ahoteinrun wrote:*feels very albertan now*
Still. Freezing rain, ice on the roads, larger then normal amounts of snow, and cold have never given us a snow day. *Shrugs* But I supposed in some freaky way we're used to it.
And I think... that I like it that way. I know how to drive on ice, and on snow, it's not hard as long as you're not a stupid head and don't do stupid things driving.
*shrugs* But I suppose I was raised in the environment.
But this doesn't mean snow days still don't make sense to me.
9 centimetres closed much of Vancouver's schools (and businesses) down for a day. No one's used to it, that's why we get days off in significantly less extreme weather compared to you guys.
My dad's a great driver, and on that snow day, he fishtailed really often (one time it got so bad that our car swerved towards a tree, and he had to spin it the other way- which resulted in a 450º turn). Judging by how many less experienced drivers are out there...it's not really surprising that the city would be chaotic.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:22 pm
ahoteinrun wrote:*feels very albertan now*
Still. Freezing rain, ice on the roads, larger then normal amounts of snow, and cold have never given us a snow day. *Shrugs* But I supposed in some freaky way we're used to it.
And I think... that I like it that way. I know how to drive on ice, and on snow, it's not hard as long as you're not a stupid head and don't do stupid things driving.
*shrugs* But I suppose I was raised in the environment.
But this doesn't mean snow days still don't make sense to me.
I totally agree with you. Instead of being a bunch of, sissies, if I may say so, and let the kids out of school just because of some snow I'd suggest a country would invest for being prepared for the oh-so-dangerous-snow-don't dare-to-go-to-school-cause-I-might-slip-on-some-ice-weather
It's quite hilarious to see how a more southern city in some country might get totally messed up because of some slight snowfall. Sheesh.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:29 pm
Black ice is REALLY dangerous! We get a lot of it in England and that's why we have snow days. Maybe you should be more considerate of those who need to drive to school.
I doubt that you'd have the same attitude if you'd been involved in an accident because of bad weather.
I doubt that you'd have the same attitude if you'd been involved in an accident because of bad weather.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:33 pm
What, you think black ice doesn't exist in Canada or any of the northern countries? We get it too.
Trust me, I know how dangerous black ice can be. And often, it's made more dangerous by drivers who don't know what they're doing when they hit it, or who are going too fast, or not paying attention.
I agree with you Silja.
Trust me, I know how dangerous black ice can be. And often, it's made more dangerous by drivers who don't know what they're doing when they hit it, or who are going too fast, or not paying attention.
I agree with you Silja.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:38 pm
That was the only accident my dad's ever had in over 20 years of driving. It was nobodies fault but people still got hurt. No one was driving carelessly,black ice is extremely difficult to see and it's even more difficult to stop a car sliding over it. I wish that school has been cancelled because if it was, the accident never would have happened.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:43 pm
I'm sorry, that your dad was in an accident, but the majority of accidents involving ice, involve idiot drivers.
Two years ago I was dating a very nice young man, and he was driving on a secondary highway, to come into town to see me, and some idiot came roaring past him, causing Matt to swerve, he hit black ice, and his car slid out and slammed into a tree.
Idiot drivers kill innocent people like my Matt.
I do understand, what it's like to drive on black ice, but you also must understand, that there are ways to avoid it. I know it's difficult to see, and that it can be difficult to drive on. But one can still take precautions to a certain extent to avoid hitting it.
Two years ago I was dating a very nice young man, and he was driving on a secondary highway, to come into town to see me, and some idiot came roaring past him, causing Matt to swerve, he hit black ice, and his car slid out and slammed into a tree.
Idiot drivers kill innocent people like my Matt.
I do understand, what it's like to drive on black ice, but you also must understand, that there are ways to avoid it. I know it's difficult to see, and that it can be difficult to drive on. But one can still take precautions to a certain extent to avoid hitting it.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:49 pm
This is the thing you see. The roads in America are different to the ones in England like floella pointed out. Here, they're more narrow and there's pot holes and such. I've been to America too and the roads are in much better condition than in Britain. There was no way we could avoid the ice as it was over the entrance to my estate.
I'm very, very sorry about your boyfriend but that's exactly why my school has snow days; to prevent it's pupils being hurt by idiot drivers.
I'm very, very sorry about your boyfriend but that's exactly why my school has snow days; to prevent it's pupils being hurt by idiot drivers.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:56 pm
I'm not American.
I'm Canadian. Theres a difference.
I drive on narrow roads too. I've been to Britain, I know what the roads are like there.
I drive on country roads frequently, secondary highways, small roads. Narrow roads. I've had to back my vehicle up for over two miles before, so that I could find some place to back into to allow someone to pass me. I understand narrow roads.
I understand potholes, and sink holes. We get those too, especially since winter here causes our roads to degrade. It's a joke here to say that theres two seasons in Edmonton, Winter, and Road-work. Because when it's not winter, we're trying to fix what winters done.
It's surprising, how few accidents we do have because of things like black ice. I assume, it's because people have learned how to drive on it. Not to mention, that there are items out there to equip your vehicle with to help avoid being caught by ice. (No, not all weather tires, those things are bull), winter tires are what we use on our van during winter, and they help loads.
*shrugs* But I guess the other thing is, is that for as long as people use vehicles to drive, there will be accidents. It happens. Bad weather or not.
I'm Canadian. Theres a difference.
I drive on narrow roads too. I've been to Britain, I know what the roads are like there.
I drive on country roads frequently, secondary highways, small roads. Narrow roads. I've had to back my vehicle up for over two miles before, so that I could find some place to back into to allow someone to pass me. I understand narrow roads.
I understand potholes, and sink holes. We get those too, especially since winter here causes our roads to degrade. It's a joke here to say that theres two seasons in Edmonton, Winter, and Road-work. Because when it's not winter, we're trying to fix what winters done.
It's surprising, how few accidents we do have because of things like black ice. I assume, it's because people have learned how to drive on it. Not to mention, that there are items out there to equip your vehicle with to help avoid being caught by ice. (No, not all weather tires, those things are bull), winter tires are what we use on our van during winter, and they help loads.
*shrugs* But I guess the other thing is, is that for as long as people use vehicles to drive, there will be accidents. It happens. Bad weather or not.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:07 pm
Well, I live in Finland and I can assure you we have everything from very wide roads to the really narrow ones. And black ice is no new thing here, many cars crash in winter time, mostly because the driver was not simply paying attention.
Of course if you go and compare a country like Finland to, lets say Ethiopia, of course it's not the same thing. But hopefully you get my point. It's the same for all of us who have even a bit of that tendency to get icy roads or small snowfall. I don't see why any of those countries should be in a worse situation than the other; you can avoid accidents by preparing yourself for every type of weather.
Of course if you go and compare a country like Finland to, lets say Ethiopia, of course it's not the same thing. But hopefully you get my point. It's the same for all of us who have even a bit of that tendency to get icy roads or small snowfall. I don't see why any of those countries should be in a worse situation than the other; you can avoid accidents by preparing yourself for every type of weather.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:24 pm
Lucky. I live near LA (on the coast) and it's never snowed. :cry:
I love snow. I get to go to the mountains at the end of January on a snowboarding trip.
I love snow. I get to go to the mountains at the end of January on a snowboarding trip.
Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:42 pm
Maureen wrote:Lucky. I live near LA (on the coast) and it's never snowed.
Same thing. Except instead of LA, it's SF. Oh well. Who cares. Blah.
(Good thing there aren't really accidents here. xD)
Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:56 pm
*sigh* Texas has no winter, right now its 72 degrees. IN DECEMBER! O_O
We have flood days, when it rains too much no one can drive, not even the buses lol. I can't believe I said to my mom today that its humid out. In December....
We have flood days, when it rains too much no one can drive, not even the buses lol. I can't believe I said to my mom today that its humid out. In December....
Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:10 am
omg LUCKY!! i wish it would snow here =( and if it DOES snow the snow is like all icy =( not soft and fluffy like some places xD
Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:00 pm
We had snow here last night on Christmas!! I was at my nan's for a party and all the little kids there were all out playing in the street. So cute! It was fun until we had to drive home. The roads were like one big sheet of ice and the wheels (or brakes) gained no traction on the road. Scary bananas! It took us an hour to get home. 