When we lived in Texas, we heard that snow was coming one winter, and I was very excited. But it didn't get as far south as we were (Victoria--halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi).

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For the record, it's snowed twice down here in Florida in the thirty-plus years I've been here. Neither time was it enough to accumulate on the ground.

We got 2+ feet of snow last week for Christmas. They only finished plowing the streets outside my house yesterday, because someone finally crashed into the 7-foot pile of snow they left in the middle of the intersection.

The reason I 'forgot' the second half of the rule is because I am a living violation of it. I live in Manassas, learned to drive in Maryland (both locations are below the Mason-Dixon line), and I had a blast driving my 4WD Xterra in that deep pre-C-mas snow. In fact, I was recruited by everyone in my house to run errands that day.

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Every time it snows in VA, I go out to see the ditches full of SUVs whose drivers thought that 4WD gave them the power to stop even if the road is sheet ice.

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You remind me of me. I'm honored.

Driving in bad conditions is a matter of being honest about your knowledge of basic physics and with your own driving abilities. Ergo, I am not one of those who believe that 4WDs can rewrite the physical property laws of ice. One of the funniest things I've ever seen while behind the wheel was during icy road conditions; an SUV was stuck in a ditch on Rt. 7, wheels straight up. I suspect this guy's ego was the only thing injured in the wipeout.

Really now. Snow is harmless. Usually it melts in a few hours for you southern folk. Pipes won't freeze until the temp falls into the mid-twenties and it has to stay that way for a good day. Even southern homes have some sort of insulation.
As far as the dangerous roads go, just remember these simple rules (trust me, plenty of northerners forget them every year).

1) At the minimum double the length you would usually allow between cars and slow down. A good rule is 5 under instead of the 5 over most sane people drive.

2) Keep both hands on the wheel. It will be easier for you to feel your tires slipping if you do. When your car begins to skid (it will at some point) for god sakes, Don't Panic!. Keep your feet away from the pedals. No brake or gas. Once you feel your tires grab dry ground again, do what you need to do to straighten your vehicle.
Almost everyone has experienced hydro-planeing before. Sliding on ice is a lot like that except it happens slower yet you have less control. It can feel like your sliding forever when it happens too. When this happens think of your tires as rudders. You can effect which way you go if you keep this in mind.

3) If you do run off the road, don't freak. Snow will cushion an impact (if there is enough). If you over steer you can flip your car. This is more likely to happen if you drive a vehicle with a higher center of gravity like a van. Aim for the 45 degree angle of the embankment and ride it out. Don't worry, someone will tow you out. If all you did was slide off the road it will be unlikely your car will be damaged. You will only have lost time a bit money to get pulled out (unless you good samaritian pulls you out for free )

4) Wind is a bigger threat than ice. A gust at the right time will shove you into a tale spin. If this happens don't hit the brake! Use your tires as rudders and steer with the spin. Once you hit dry pavement you can pull yourself right out of the 360 like nothing happened. Only your eardrums will be damaged from the screaming of your passengers.
One other warning about wind and ice. You may be driving past a truck, cruising like there is nothing wrong at all, then once you get past his nose it feels like god himself decided to make you fear him once again. If you feel the need to pass a slow moving truck be aware of this danger and brace yourself for a push from the side. If your ready for it you might be okay.

5) Watch for the ice! If the black top looks blacker than usual its ice. If it shines at night, its ice. Ironically, driving on snow is safer than black top sometimes. Snow grips, its only when it gets compacted that it gets slippery.

6) Learing to drive in snow will earn you the respect of your fellow drivers.
Really, they'll think your a superhero seeing you handle your car without the slightest bit of fear in your eyes. You'll even laugh at all the idiots piled in the medium when you go by. If you really want to be a superstar, carry a shovel and salt/sand/ or Kitty litter in your car. If you display coolness under pressure and show that you are prepard for this horrible crisis, people will actually believe that you are someone to be looked up to. You could even run for office. It's how Al Gore got started.

Of me and my two brothers, I'm the only one who spent a whole winter driving through snow. They're a year younger than me; they got their licenses in the spring and we moved in September.

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May your 2010 be an improvement on all things 2009.

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Thank you. I agree, and wish that for everyone!

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This thread is slowing a bit. What will come first? Jan 1st 2010 or post 2010?

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We weren't even close.

Their presidential election-based skits were always amusing to me. I still remember, during a rather intense pre-calc exam in college, mumbling Will Ferrell's quote as George W, just loud enough for some of my classmates to hear: "Strategery." Our concentration level sank quite a bit after that. The professor glared around the class to find out where all the snickering was coming from, but realized what section of the class was involved, then went back to his book without a word.

No one can tell me that Plan 9 From Outerspace wasn't meant to be funny.

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No one can ever know the true soul of their shoe.

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