Accident city!

[OVERKILL]

So this morning all of a sudden we got DUMPED on, then it got warm-ish (-1 or -2C) and the roads turned into sheets of ice.

I went on a service call when it started, and coming home I took one of the streets that has a grade. Well, at the top of the hill, there was an accident....

Car had piled into the back of a van. Then half-way down the hill, the GO bus had slid off the road on top of a small cement island that works as a divider for a side street to direct traffic in and out.

Behind the bus, was another accident.

And then at the intersection, which has a dedicated turning lane, was ANOTHER accident. A Dakota (older body style) PILED int the back of a Mazda 3. It was almost into the back seat

I kept the Expedition in 4-high, OD off and was using engine braking to control my speed for the most part, only gently using the brakes. The entire hill was ice, and I find 4x4 + engine braking allows me to maintain a good low speed while retaining traction and not having to use the brakes.

If I had to guess, I would say that the ice was about 1" thick, and it covered the entire street.

There was a 3/4 ton Dodge trying to get UP the hill, and had tried to go around the bus. He was on what looked like BFG AT's and wasn't going anywhere. Sitting idling with his rear wheel spinning. The cop who was trying to help with the bus situation didn't look amused at this.

Not a nice day out there.

 

[JHZR2]

good reason to stay off the roads when there is ice. Chains at minimum.

BFG AT tires are great in the snow (snow tire rated), but nothing really helps in ice besides metal.

 

[CATERHAM]

Down here in the banana belt we got about 3 cms of the wet stuff but with 6C temp's it's almost all gone now.
As usual they salted but it wasn't necessary.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
was using engine braking to control my speed for the most part, only gently using the brakes. The entire hill was ice, and I find 4x4 + engine braking allows me to maintain a good low speed while retaining traction and not having to use the brakes.



That's the way to do it. My mother, who is a very good driver, taught me that the first time I got to drive on snowy, icy roads. Use the brakes as little as possible and gear down.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Down here in the banana belt we got about 3 cms of the wet stuff but with 6C temp's it's almost all gone now.
As usual they salted but it wasn't necessary.


It is still snowing here, we've got about 8" worth if I had to guess.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
good reason to stay off the roads when there is ice. Chains at minimum.

BFG AT tires are great in the snow (snow tire rated), but nothing really helps in ice besides metal.


I think the fact he lacked 4x4 and had an open diff weren't helping things either. One wheel peel on ice is pretty much useless, especially in a truck with no weight out back and all that weight up front.

I'm on Michelin LTX M/S's, but the Expedition has POSI, 4x4 and much better weight distribution than a pick-up.

 

[jaj]

That's the type of snowfall we deal with routinely in Vancouver and the rest of the lower mainland. People from Eastern Canada slag Vancouver drivers for their incompetence in snow, but it's the way snow falls here that makes the trouble.

Vancouver gets snow when the weather changes from cold to warm - when an interior high pressure ridge retreats and warm ocean air slides in to replace it. During the transition there's often a minor snowfall of up to three or four inches of heavy wet snow, followed by a gradual change to rain and zero degree temperatures. The result is exactly what you describe - a packed layer of snow on the road that turns to ice with slush and water on top. Infinitely slippery, so slick you can't even stay still on it. Then everyone jumps into their cars with a set of worn out all season tires and chaos ensues!

 

[CATERHAM]

I generally agree except in extremely slippery conditions when even engine breaking will lock the wheels. Under such conditions is simply best to slap the gear shift into neutral (or de-clutch) so all available grip goes first into steering and then judiciously apply the brakes once the car is pointed where to want to go.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
I generally agree except in extremely slippery conditions when even engine breaking will lock the wheels. Under such conditions is simply best to slap the gear shift into neutral (or de-clutch) so all available grip goes first into steering and then judiciously apply the brakes once the car is pointed where to want to go.


Yes. That is "step 2" if the engine braking + 4x4 doesn't work. And always look for an "out" to avoid a collision.

 

[Spazdog]

One of the hazards of being due south of Manitoba with nothing but the flatness of Kansas and Nebraska to stop the cold dense air and in close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico.

Lot's of warm wet air aloft over subfreezing air. Comes down wet and freezes on impact.

Year before the last SuperBowl had the area covered in ice. All the Pennsylvania and Wisconsin tagged cars did not seem to be any better in the ice than the locals. If it had just been snow, they would have probably been fine, certainly more practiced than us, but the ice messed with them.

 

[sunfire]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP28pbcz4tM

 

[Drew99GT]

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
good reason to stay off the roads when there is ice. Chains at minimum.

BFG AT tires are great in the snow (snow tire rated), but nothing really helps in ice besides metal.


Beg to differ: Treadwright's Kedge Grip tires are amazing! They work as well as metal studs with none of the downsides.

 

[Nick R]

Like this? There are better ones on youtube, but they contain profanity. If you want search for ice benny hill, and that one is good too.

 

[andyd]

I miss my bugs for crummy weather. My Grand Wagoneers did OK too. Ice is doable, just not very fast. It requires more room and a very soft touch.

 

[sleddriver]

Time to take the Zamboni for errands . . .