Does winter surprise you every year?

[-TSS-]

I'd like to ask you Canadians as you pretty much have the same climate as we in Finland that do you get every year the same chaos with the first snow. When it really snows all traffic goes into gridlock and there are several vehicles in the ditches or there are many collisions. The media reports it that winter surprised the car-drivers.

It happens every year here in Finland and given the fact that due to our latitude winter should not come as a surprise in November, or perhaps even earlier, people who drive and don't know that it is winter should have their driving-licences revoked.

[Bonam]

Well in Vancouver, which tends to get just a couple of random days of snow during the winter, it seems to always catch drivers and the transit system off guard. Usually, the city will just mostly shut down for the day. But you never get snow for long periods in Vancouver so I suppose that's to be expected, it may not be worth being ready for the snow when it only really happens 1-2 days a year on average.

In Montreal on the other hand, where there was snow on the ground for like 3 months straight the year that I lived there, the city seemed well prepared for it.

[bush_cheney2004]

We have many Finnish descendants in my upper Midwest U.S. state, and each year they do the exact same thing as any other drivers at first snow. We do not take away their driver's license. Going into "the ditch" is a right rite of passage, as long as you survive.

Edited December 1, 2012 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest American Woman]

We have many Finnish descendants in my upper Midwest U.S. state,

Ditto. http://finntimes.com/?p=237

The television program ‘Finland Calling’ (Suomi Kutsuu) [is] filmed [...] in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. ‘Finland Calling’ is the only Finnish-language television broadcast in the United States; it has aired since March 25, 1962. It is the longest running talk show in the US and is certainly the longest running foreign television show in the US.

and each year they do the exact same thing as any other drivers at first snow. We do not take away their driver's license. Going into "the ditch" is a right of passage, as long as you survive.

Having survived the rear-wheel drive and pre-anti lock brakes days of winters past, the thought of winter driving is much more tolerable to me these days - and I do believe there's less "going into the ditch" when the first snowfall of the year comes around. At least for me.

[wyly]

I'd like to ask you Canadians as you pretty much have the same climate as we in Finland that do you get every year the same chaos with the first snow. When it really snows all traffic goes into gridlock and there are several vehicles in the ditches or there are many collisions. The media reports it that winter surprised the car-drivers.

It happens every year here in Finland and given the fact that due to our latitude winter should not come as a surprise in November, or perhaps even earlier, people who drive and don't know that it is winter should have their driving-licences revoked.

ya I don't understand it, growing up with it it shouldn't be a problem for anyone...drifting around corners instead of driving was always fun, spinning doughnut turns in tight spots instead of 3 point turns...the people who are surprised can't drive in summer either we just don't notice them as much...immigrants are always a source of winter gridlock but I can forgive them for that not having grown up here...

[bush_cheney2004]

Having survived the rear-wheel drive and pre-anti lock brakes days of winters past, the thought of winter driving is much more tolerable to me these days - and I do believe there's less "going into the ditch" when the first snowfall of the year comes around. At least for me.

How true....people take front wheel and 4WD for granted these days, with many never having experienced older rear wheel drive in snow. I see it once in a while with new Mustangs or Camaros and light trucks, especially going up a hill in deep snow or compacted ice.. Most of these people just put heavy tubes of sand over the rear axle for winter driving. Anti-lock brakes also take away from the joy of pumping the brake pedal in an exciting, panicked attempt to stop in time. Now that is driving!

However, I wish nothing but motor vehicle mayhem for the idiots in 4WD vehicles who refuse to slow down or respect the fact they will have to stop in traffic eventually.

Edited December 1, 2012 by bush_cheney2004

[BubberMiley]

Once you get snow tires, you never go back (at least until spring).

[cybercoma]

Never used snow tires when I lived in Windsor, ON. Now that I'm in NB, they're pretty much a necessity.

[Merlin]

What surprises me is the amount of people that have big suvs that think they are invincible and they don't need to slow down. The same ones that pass you are the same ones you see in the ditch 10 miles up the road.

[GostHacked]

How true....people take front wheel and 4WD for granted these days, with many never having experienced older rear wheel drive in snow. I see it once in a while with new Mustangs or Camaros and light trucks, especially going up a hill in deep snow or compacted ice.. Most of these people just put heavy tubes of sand over the rear axle for winter driving. Anti-lock brakes also take away from the joy of pumping the brake pedal in an exciting, panicked attempt to stop in time. Now that is driving!

However, I wish nothing but motor vehicle mayhem for the idiots in 4WD vehicles who refuse to slow down or respect the fact they will have to stop in traffic eventually.

My old beat up 81 Mustang was awesome in the winter. My Subaru is even better !!! I have done circles around trucks and SUVs with 4x4 or AWD .... most of them simply cannot drive no matter what the conditions are.

[GostHacked]

Never used snow tires when I lived in Windsor, ON. Now that I'm in NB, they're pretty much a necessity.

They do make a huge difference.

[Guest American Woman]

How true....people take front wheel and 4WD for granted these days, with many never having experienced older rear wheel drive in snow. I see it once in a while with new Mustangs or Camaros and light trucks, especially going up a hill in deep snow or compacted ice.. Most of these people just put heavy tubes of sand over the rear axle for winter driving. Anti-lock brakes also take away from the joy of pumping the brake pedal in an exciting, panicked attempt to stop in time. Now that is driving!

Fun times! Seriously. I remember driving back to university during the winter, trying to make it up the hills on I-75, and all of us except the driver would sit in the trunk hoping to get enough traction to make it up the icy, snow covered hills.

However, I wish nothing but motor vehicle mayhem for the idiots in 4WD vehicles who refuse to slow down or respect the fact they will have to stop in traffic eventually.

Amen to that.

[bleeding heart]

Never used snow tires when I lived in Windsor, ON. Now that I'm in NB, they're pretty much a necessity.

I would have disagreed with you right up until last winter. Always lived here, and always thought all-seasons were just fine.

Got winter tires last year....and that's that. Much better, I must finally concede the point!