Winter Driving
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 286
Winter Driving
Hi All
Happy New Year to you all!!
Just curious as to how bad the winter driving conditions are over there in Calgary especially. Would imagine I would stay within city limits during winter as I am not experienced in icy conditions
Cheers
Wayne
Happy New Year to you all!!
Just curious as to how bad the winter driving conditions are over there in Calgary especially. Would imagine I would stay within city limits during winter as I am not experienced in icy conditions
Cheers
Wayne
#2
Re: Winter Driving
There are tons on tips in the winter driving wiki, and at the canadian driving website.
Mostly it boils down to common sense, be prepared, get winter rubber, slow down.
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Winter_Driving
http://www.canadiandriver.com/winterdriving
Couldnt imagine living in Calgary and not going skiing in the mountains in the winter
Mostly it boils down to common sense, be prepared, get winter rubber, slow down.
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Winter_Driving
http://www.canadiandriver.com/winterdriving
Couldnt imagine living in Calgary and not going skiing in the mountains in the winter
#3
Banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: the GTA
Posts: 3,824
Re: Winter Driving
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/We...531/story.html
#4
Re: Winter Driving
Sadly you're still largely at the mercy of the idiots who think they can stop when they're driving six feet behind you on fresh snow. There's a traffic jam around here at the moment because someone smashed into the back of another car on the approach to a stop light... if I remember correctly there were more than twenty crashes before 9am the first day we had significant snow this winter.
#5
Re: Winter Driving
If it's anything like Red Deer, it takes time for the roads to be cleared, with main roads being a priority and then residential streets maybe once during the winter and then once at the end.
The storm that hit this weekend has mad the roads horrible, but the idiots in their lifted pieces of crap are still driving like it's summer, fishtailing on the ice on the roads, wearing their white framed sunglasses
I was supposed to be going to a tupperware wedding shower in Blackfalds (20 mins out of Red Deer) I was amazed it hadn't been postponed, I stayed home and safe.
The storm that hit this weekend has mad the roads horrible, but the idiots in their lifted pieces of crap are still driving like it's summer, fishtailing on the ice on the roads, wearing their white framed sunglasses
I was supposed to be going to a tupperware wedding shower in Blackfalds (20 mins out of Red Deer) I was amazed it hadn't been postponed, I stayed home and safe.
#6
Re: Winter Driving
On saturday night/sunday morning Ben and I witnessed someone reversing back along the Gardner to the off ramp because there had been an accident up ahead.
He nearly backed ( at speed) into a large truck.
This was then repeated by at least three other cars
He nearly backed ( at speed) into a large truck.
This was then repeated by at least three other cars
#7
Re: Winter Driving
I would say the road clearance around Cochrane is waaayy better than within Calgary city limits
As I drive down towards Calgary each morning, I go over the brow of a hill down to a set of traffic lights at the city limits, and bang, and this is where the the snow, ice and skidding begin. I have yet to see the large scale gritting or ploughing that was promised. Maybe all the priorities are sent to the Deerfoot which is notoriously a idiot-driving nightmare.
Apart from the fact that generally we have (I think) very little snow generally (compared to some other provinces), the school of thought seems to be to just wait for it all to melt anyway. So the main roads naturally clear and dry out quickly, and the side residential roads become a carved, rutted ice rink.
We had wind this weekend. Nothing to do with a curry. Lots of blowing snow, large drifts and the need for snow ploughs. Unusual, to be sure.
If you are a nervous driver, start playing in large empty car parks in the evening and buy winter tyres and you are all set!
As I drive down towards Calgary each morning, I go over the brow of a hill down to a set of traffic lights at the city limits, and bang, and this is where the the snow, ice and skidding begin. I have yet to see the large scale gritting or ploughing that was promised. Maybe all the priorities are sent to the Deerfoot which is notoriously a idiot-driving nightmare.
Apart from the fact that generally we have (I think) very little snow generally (compared to some other provinces), the school of thought seems to be to just wait for it all to melt anyway. So the main roads naturally clear and dry out quickly, and the side residential roads become a carved, rutted ice rink.
We had wind this weekend. Nothing to do with a curry. Lots of blowing snow, large drifts and the need for snow ploughs. Unusual, to be sure.
If you are a nervous driver, start playing in large empty car parks in the evening and buy winter tyres and you are all set!
#8
Re: Winter Driving
I would say the road clearance around Cochrane is waaayy better than within Calgary city limits
As I drive down towards Calgary each morning, I go over the brow of a hill down to a set of traffic lights at the city limits, and bang, and this is where the the snow, ice and skidding begin. I have yet to see the large scale gritting or ploughing that was promised. Maybe all the priorities are sent to the Deerfoot which is notoriously a idiot-driving nightmare.
Apart from the fact that generally we have (I think) very little snow generally (compared to some other provinces), the school of thought seems to be to just wait for it all to melt anyway. So the main roads naturally clear and dry out quickly, and the side residential roads become a carved, rutted ice rink.
We had wind this weekend. Nothing to do with a curry. Lots of blowing snow, large drifts and the need for snow ploughs. Unusual, to be sure.
If you are a nervous driver, start playing in large empty car parks in the evening and buy winter tyres and you are all set!
As I drive down towards Calgary each morning, I go over the brow of a hill down to a set of traffic lights at the city limits, and bang, and this is where the the snow, ice and skidding begin. I have yet to see the large scale gritting or ploughing that was promised. Maybe all the priorities are sent to the Deerfoot which is notoriously a idiot-driving nightmare.
Apart from the fact that generally we have (I think) very little snow generally (compared to some other provinces), the school of thought seems to be to just wait for it all to melt anyway. So the main roads naturally clear and dry out quickly, and the side residential roads become a carved, rutted ice rink.
We had wind this weekend. Nothing to do with a curry. Lots of blowing snow, large drifts and the need for snow ploughs. Unusual, to be sure.
If you are a nervous driver, start playing in large empty car parks in the evening and buy winter tyres and you are all set!
It could be worse......we could be in then UK when they get and inch of slush.......
#9
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 286
Re: Winter Driving
You should have a look at today's Calgary Herald.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/We...531/story.html
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/We...531/story.html
Thats it ... I'm moving to Jamaica!
#10
Re: Winter Driving
Today I saw two accidents on my (usually) 15 min drive to work in Calgary. On my way home just now I saw two separate "near" accidents as cars lost their grip on apparently icy surfaces as they merged onto the highway, and fish-tailed wildy for some seconds, luckily managing not to side-swipe anyone while they fought to get control.
What amazed me was that having got control, each of them roared off down the road doing far in excess of the posted speed limit (which is presumably for dry conditions anyway). Twits!
Here's some excellent photos of current road conditions in Calgary! http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ga...342/story.html
What amazed me was that having got control, each of them roared off down the road doing far in excess of the posted speed limit (which is presumably for dry conditions anyway). Twits!
Here's some excellent photos of current road conditions in Calgary! http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ga...342/story.html
Last edited by Alberta_Rose; Jan 10th 2011 at 5:07 pm.
#11
Re: Winter Driving
It never ceases to amaze me when you see some of these vehicles in the ditch.
Today i'm driving home at dusk / dark (took about an hour). Along a secondry highway which is unlit. still with snow on it so no white lines visible in places and under this is the black ice.
I have an old 2wd car which handles like a duck on an icepond at the best of times.
Add to this the added danger of a critter (deer / moose / elk) that could run out in front of you at any given time.
I finally get home (which you have to go down a gravel road to) to find the snowplough has taken a thin layer off the top of what fell over the weekend and there was a ridge a foot and a half high blocking my drive.
After 3 attempts, lots off spinning and swearing and backing up etc - FINALLY managed to get to the house.
If I can do it in the red rocket (1992 Pontiac Sunsomethingorother with nearly 300k on the clock), then Mr dumbass in his F350 dually has no frickin excuse for hitting the rhubard and ditching his truck.
Today i'm driving home at dusk / dark (took about an hour). Along a secondry highway which is unlit. still with snow on it so no white lines visible in places and under this is the black ice.
I have an old 2wd car which handles like a duck on an icepond at the best of times.
Add to this the added danger of a critter (deer / moose / elk) that could run out in front of you at any given time.
I finally get home (which you have to go down a gravel road to) to find the snowplough has taken a thin layer off the top of what fell over the weekend and there was a ridge a foot and a half high blocking my drive.
After 3 attempts, lots off spinning and swearing and backing up etc - FINALLY managed to get to the house.
If I can do it in the red rocket (1992 Pontiac Sunsomethingorother with nearly 300k on the clock), then Mr dumbass in his F350 dually has no frickin excuse for hitting the rhubard and ditching his truck.
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 329
Re: Winter Driving
This is why I left my small town in Ontario After 15 yrs there and worse for 20yrs earlier further north.
Last edited by Largo; Jan 10th 2011 at 6:03 pm.
#13
Re: Winter Driving
(LOP = Laws of Physics)
#14
Every day's a school day
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Was Calgary back in Edmonton again !!
Posts: 2,667
Re: Winter Driving
i drove from Edmonton to Jasper and back yesterday no problems at all even after all the snow we had at the weekend
#15
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: London
Posts: 8
Re: Winter Driving
Like anywhere really, it's just everyone else on the road you need to worry about. Armed with some common sense and some winter tires on your car and go easy on the brakes and the gas pedal and you'll be fine.