Hi
Ive been out in the car today. First time with snow. I was very careful and mindful of everything around me but I still skidded down a hill, clipped the curb and nearly clipped a truck.
We did have rain last night which then froze solid into ice on the roads.
To say I am shook up is a bit of an understatement. My confidence has taken a nosedive. It is probably normal and I need to get used to it but I'm now quite afraid. Dont really want to go back out in the car.
The snow is not that bad and I have drove in the same in the UK so why the bloody apprehension???
Is it true that once the temperatures drop really low, then the roads are easier to handle?
Tina

Sweetheart you're not alone - I still have kittens going out in this weather.

But you hit the nail on the head - todays problem was the slushy snow that fell last night and pretty much melted as soon as it hit the ground - then the temps dropped and froze it all - recipe for disaster.

As it gets colder you tend not to get the skating rink effect, just the shitty 3 ft of snow.

My advice would be take your car to an open space (Walmart car park works) and play around learning how to control it - what yout braking distances (if any!!) are and get confident!

Like I said i'm a fine one to talk - I ran out of smokes yesterday and refused to drive the 1/2 hour to the nearest store in this weather today - I don't need one that badly

Tina there are people stuck on the highway. The roads are a nightmare today - we had freezing rain last night so the roads were not the best to begin with, then add the snow, not good. Is your car front or rear wheel drive? You might want to pop some sand bags in the boot and get some winter tyres I suppose - I've always been OK with all seasons but I'm getting some winter tyres put on next week (only 'cause they came with the car when we bought it).

You will get used to it all pretty quickly, not really fair to have icy and snowy roads on you first real snow driving day - on the upside the ski hill this weekend so you'll have happy fellas in your house

Hope you are feeling a little less shaky now. It's awlays a worry when the car starts sliding and you can;t control it - or at least feel as though you can't. I agree with above post; get someone to take you to a quite street or car park and practice . Do you have the right tires on your car? I feel more confident knowing that I do - though there are all season on ours and they are shi, I mean not very good. ( hope that didn't sound too patronising, it wasn;t meant to)
At least the gritters etc should be out to deal with the roads. better than the UK!
I guess only drive if you really have to, have someone with you or get take out!

This absolutely!

I am have been learning over here, and have still to take my road test, I nearly had kittens today when I walked out of Superstore having done the grocery shopping and realised that in the time I was in there a goodly layer of snow had fallen... I made Mr Chookie drive us home because I was too scared.

But he has said that he will take me to a nice empty carpark later on so I can have a "play" in the snow and get used to it.

GRITTERS?????What gritters??? The snowplows may be around on the bus lanes later and the gritters may be around BUT as they have forecast more snow over the weekend I doubt it, gritters in town are fairly rare

Cheers everyone,
I did s**t bricks lol. My son was in the car with me. Dont think he'll be treating me like a taxi for a while!!!
I have all weather tires but I do think I'll change them for winter ones.
As you know Piff, the car is only a little un.
Think I need a monster truck to feel ok and safe but Neil has said we can go out and have a run around in a car park like you have suggested.
And Mandy, I can see me stuck in the house with no bread or whatever waiting for Neil to get home!!
It has knocked me back a bit though. Mountains out of molehills again:
Tina

Yeah I know your cars a littlun, I've a PT Cruiser during a winter with all seasons on and it was fine. Seriously the roads were BAD today, it's not usually that bad. The fist snow storm I was out in I was coming back from the movies with a Canadian friend, she told me I'd have to go faster or I'll get stopped by the RCMP. I told her HA! Never driven in snow like this, 40kph is as fast as I'm going! She laughed so hard, but we got home safe and sound. I won't be a passenger in her car when there is no snow - she's scary. Just don't give up driving, you'll soon be fine.

If you car is anything like mine (2008 Hyundai Tucson) the damn heater doesnt really work when it gets cold. The poor thing just blows slightly less cold air at me. Waste of time really.
And it doesnt have A/C either, so in the summer, we just get warm air blown in.

I love my car. Really. We've found it really useful.... for throwing bricks at.

Do you have snow tires on the car? It makes a world of difference.

I got snow tires on my mazda 3 last week - went up the mountain at the weekend - OMG what a difference!!

My husband put them on our daughter's car 2 weeks ago...now she's moaning about no snow in Toronto!!

I would have been knocked back too...
I hope you get back your confidence soon, and more that the roads get better - maybe "just" snow, wouldn't be as bad...

Take Care though!

A

We went out in my car last night. My husband went much faster then me to show me that the car is ok. He also said the tires feel much better than his. I think the roads were much better too.
It was a bit of a down day yesterday.
We got some new photos of our baby grandson and these can go either way. Some days I can look at them and just really smile or like yesterday I can just cry my heart out at them.
I so want to make it work here and mostly am happy. It just doesnt take a lot to make me wonder if I have done the right thing.
Today I feel more positive again and can plan for our move in 10 days to our new house.
Mine is an older Hyundai Jericho. The heater works well after about 10 minutes
I'm gonna have to get tough and stop being a mard arse!
Tina

Sorry, but are snow tires also called winter tires?