Nightmare roads this morning

[vass0922]

Ugh
So I actually get up and get on the road on time this morning for work.
I take the metro train in usually.
There was a light dusting of snow this morning, but the roads were pretty slick.
I get on the train and sitting there waiting to head out.
Announcement comes over, SOMEHOW (lord knows) an SUV got through the concrete barrier and the fence and landed covering BOTH tracks
They had shuttle service to go around, but I got off and drove in...
There were about 8 accidents on the roads on the way in


http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?sid=158887&nid=25
http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?sid=158901&nid=25

Other DC metro folks make it in OK?
Here you can see various cameras of the traffic in the area
Now this is the traffic I missed thankfully because I come in early shift!
http://www.trafficland.com/find_frm.html
(choose Virginia, DC, MD area)

On the west side is the worst road 66, east bound in DC was blasted with accidents, some with no cops there.

[Theophylact]

Yeah, well, it's the DC area. You'd think nobody had ever seen snow before, the way they drive. It wasn't just a car that fell on the Metro tracks, as vass0922 says, it was an SUV. Around here, people buy these tanks with the excuse that they need them for bad weather. But they never learn how to drive them...

[no1_vern]

I thought that SUV meant a "SORRY, UGLY looking VEHICLE" - basically just a big ugly gas guzzling car.

Not only that Theo most of them are "built" for offroading, and all most none of them ever see dirt.

[vass0922]

well another guy that takes that road came in and he saw the "SUV" on the tracks
Apparently it was one of those puddle hopper Suzuki type "SUV's" that couldn't traverse a speed bump without getting stuck
But still... NO idea how it got in there!

<The suv being a suzuki is just rumor at this time, no confirmation>

we are getting a light snow shower down here. basically its coming down as snow then hits the ground turning into water. some of it is sticking and they say its supposed to continue till about 1 pm or later.

Driving on the interstate wasnt so bad, no major accidents but i was going to Williamsburg not Norfolk

GroundZero3 is loving the snow

[osprey4]

I've long been of the opinion that SUVs only give people a false sense of security. If someone doesn't know how to handle adverse driving conditions, putting them in an SUV only makes things worse.

[korgul]

IMO the SUV is a road hazard for the smaller cars. The headlights on the SUV usually sit higher and shine right into the back window of a smaller car blinding the other driver. Then you get the real idiots that want to tailgate at 70mph. Yeah they maybe safer for the SUV driver but they make it alot more dangerous for the driver of the small car.
Lawsuit waiting to happen

[Theophylact]

People don't seem to realize that just because a 4WD can go in the snow, it doesn't mean it can stop in the snow. And generally it's a lot harder to stop an SUV than a standard car, especially if the standard has ABS.

[sharder8]

Hey, that doesn't sound that bad there guys!

We're at 4,500' and it rained all day yesterday. Froze again last night.

They just reported 67 semi's in the ditch on HWY 97, near where I live!

Harder

Fergot ta' add . . .

I was stuck in my drive all day yesterday, AWD doesn't handle slush on ice very well.

[sharder8]

Originally posted by Theophylact
People don't seem to realize that just because a 4WD can go in the snow, it doesn't mean it can stop in the snow. And generally it's a lot harder to stop an SUV than a standard car, especially if the standard has ABS.

ABS can be the "kiss of death" on ice! (Slow, gentle pumping of the brakes is more effective. You don't tend to lose traction as easily.)

Cruise control can be just as bad!

Harder