rhauptman's posterous http://rhauptman.posterous.com detox your body - live a healthy life without toxins! posterous.com Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:15:00 -0800 Quick Minnesota winter driving tips to do so as to not tick off this California girl http://rhauptman.posterous.com/quick-minnesota-winter-driving-tips-to-do-so http://rhauptman.posterous.com/quick-minnesota-winter-driving-tips-to-do-so

I have been here in Minnesota now for 8 1/2 years. I still am not what I would call an "experienced winter driver" -- but I have confidence in my skills and abilities, so at least I know what I can and can't do. I don't give myself a false sense of security, and will use a lot of caution when needed.

I have put together a list for everyone out there on the road of what NOT to do. The world would be a better place if you would learn to strike these from your driving habits:

1) Take up more than one parking spot. Sure, the white lines are a BIT hard to see, but scrape the snow away to see how close you are. I bet you won't even be able to see a line BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLE IS ON TOP OF IT!! Just because this wet, white stuff is covering the parking lot, does not mean that there are less cars that need to park there every day. No. In fact, the SAME NUMBER OF CARS park at work EVERY DAY. Taking up two spots will not make another spot magically appear.

2) Not driving in the correct lane. It seems that lanes are now "just suggestions" during winter here in Minnesota. Drivers follow the path in front of them, sometimes driving on the shoulder, or in the other lane, just because that is where the tire tracks are. I try to stay in between those hard to see white lines (or even double yellow lines, for crying out loud!). I have put my life in danger a few times, making my stance, driving in my OWN lane... but thankfully my truck is bigger than most other vehicles on the road.

3) Not using your turn signal. Come on. If you signal your turn, I will know that you are either going to make a turn or a lane change. It will help me plan what I do next. And also, it is a good idea to put on your turn signal before you put on your brakes. It also gives me notice that you will be slowing down, instead of just slowing down without notice. Yes, I know I am not tailgating you, but I am driving a truck and need more stopping room than you do. And, even in 4WD, I don't have enough weight in the back of my truck to guarantee not to slip and slide all around you

4) Driving 15 miles per hour in the fast lane on a highway. Even if it is stormy weather, blizzard conditions even... if there are no cars in front of you, but a huge trail of cars behind you, MOVE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE!! Heck, even in the summer, make this a habit. We do NOT like your slow white knuckled grip on the steering wheel in the fast lane. So you have bald tires that are under inflated. You have rear wheel drive. That is not my fault. Get over to the slow lane and go as slow as you want. Seriously. I won't get mad at you there, and in fact, I am there sometimes, as well. If I feel scared on a road that I am driving, I have absolutely no right to be in the fast lane. And I do get scared. I am from San Francisco. We are NOT USED to the icy roads. So, of course I get freaked out. And you will find me in the slow lane, white knuckled like you. But I won't be found white knuckled in the fast lane. No sirree!

5) On the flip side of #4, Don't come rushing by me at 90 miles per hour during a storm. Yes, you will have an accident, but I don't want to be a victim of your accident.

6) DON'T Tailgate! No matter what lane I am in. I do not like your nose up my butt. And yes, each time you do that, I am tempted to slam on my brakes. It is unsafe, it is considered aggressive driving, and it is against the law. ESPECIALLY unsafe in the winter. KEEP SPACE BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE VEHICLES AROUND YOU!

I had to come back in and edit this after driving to work this morning, so this is the one I forgot to add yesterday:

7) I am sorry you don't have underground parking, or you were parked in a parking lot while it was snowing, but just because you have a foot of snow covering your vehicle, it is not "OK" to just clean off a 1' circle in your windshield and get on the roads with it like that. Nor is it ok to be driving and having tons of snow falling off your vehicle, covering the view and the car that is behind you. This also can be dangerous. But beyond that, you are an idiot and you are lazy for not cleaning the snow off your car completely before getting on the road. (when I say "completely" I don't mean that no snow can be ony our vehicle, but clean the roof, the trunk, the hood, and especially the area around the license plate so I can see your license plate number if I have to call the police on you for your idiotic driving.)

If you follow these rules, not only will the world be a more beautiful and safe place, I will be happier. And I won't have a 1.5 hour commute in the morning. GRRRR!!!!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/848057/Rebecca-Headshot.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5eCjzoR6SRMt Rebecca Hauptman rhauptman Rebecca Hauptman