Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

to think some people are idiots going out in the snow and then wonder why they get stuck!!

84 replies

lisad123 · 05/02/2012 09:41

Seen the news this morning about loads of people getting stuck in the snow AGAIN!!
Every year we are warned to only travel if we need to, but clearly some think they know better and put themselves and others at risk.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 05/02/2012 11:31

And I know for definite that all the teachers and TAs round here tomorrow will be expected to be in school just the same as every other occupation!

throckenholt · 05/02/2012 11:32

I imagine many of the people who get stuck were en route somewhere when the weather turned bad.

It had been forecast for days and pretty accurately. I chose to travel 150 miles yesterday - but I watched the forecast before hand and took extra clothes, coats etc and some extra food just in case I judged it wrong.

I think many people are very irresponsible travelling and being totally unprepared when the weather is forecast as being bad.

Hollyfoot · 05/02/2012 11:34

I've stuck this on another thread, so sorry for going on, but I bought DH some autosocks last Christmas. They really are bloody fantastic (and no I dont have any connections with the company). You can keep them in the boot and put them on your tyres if you need to. DH tried and failed to get up our hill once last night - sliding all the way back down - so decided to put them on, and drove straight up.

PigletUnrepentant · 05/02/2012 11:44

I drove 40 miles of un gritted motorways last night. Both motorways should have been closed or gritted, they weren't. It was fine when I started the trip, the snow was not even that bad, the problem was there was no grit. End of. Had I know this, I wouldn't have started the trip.

There were many cars stranded on both motorways and a few accidents. Funnily enough no mention of lack of grit in the news today. None whatsoever...

KalSkirata · 05/02/2012 11:51

10 cm = heavy snow

ChairOfTheBored · 05/02/2012 11:52

We drove 70 miles on the M1 last night. When we travelled in the morning we saw loads of grit and gritting trucks, but the problem was by 20:00 it was snowing so quickly it didn't matter - the grit just couldn't do its job.

We got home safely (just) but am pleased we weren't travelling any later.

ShellyBoobs · 05/02/2012 11:59

I think winter tyres should be made compulsory, as they are in a lot of other countries. There'd be a lot less chaos and disruption if we had the same rule here.

OH and I both have winter tyres on our cars. We put them on in October and they stay on until the end of February. They're not just incredible in snow, they're also much, much safer on cold/icy surfaces

Since we've been using them I've never come close to being stuck on the road. Ok, so they're not absolutely guaranteed to get you to where you want to be but they're 100 times better than summer tyres (the tyres 99% of cars in the UK have on).

KalSkirata · 05/02/2012 12:02

where would people in flats store winter tyres?

Original poster

lisad123 · 05/02/2012 12:03

The thing is when snow falls that fast no amount of grit is going to work. It's not a magic powder and near on useless if heavy snow fall.

OP posts:

throckenholt · 05/02/2012 12:08

I saw gritters out mid afternoon when I was coming home. The problem was that the roads were dry and the grit was just getting blown off the road - so I doubt it was much use when the snow came.

When bad weather is forecast it is best to look at the http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-app/radar?CONT=ukuk&LANG=en rainfall radar - play it for the last few hours and you can see where the wet weather is, which way it is going and how fast it is travelling. Then you can get a good idea if you are likely to get overtaken by heavy weather - if you are then don't go out.

throckenholt · 05/02/2012 12:08

oops rainfall radar

happybubblebrain · 05/02/2012 12:16

We went out in it, on a sledge and it was great fun.

Are most schools likely to be open tomorrow then? Sorry, it's dd's first year of school so I don't know how it works yet? Do I just listen to the radio to find out? Nursery was always open, I don't know why schools can't be too.

Quattrocento · 05/02/2012 12:25

The problem is caused by rear-wheel drive cars that aren't equipped for snow IMO.

My trusty saab is not a four wheel drive, it's a front wheel drive but it's super in snow. DH's car, on the other hand, can barely make it out of the garage without giving up the ghost.

Safe journeys to all that have to make them

minimisschief · 05/02/2012 12:25

well seeing as alot of people need to work or get food at the shops this is a pretty stupid post

Melpomene · 05/02/2012 12:28

Happybubblebrain, yes they usually mention on local radio or you could check the school website and the county council website should have a list of which schools are open.

Original poster

lisad123 · 05/02/2012 12:37

Mini but how many HAVE to get to work or go shopping? Seriously I doubt for many it's an emergency, and all the broken down cars are dangerous and also stop emergency services getting though.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 05/02/2012 12:52

I would assume most, if not all schools will be open tomorrow.

10-15cm of snow is passable, and if the snow ploughs and gritters are out on the main roads it will make things much easier.

Last winter our schools did close for a day or two but we did have much more snow than this. I have pictures of DD in the snow up to her thighs and higher playing on our street, and photos of the ruler disappearing below the snow.

rosie1977 · 05/02/2012 13:08

We went out to go clear the snow from MIL drive, she is 83 and even tho she has a couple of sons living in the next village they wouldnt dream of going to clear her drive to make sure homehelp can get into the house. We arrived this morning and the snow was covering the front door half way up.

The village that MIL lives in isnt gritted. People also think they can drive like they usually do on the road which annoys the hell out of me.

I dont drive but OH does and today a car almost run into us because he was driving in the centre of the road...obviously fearing he snow.

We wouldnt of gone out if we hadnt needed to help MIL.

OH often helps out in the snow because we have a landrover which is properly equipped to deal with the snow. OH always charges his jump starter kit, has tow ropes etc to help when its needed.

OldGreyWiffleTest · 05/02/2012 13:26

My brother is currently trying to get food to Scotland from the West Country. He's in a 44tonne artic lorry which he had to dig out of the snow for 2 hours last night in Birmingham! He said people are driving like arseholes and deserve all they get!!

manticlimactic · 05/02/2012 13:39

I need to get to my mum as I go every day to do her meals and make sure she's ok. I parked my car on the nearest main road that was clear and walked home. No way was I going to attempt to drive up to my street. Last year it was an ice rink the day after a heavy snow fall and subsequent slight melt overnight.

Many people do HAVE to go to work. I know if I rang up saying I couldn't get in because of the snow they'd laugh and I'd get a bollocking when I returned to work and a black mark on my file. All bus routes are clear round here.

Pendeen · 05/02/2012 13:51

Winter tyres are wonderful especially when you live in an isolated area.

brighthair · 05/02/2012 14:10

No snow here just icy. I had to get to work, if I can't get in then they would send a 4 wheel drive to collect me

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/02/2012 18:36

Just a reminder for anyone driving tonight or tomorrow.

Clear the snow off your roof.

Last year it was announced (can't remember when/where) that it was an pffence to drive with a roof full of snow because it drifts onto your windscreen or only the car behind.

I'm off out in a while with my rubber Wonder Broom to scrape it off. (Hoping to save time in the morning emoticon)

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/02/2012 18:37

offence not pffence, obviously

ShellyBoobs · 05/02/2012 18:45

where would people in flats store winter tyres?

Same place they store them in every other country that has flats and winter tyre laws?

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread