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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why so many people drive in the snow?

105 replies

littlemisssunny · 26/01/2013 10:26

It's a genuine question as I am intrigued.

The snow last night was forecast days before so it wasn't a surprise. It was gone 8pm when it started, if it was rush hour or something I could understand it.

People were getting stuck all over the place on main roads, the gritters and ploughs were struggling to get through the traffic to clear it all. There were a lot of cars on the road!

Also saw on the news a man who got stuck on the m6 saying it came from nowhere, err no it was forecast!

I know sometimes people have to travel, and my husband is lucky that he can walk to work, but I just don't get it?

I might be unreasonable but I genuinely don't understand Confused please explain!

OP posts:
OscarPistoriusBitontheside · 26/01/2013 11:24

The M6 is always busy, friday night is like sunday is like monday. If you look at the pictues it was a lot of trucks and my friends who got stuck were on their way home from work. People don't always have the choice of staying at home.

Theicingontop · 26/01/2013 11:25

Not everyone has time to catch the forecast.

Hulababy · 26/01/2013 11:27

phantomnamechanger - sounds like my DH last night, though he wasn't driving. he was at a works party in town - no windows in party room. Had told him to keep checking - but after a few drinks, etc he didn't obviously. So at 1am he came out of party in his shirt and a thin jacket - no coat, no hat, no gloves, normal shoes. He did find a taxi to drive him part way home but the last mile and a bit he walked in deep snow and still snowing. He was freezing; I did roll my eyes at him! Mind - least he'd sobered up!

BeanJuice · 26/01/2013 11:28

Most people can't just stay at home and not bother going to work/other places just in case it snows as the forecast suggests

BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM · 26/01/2013 11:37

the part of the M6 (J25/26/27) is permanently busy - it tends to get the back log of any problems further down at J21-J19 (constant accidents) so on a Friday, in bad weather (it sleeted/snowed pretty much none stop from 3pm onwards) plus weekend traffic, plus rush hour, the Friday backlog never got a chance to clear before the heavy snow came.

It started properly (around the J21 area) about 9pm and by 9.30 there was 4 inches lying and it continued to fall thick and fast.

We had the same warning last week - it snowed, stuck, but the roads stayed clear. It then disappeared the next day.

So when the forecast we got for last night said snow, followed by rain early hours. They never (unless I missed it as I only read the weather - don't watch it) predicted it to come down so thick and fast, how could they I suppose.

It rarely snows so heavily round these parts, so for this area at least - I can see why there was such problems on the motorway, as it isn't normal even when the forecast says it is due to snow (normally we get warnings and nothing comes!)

I,however, sat in and watched it from the window Grin

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 26/01/2013 11:45

Ok I see I was being unreasonable Grin I was just surprised how many people were out.

I guess a lot more people need to go out than I thought!

I won't ask such a stupid question again I promise!

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 26/01/2013 11:46

emergency services drive in the snow, otherwise people would be left in danger

The country should not grind to a halt due to snow fall, winter tyres can be fitted to make driving in winter, rain and snow and icy conditions much safer, they would in some cases save lives - I wonder why people don't get winter tyres fitted

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 26/01/2013 11:53

We're in the North West and honestly we (me, DP and school gate mums) didnt think it'd be that bad. I've got weather forecast on my phone and it didnt say it would be this bad. And it wasn't where we are compared to some places.

I will happily tell you why my DP went driving in it. He has to drive to work at 2-3am each day (HGV). If he doesnt turn up at work he doesnt get paid. If he doesn't get paid we will will seriously struggle to pay rent and bills etc. I don't think its that hard to get your head round surely? Confused

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 26/01/2013 11:54

Also if my DP and his collegues didnt go to work the stuff they deliver wouldnt get there, and people would definately be up in arms about it!

countrykitten · 26/01/2013 12:14

People have to go out in the snow at all sorts of times because people have to go out to work and earn a living. What a stupid OP.

threesocksmorgan · 26/01/2013 12:21

what do you expect op?
should everything stop. shops close(as no staff) and so on.
life has to go on

BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM · 26/01/2013 12:25

Ok I see I was being unreasonable I was just surprised how many people were out.

I guess a lot more people need to go out than I thought!

I won't ask such a stupid question again I promise!

^ from OP, answering the replies of YABU

(OP if people stopped asking stupid questions, MN would grind to a halt and I would be banished forever Wink )

JenaiMorris · 26/01/2013 12:50

Haha, indeed Brian!

My snow drama on Monday was entirely my fault and the result of fuckwittery on my part, though.

TraineeBabyCatcher · 26/01/2013 12:59

Because babies don't stop coming just because its snowed.

Vev · 26/01/2013 13:10

It started around 3.30pm here, quite heavy and persistent. Certainly worse than what was predicted for the area. Should have been raining and thawing by 8pm according to weather forecast, they don't always get the timings right. It's harsh if you have to drive up inclines in just a tiny amount of uncleared snow.

Fakebook · 26/01/2013 13:26

People didn't see the snow and think "hey! Let's all drive in the snow!" It probably looked like more cars because they weren't moving along fast like they usually do. Duh.

BeanJuice · 26/01/2013 13:28

OP has already responded - you can stop with comments like that now Hmm

MrsDoomsPatterson · 26/01/2013 13:32

The Snow Police has spoken everyone. Look sharp.

Fakebook · 26/01/2013 13:33

No, in her final post, she still seems surprised so many people were out, when there probably weren't that many people at all, just a backlog of traffic giving an illusion that everyone was out of their home.

Fakebook · 26/01/2013 13:34

Really, telling people to stop responding in an Internet forum. Clever. Hmm

LayMizzRarb · 26/01/2013 13:55

Because it's dangerous and exciting and we dream of being on the ten o'clock news/front of the local rag.

WMittens · 26/01/2013 14:48

People didn't see the snow and think "hey! Let's all drive in the snow!"

Got to admit, I did and had a great time. Half the reason for buying a 4WD and snow tyres so I wasn't going to miss the opportunity.

There are things that can be done to prepare a car for winter: winter tyres if you've got the money; snow chains or snow socks if you haven't (about £20 a set). I saw people driving around who hadn't even cleared the snow from their rear and side windows.

Somebodysomewhere · 26/01/2013 15:51

Because i have to be somewhere and because the world hasnt ended due to a bit of snow.
Also i have a 4x4 that doesnt mind a bit of snow.

Somebodysomewhere · 26/01/2013 15:52

Indeed Wmittens i quite enjoyed taking the car up the roads that everyone else couldnt get up and encountering no problems whatsoever.

RooneyMara · 26/01/2013 15:53

What I don't understand is the pressure people are put under to drive in the snow, as though it were anywhere near safe.

We barely had any here last saturday (sunday it came in droves) but our brakes failed at about 20mph and we nearly went under a truck.