AIBU to drive....

[lalasnowman]

...from Oxford to Manchester today for a concert? I have a pretty small car and the snow is looking pretty heavy? Smart not to go, or am I being a drama queen..snow is just snow?

... And it's not even 9am yet

I wouldn't. If you do, make sure you take blankets, water, food etc in case you get stranded somewhere.

Findo depends. Where I lived the roads weren't salted or gritted at least until you got to any major routes. Although you are expected to fit winter tyres from Oct to Apr.

Also agree it's not necessarily the weather that's a problem but other road users.

It is only snow but I'm not driving in it other countries have snow tyres and snow chains gritters and stuff we don't get it often enough to invest in stuff like that so we dont

Well I did a drive in weather worse than this from Germany, through the Netherlands and Belgium and then through France. The only problems I encountered was when I got to the UK Yep. And there are all sorts of reasons for that... mainly because we are, on average, warmer than those countries so don't have the same infrastructure for snow - e.g. changing to snow tyres, having heated pavements, as in Norway.

But even Belgium and Germany have had their problems recently, with motorways and rail systems grinding to a halt.

Unless you are driving a 4x4 I would stay at home. We live in low lying area of the Midlands which rarely gets snow and it’s already 10cm deep and still falling heavily.

If you are not confident driving in the snow then no chance. I drive many different kinds of machinery and vehicles for my job and have experience of driving in adverse conditions so I would. If you decide you are going make sure you pack the winter essentials in case you do get stuck. Always be prepared for the worse.

My OH has just finished a night shift and drives on motorways everyday, even he is scared of how to carry on coming home.
A 40 min drive has so far taken almost 2 hours.
I would not risk it, he's seen numerous crashes and break downs it's not worth it if you don't have to go.

Mine headed out at 5am, came back at 8. Motorways are at a near standstill, every slight hill has stationery lorries and A roads have any number of abandoned vehicles.

It isn't worth it! No matter why you were thinking of heading out! We've got 5 inches already and it is still coming down.

The problem with 'it's only snow' and 'just slow down using your gears' is that the majority of people out there won't be doing this. They will be driving as normal with no adjustment for the conditions. They will cause accidents and hold ups and you could end up sat on a motorway for hours.

Ignore the 'it's only snow' brigade and go with the emergency services advice.

Although you are expected to fit winter tyres from Oct to Apr.

These are also available on request in UK, although they generally have a lead time of a week or so....we got ours fitted last week. Hurrah.

Off for a lovely snowy drive on almost empty roads shortly

I wouldn't.

It's not so much the driving that would worry me (I don't get nervous about driving in snow), but the possibility of being stranded on a snow-bound motorway for hours on end. It's happened twice to people I know, a friend spent nearly 24 hours on the M11 one winter and my ex was stuck on the M23 for 12 hours overnight in 2010.

That would be just hellish.

I wouldn't, just seen it's heavy Witney area and it's worse the further you go up the M40.

Increasingly Birmingham is covered. Cars are stuck up a main hill near a motorway junction.

OP you will also need to drive up through the Midlands and it is heavy with many motorways down to one lane.

There's no way I'd drive in this - even if The Smiths reformed for a one off gig!

I drive many different kinds of machinery and vehicles for my job and have experience of driving in adverse conditions so I would.

You'd drive to Manchester from Oxford with the M40 shut?

No I wouldn't. Have done that drive hundreds of times and although it's motorway most of the way, the last thing you want is to get stuck. Getting back would be my worry.

Cancel. Or go by train.

Depends on who you're going to see, I guess..! I've certainly been to concerts in worse conditions. I've got one to go to tomorrow and it's not so much the driving as the potential collapse of my babysitting arrangements that's worrying me. We do have snow tyres, though, along with more experience of driving through snow than most people in this part of the country, and the willingness to take our time.

Having said that, I'm not even planning to take the car down to the supermarket today.

Laughing at the winter tyres and driving! Unless you have 4 wheel drive don’t bother. We have had so little snow over the last 20yrs most people have no idea how to drive in snow. When you get stuck it’s a long walk home. Leave the roads clear for the emergency services.

No. You'd have to come up through the Midlands and the snow is showing no signs of letting up until tonight.

I've decided that it's a no. My sis is really disappointed but I can't change the weather. She wanted to go to the concert much more than me so would be more willing to risk overnight trapped on a motorway (she is a huge fan!!), but I'm just not...

I went out about an hour an a half ago (in Oxford) to turn my car around so I could get out later. I've decided we'll be walking - my son's supposed to be going down to London by coach to sing in a concert. I intended to take the X90 myself later - but I notice the buses are all currently suspended.

If you think you can get there safely, don't plan on coming back tonight.

I have winter tyres and lots of experience driving on snow, but It's not about me, when someone else comes skidding on the road or it gets blocked because someone had come to complete halt then you will get stuck as well and nothing can help that.

Lol at people thinking winter tyres are snow tyres. They are shutting roads and airports all over the place, not to mention cancelling public transport. Do people really think all it takes is a winter tyre

No, don't. I'm only out because I have a big old 4x4 with off road tyres and with shovel etc in the back and I have to sort out my horses. Last time we had "big" snow I ended up rescuing a lot of people and towing out cars for people who had gone out with no preparations, no suitable outdoor coats/boots, spade etc. Madness.

Mine are the proper ones but I'd be very reluctant to go out driving. As for the 4x4 I feel much happier driving a small car in these conditions.

Having said that, it's less than an inch where we are. Pathetic that everything just comes to a halt.