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AIBU?

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Original poster

When do you stop trying to get to work?

85 replies

Skarossinkplunger · 28/02/2018 06:41

I live in a rural area and the snow is really bad here this morning. Most of the schools in the county were closed yesterday and it looks like it will be the same today.

I work in a school in a city 30 miles away, which obviously fares better in snow and will most likely be open today.

Yesterday’s commute which normally
takes an hour was 2.5 hours of steering wheel gripping hell, which included getting stuck in a blizzard on a motorway and a 180 spin on the road out of estate.

I’m now looking out of the window and thinking I have to do it all again. When do
I just say ‘I can’t get in’?

OP posts:
Sallystyle · 28/02/2018 07:22

I am really worrying about getting in tomorrow.

The problem is, staff have to be there. It's not like we can't just go in.

I will need to ring in a bit and see if they have some kind of plan, as it is only going to get worse during the day. If my car will make it down the road remains to be seen.

I am scared of driving in this. I could walk. It would only take 1 hour and 45 minutes!

Anatidae · 28/02/2018 07:22

Ok lots of misperceptions here.

Snow chains are needed only in specific driving conditions. Getting up a Hill in heavy snow for example. You don’t leave them on.,

Winter tyres come in different varieties- studded and non studded. Studded are a bit better on ice roads. Non studded look just like normal tyres - they work by altering the friction between tyre and surfaces e and they work really well.
Friction tyres don’t damage roads and they don’t just give you better grip in snow: they grip better in ALL wintery conditions- heavy cold rain, slush, snow and ice.

They really should be mandatory in the uk in winter.

Onemorecornetto · 28/02/2018 07:27

Can you walk to a main road and get public transport or a lift?

thelastredwinegum · 28/02/2018 07:30

Does anyone know how many days we've had temperatures of 7c or lower? That's when snow tyres are recommended.

I've only not been able to get into work because of snow once in 15years, that was due to the police closing the roads leading out of the town. We don't seem to get the snow as bad here as other parts of the UK though, but I wouldn't be going to work if my journey was going to be like yours yesterday OP.

QuestionableMouse · 28/02/2018 07:31

I wouldn't even risk it. I'm in the middle of a city; the busses aren't running, it's snowing so hard outside that it's coming in the door... Literally all I can see from my window is white.

WTFIsThisVirus · 28/02/2018 07:33

Don't go in.

I'm not sure DP would be able to get his car out of the drive, and we heard about a few accidents yesterday, including one nearby, so he's staying home. People have DIED. Its not worth the risk. Stay at home.

Sallystyle · 28/02/2018 07:37

They really should be mandatory in the uk in winter.

Well they aren't. So it doesn't help people right now who are pretty stuck.

Bus services here are all closed. It is going to snow all day so I doubt they will run tomorrow.

Shall have to get up early and leave to walk at 6.00am. Should get there by 8.00am Grin

ragged · 28/02/2018 07:37

Does anyone know how many days we've had temperatures of 7c or lower?

I kept track, the first 2 yrs, I put on the snow tyres of what the temps were in the car when I drove it. About 2/3 of the time, the temp was 8 or less. That was a fairly mild winter (which this also has been until now). The snow tyre buffs say that the ground temp is colder than the air temp, and it's ground temp at 7 or below when snow tyres perform better.

I was amazed at how slippy my car was on just 1-2 inches of snow yesterday (this is when fresh snow, admittedly). And my snow tyres aren't worth much on ice, either (nothing but chains or studs are helpful on ice.. you aren't supposed to drive above 25 mph with chains on IIRC).

I don't agree that everyone should have snow tyres. It makes sense to me that no one should be expected to be prepared for quite rare extreme events.

I got snow tyres+winter wheels. It only takes an hour to swap all 4 wheels (quicker if DH is in nice mood & helps). Bit of a faff but glad I have the skill to do it. Have to have somewhere to store the wheels, too.

ragged · 28/02/2018 07:38

The winter tyre buffs say they typically have them on the car from about 1 November until end of March.

MiaowTheCat · 28/02/2018 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Allergictoironing · 28/02/2018 07:46

I live not much over 2 miles from my work in Kent. Trouble is, I live near the bottom of a hill. To get out of my road I need to go down a steep-ish road that isn't used much, so it's pack ice from yesterday under another couple of inches of snow. Then once I hit the main road I would need to go UP a steeper hill, which people were getting stuck on yesterday lunchtime.

I have a 2 wheel drive automatic (automatics much harder to use in snow), and have arthritis in my back so can't afford to try walking far in slippery conditions let alone down then up a steep hill on ice, plus couldn't walk 2.2 miles on the flat at the best of times in under 2 hours. I will NOT be going in unless they can get someone with a 4WD to come & pick me up!

Monkeybunkey · 28/02/2018 07:47

I couldn't even get off my drive yesterday (live on a huge hill) and there were very few trains running. I can work from home though and connect remotely to my work PC. I'll be doing the same today as we;ve had another load of snow overnight and it's still coming down. I'm far more productive working from home as I'm not being constantly interrupted!

The80sweregreat · 28/02/2018 07:48

i cant get to my dads which is half hour drive away and really anxious about it all - maybe hope they do shut the school? if not, just ring in to say you can't get there - not ideal, but maybe others are in the same boat and cant get in either? i havent known a winter this bad in decades - they go on about the one of 1963 but i am too young to remember that.
people lived closer to work back then - we have to commute these days and the roads are busier too.

Blackteadrinker77 · 28/02/2018 07:48

I tweeted a photo of my 4ft fence only just peeping out of the snow to my employer at 6.30am.

No way I'm going to move my car.

BastardGoDarkly · 28/02/2018 07:55

Nope. Not worth it.

Nolongerwithauser · 28/02/2018 07:56

I've had to stay off again. Both of the schools my DC's go to are closed, I'm a lone parent, I literally have no childcare options and I live at the top of a hill in a rural Yorkshire village. I feel guilty but I'm on my notice period of a temporary contract and I'm working from home so do you know what? I'm not going to sweat it. Maybe it's because I've only had 3 hours sleep so I'm a bit zonked but if my circumstances aren't enough to stay at home then I dunno what else to do. And like a PP said I get way more done at home!

Original poster
Skarossinkplunger · 28/02/2018 07:56

Just had a text to say School was closed! Hurrah!

OP posts:
Notasunnybunny · 28/02/2018 07:57

They really should be mandatory in the uk in winter.

I live in a protected pocket in the southdowns. Before this week I have only seen a couple of light frosts this year, I haven’t needed to to de ice the car since last year, snow is almost as rare as rocking horse poop. Winter tyres for my car come in about £1500.....slight overkill for something that maybe, might, possibly happen 1or 2 days every 2 or three years.

NewYearNewMe18 · 28/02/2018 07:59

Does anyone know how many days we've had temperatures of 7c or lower?

Is your google broken?

CigarsofthePharoahs · 28/02/2018 08:00

If it isn't safe, then it isn't safe.
I did once walk to work in the snow. It wasn't actively snowing or I'd not have risked it, but the roads were blocked and very icy.
Precious little thanks for it. I fell over on the way home, bruised my hip and twisted my ankle. They then docked me my next day's pay as it was a "snow day" and not sick leave.
Bastards.

Blackteadrinker77 · 28/02/2018 08:02

They really should be mandatory in the uk in winter

Police advice is to not make any journeys that aren't vital. So what difference does it make which tyres I have on?

Or are you suggesting we all just ignore Police advice even after people have been killed?

RhinoGirl · 28/02/2018 08:03

I had a day off last week for a childcare emergency, so i can’t really afford to be off again. It’s coming down thick and fast here and i’m concerned about not only getting to work at 1pm but getting home at 9. I don’t know what to do.

heron98 · 28/02/2018 08:07

That's interesting about the seven degree thing

In north Yorkshire where I am I don't think it's been above seven since November apart from a freak warm spell on Xmas day

AngryAttackKittens · 28/02/2018 08:11

So glad they closed the school! If they open it again tomorrow still don't go if your journey is going to be as scary as it was last time. The kids will be fine without you for a few days.

Lovemusic33 · 28/02/2018 08:17

I think people need to consider how important it is to go to work, if work can manage without you then do not go in.

I work as care worker, I drive to peoples houses, these people need to be given their medication and shopping bought for them. We have had to make a back up plan for if I can’t get in which has involved finding someone in their village who can get in to them to make sure they have taken medication and that they are ok. It’s not ideal but I won’t risk smashing my car up to get there, I can’t afford to damage my car and I don’t want to risk my own safety.