Driving on Ice

As I have mentioned previously, one of the things I have to adapt to is the weather. However, I also have to relearn driving on icy roads. Recently the temperature dropped very suddenly and as my daughter arrived home we noticed it was snowing. We then realized that we needed something and I volunteered to go and get it from the local shops, a drive along the freeway that normally takes about 6 minutes each way.

As I walked out of the house into the darkness and saw snow falling I realized that freezing roads was definitely something I would have to contend with. As she had only arrived home several minutes before, what I did not expect was that all the windows of her mini van (what in Aussie and the UK is called a people mover) would be covered with snow that had frozen. I spent several minutes trying to clear the windscreens so I could see before I moved off. I must admit I was glad that the mini van is an all wheel drive vehicle. I ventured towards the first junction at less than 15 miles an hour and tried to stop but found myself skidding slightly. I realized that the ABS was at work and so eased off the brakes as the vehicle slowly stopped. At this point I was having serious doubts about the, albeit short, journey I was undertaking.

I reached the entrance to the freeway without further incident (it is within site of the house) and carefully turned on to the ramp leading down to the road. I could see the ice on the road surface sparkling in my headlights and thick snow was now falling. I slowly drove down the ramp and saw cars moving slowly along the freeway. Well at least most of the vehicles were driving slowly. I took some 15 minutes to reach the turnoff with most vehicles following behind me, although the odd semi trailer thundered past me from time to time. I hate to think what would have happened if they tried to stop as the ice was pretty thick on the road because as soon as the snow landed it was freezing.

When I got out of the car I was taken aback at just how cold the air was. It hit my face and lungs pretty hard. I can only presume it was because I am no longer used to such weather and it was a little bit of a shock as the temperature had definitely dropped further in the time it took me to drive to the local shops. I got what we needed and returned to the mini van and started the drive back. The parking lot was like a skating rink but the van coped well. I got to the traffic lights at the entrance without incident, despite the efforts of a few crazies who seemed to think that hitting the brakes hard was a great idea in such conditions, with the inevitable results. Fortunately, the cars that slide in all directions managed to avoid each other although a few bumped the curb side pretty heavily.

I tried to merge back onto the freeway but had a vehicle that did not seem to want to let me join (I will not repeat the choice comments I made at this point) and so slowed right down to let him pass, at which point he decided to hit the brakes and let me join the flow of traffic. Unfortunately he hit the brakes a little too hard and started snaking across the road but fortunately stopped before hitting anything as by sheer luck there was nothing in the other lanes at that point. Realizing that the road was even icier than it was on my outward journey, I traveled along at around 10-15 miles per hour, as did virtually everyone else.

However, I noticed an SUV (four wheel drive) on the other side of the freeway, just as we both were about to pass under a bridge. Neither of us was traveling very quickly. He was traveling on the inside lane but suddenly swerved towards the center reservation. He must have hit the brakes hard because he just skidded towards the central concrete crash barrier and then smacked into it, bouncing back and partially spinning round to face the wrong direction with steam poring out of his obviously crumpled front end. As I passed I noticed the cars that were following him sliding in all directions trying to avoid running into him. This they appeared to manage but it looks like a mess with cars at all angles right across the road. I kept going as it would not have helped to stop. They were gaps in the traffic on the other side of the road which was fortunate, as the accident had happened around a long curve. However I then noticed a long line of traffic, three lanes wide, going towards the accident. They all seemed to be going much too fast for the conditions and I saw in my rear view mirror lots of brake lights weaving about. I have doubts as to whether they all stopped in time.

Some 20 minutes later I managed to get back safely to the house but it really brought home the hazards of driving in icy conditions, something I have not done for a long time. When living in England I have driven in thick fog, freezing rain and black ice, but did not encounter such things in Aus. Guess I need to hone up my old skills.

One thing the episode taught me was that idiot drivers are not restricted to either England or Australia. They most certainly exist here as well……