AWWW once again some are having difficulty following the story line..Focus people focus!

So, does anyone know how the people who got into the accident are doing?

Kudos to those that teach grade school,I don't think I could do it.

hannah - May be in YOUR estimation 40 was an acceptable speed however, prehaps to the person, which it sounds like you were tailgating, 30 was probably a safer speed for them. Based on your description, seems like they were pulling off towards the shoulder so you would pass them and get the H off their behind! Oh, and right-on tjlu06! Well said.

I love all the PERFECT drivers in here it makes me chuckle....... Defensive driving is a good thing no matter what the weather and cell phones have no reason to be used while driving in any weather you need to talk pull into parking lot or off the road. 4 wheel drive sucks on ice and is basically not that much better in snow as some people think IMO yes it get you thru heavy snow but can slide just the same IMO as far as speed If I choose to drive slow I will and if you dont like it to bad deal with it as I would rather be safe than sorry or injured. There are good reasons for driving slow as if you have an accident less damage and posibly a chance at not getting a ticket for to fast for conditions ( something to ponder how fast is to fast? ) In this type of weather the scanner continues with run offs, accidents ETC ETC ETC. Ive driven for 40 plus years and still have a great respect for snow covered roads and will drive accordingly to how I see fit and if you happen to get behind me be grateful you most likely will save yourself a ticket for to fast for conditions Have a nice day!

Slowing down is good advise but if you have to go so slow you are becoming a road obstruction you should stay home

Most of us don't get in the left lane when the speed limit is 55 and go 45. We also don't live in the same house for awhile and then flip the turn signal on at the last minute because oh my gosh it's our house causing people to slam on their breaks. And no we aren't following to close or we wouldn't be able to stop. Also for a state that gets snow I'm suprised most of you can't drive in it.

I think Illinois drivers are the ones that need the endorsement.........

Yes, I mean driving right down the center of the road when the sides are snow-covered.
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Nothing wrong with that AS LONG AS YOU ARE GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO MOVE OVER BEFORE MEETING OTHER VEHICLES and being aware that others may be coming out of driveways and sideroads.
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Many of our highways(thanks, Doyle)are so bad that you can't always use your lane entirely when there is no snow.

The posts here are the main reason I believe Wisconsin drivers need to take an additional test and get an endorsement before they drive out of their state.

Seems to be some confusion on what I mean by center of road. Example this morning: Hwy 11. Two lanes. I'm speaking of people driving down the middle of the two lanes rather than choosing either the left or right lane. Yes both lanes were visible, but certain people find in necessary to create one lane on their own when driving conditions are poor.

Nothing wrong with using the center of the road when necessary IF YOU ARE GOING SLOW ENOUGH TO MOVE OVER/STOP WHEN MEETING OTHER VEHICLES.

mespl-That sums it all up!!

Actually a four wheel drive allows you to accelerate faster due to four drive wheels. Once you have reached your desired speed and are simply maintaining it there is very little advantage to having a four wheel drive. So moby6400 having a four wheel drive does not mean that you can “go faster” it just means that you can get up to that speed more quickly. Usually the four wheel drive vehicles are going faster because in general they are heavier with more grip from their tires than two wheel drive vehicles. Many people have a false sense of performance in four wheel drive vehicles because of the fact that they can out accelerate other vehicles, they need to be careful of being able to maneuver and stop once they are up to speed. However if you are too incapable to drive in the snow, or your vehicle is too poorly built or maintained to drive in the snow safely then don’t, people barely moving down the road are just as dangerous as the ones that are going way too fast. As a general note if you have a line of vehicles following you then you are going too slow, and either pick up the pace a little or if you are not comfortable doing that for the reasons stated above then pull over in a parking lot and let the line of cars go by. Being a curious driver works both ways, just because you are going slowly does not mean that it is everyone else’s responsibility to accommodate to you. If there are more than seven to ten cars in a line behind you then you are not maintaining an acceptable speed, and you are causing the danger. I just want to make sure that everyone notes that nowhere in here did I say that it was ok to drive down the road with a false sense of security and fly past everyone on the road and be a recluses driver, I said that people in this day and age need to find some common sense and use it for a change, learn how to drive in winter and learn your vehicle.

No do you think so… Caption obvious

You can go faster with a 4X4 because you have 4 wheels for traction but stopping is a problem because of the following equation:
2X4 = 2 drive wheels and 4 braking wheels.
4X4 = 4 drive wheels and 4 braking wheels

Slow down seems to be the smart thing to do!!!

If you can't drive in this weather park your car. As far as people not being able to afford tires. Lets have them step out of their cars and lets see the new Nike shoes on their kids feet and other non essentials. I see so many people skrimp on the necessities to keep up with the joneses. If you can't afford to keep your car up to minimum safety requirements. Park it. Driving is a privilege not a right. People who can't or won't take necessary steps to drive safely should be off the road and people who are too scared to drive they need to cause others to be in danger should also be off the road. I can't believe how many people in that area can't drive in this weather. Winter happens every year.

If you can't drive in this weather park your car. As far as people not being able to afford tires. Lets have them step out of their cars and lets see the new Nike shoes on their kids feet and other non essentials. I see so many people skrimp on the necessities to keep up with the joneses. If you can't afford to keep your car up to minimum safety requirements. Park it.

I have 2 4x4's I don't drive any faster. But I do use one of them to pull people when they are stuck most the time for free. So the person who stereotyped people who own 4wheel drive auto's as rich. Your clueless. YOU LIVE IN WI IT SNOWS HERE, and its proven that power to 4 tires can get you though snow better. I know this cause I live in WI and I know we have winters here and I don't like to get stuck or be restricted when bad weather comes along. plus its just fun knowing you can drive though 3 or 4ft of unplowed snow with no problems

As I was on my way home from a doctor's appointment today, I was stopped at the intersection of Patrick Road and East Philhower Road just north of Beloit. To the east of that intersection is a highway overpass which decreases visibility of traffic coming from that direction. I'm usually pretty cautious when crossing that intersection. Today, a huge front-end loader was driving over the bridge, so I decided to wait for him to pass because my car (Chevy HHR) is actually quite horrible in the snow. As he passed I noticed he was using his cellphone, to me it looked like he was texting. That was just appalling and this wasn't a small front-end loader it was a Volvo L70E:
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http://www.vdklundertbv.nl/!270037
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Huge vehicle + poor road conditions + inattentive driving = highly dangerous situation. If I knew what company he worked for, if any, I would have called and complained.

patriot-I wasn't being defensive and apologize if you took it that way. Driving slower is always smart. However, there is such a thing as driving too slow. That can cause just as much danger. I and others were referring to people that have no concept of driving in poor weather. They are a danger to all.

I agree with SarahB! Very well said! There is NOTHING more irritating than seeing people talking on their cellphones while driving.. they don't use their concentration on the road because they're too busy talking on the phone! Even in GOOD weather! Get off that phone, or get off the road!

Posted by concernedpatriot

Spark
why are you saying that my post is accusing you of being stupid for being concerned about people's safety? What I was saying is why are people being stupid and complaining about people who are driving too slow? It seems to me that is the issue I'm referring to. I'm talking about the people who say they have four wheel drive and have no problem and don't want to slow down. Maybe you need to re read my post to fully understand it before you respond and get all defensive.

I think all of you people who drive to fast or have something bad to say about someone driving to slow need to sit back and think about what is important in life. I would rather get somewhere safe than not get there at all. I have a small child at home and I don't want him to grow up with out a mom because I decided to go to fast for condtions. Jut think about that next time your flying down the road. There are parents on the road who want to see their kids again. Maybe it doesn't matter to the one's who are going 45-55 mph on bads roads because oblivously they only care about one thing in life and that is them shelves.

patriot-being concerned for our safety isn't being stupid. Read the posts below. People on their phones, driving on centerlines, etc. That is putting everyone at danger any way you look at it. We aren't talking about people with children in the car. If you can't handle driving and are going to take other peoples lives in danger, stay off the road. That's all people are saying.

br549 and woody- ya, I can't quite figure it out. Option 1, stay right and go off the road or into the ditch if something happens. Option 2, stay left and cross center line and collide with other vehicles if something happens. I'll choose option 1, thanks.

I can't believe how stupid people are sometimes. You complain even if someone is driving slower. What if someone can't afford to get new tires and can barely make it up the hill because of the conditions but has to make it to work anyway? I swear you people complain over everything. Slow down and be considerate that is all that's really important. And yes, if I could afford to buy a new or old four wheel drive car I would but can't so people need to just deal with it like I do. Why do you always have to judge when you have no idea what the other person has/doesn't have or is doing, do you know why they are driving slower? Maybe they have children in the back of their car and want to make sure they get them somewhere safely. I hope someday you are judged right back and have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Just remember to use your brain and drive more carefully. Life is too short to risk your life and someone else's because you are overconfident in your driving.

I agree with the last few comments: HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE OR GET OFF THE ROAD!!! (Thank you, I feel better now.)

doglover-How correct you are. People that are that terrified, can cause just as much harm and need to practice driving in poor conditions. Go in a vacant parking lot and practice sliding or other scenarios that could occur. Like we did when we were younger while learning how to drive . Most of the new cars like the G6, Malibu, etc. are front wheel drive and handle well in the snow. Your last statement about the person being on the phone explains it all.

I totally agree that people need to slow down, however...driving too slow can be a hazard too. I was returning home from dropping my daughter off at school, getting a full tank of gas for the colder weather coming, and came upon someone going about 15-20 mph on Hwy 11 bypass. I was going 35-40 and this person had other cars coming up quickly behind them. I don't think any of us anticipated someone going that slow and were lucky we were going the speed we were or we might have slid all over the place. Not sure why this drive was going THAT slow...maybe because it was a G6??? Do those handle that badly in this weather? As I carefully passed the car, I noticed that the driver was on the phone!!!! AHHHH...people!! Stay off the phone while driving, ESPECIALLY in these kinds of driving conditions!

u know i tell my kids you are a good driver , it is not you i worry about when you are out driving , it is the other people out there , talking on cellphones , and not paying attention...

Hwy 51 is open again. But seriously slow down because it's slippery and visibility is horrible. Even if you can drive fast there's no way you can see someone who is driving too slow and be able to avoid them in time. I just drove from Janesville to Edgerton with my all wheel drive Equinox and I was only able to go about about 35 miles/hr. safely.

"Just because you have 4 wheel drive doesn't mean you can go faster"
True. I wasn't in 4 wheel drive this morning except in town for stop-n-go purposes.

Yes Spark...why is it so many idiots drive the center line. Don't they know they are forcing the other drivers to the shoulder.

Kittykat1229 - you get a clue. I see just as many cars going just fast as 4x4's. AND, your saying if I drive a 4x4 '98 S-10, I'm rich? Awesome, I will quit my job today.

kittykat1229-Because you have 4 wheel drive, that means you have a lot of money? Nice false stereotype. I have 4 wheel drive because I live in Wisconsin. That doesn't mean I have a lot of money. Also doesn't mean that I don't realize everyone needs to slow down regardless of the vehicle they drive. Fact of the matter is, there are a lot of people that lack the skills of winter driving even after living in this climate their whole lives. 4-wheel drive or not.

Just because you have 4 wheel drive doesn't mean you can go faster. You still have to go slow and watch out for other people.Thats the problem with you people that have money, you think you have a better vehicle so you don't need to be as careful on the road. Get a clue.

Ah yes, and it all begins again. The first of many accidents. Even on the way to work this morning. People driving down the center line of a two lane road again even when the center line was visible. Clueless.

Slow down my aunt fanny! I didn't spend all that money on a 4X4 so I could go 40 mph. I did 45!

I travel that way, and the roads were not in great shape this morning! I took a snow day!! :)

Slow down!