4 ms·

I don’t think they are qualitatively “better drivers”. But they are more experienced at certain things. When I lived in Minnesota, I got lots of practice drivin

I don’t think they are qualitatively “better drivers”. But they are more experienced at certain things. When I lived in Minnesota, I got lots of practice driving in snow and ice and rain. Now in NorCal, not so much :) Its a skill. You get better with practice. The person going slow probably just hasn’t had enough practice yet with the conditions. Going slow is probably a good choice for them. Am I a better driver overall for knowing how to handle ice? Probably not, but I might be the best person to do the driving under those conditions if everyone else in the car is from warmer climes. I remember standing in line at Minneapolis rental car counter one night when it was snowing an inch an hour with 4 inches on the ground already. Agent to the guys in front of me: “There are chains in the trunk if you need them.” Customer with heavy southern accent: “Chains? What the heck are chains?” I wonder to this day if those guys made it to their hotel.

justtopost 8y ago
I think auto racing has priven there are most certainly qualitively 'better drivers' adjusted for training and experince.
- jerkstate 8y ago
  And learning to drive in the ice and snow is definitely a leg up; in racing (I have heard this in rally and F1) "If you want to win, hire a Finn"
- pps43 8y ago
  For some definition of 'better'. I know excellent race drivers who were in rather unfortunate and totally avoidable road accidents.
singingboyo 8y ago
It's also local, not just general snow/ice/rain. I can figure out where ice will probably be here. If I go north into the interior where it's colder, not quite so humid, and snow collects over longer periods? Not a chance - I don't know the local weather, what patterns there are, what the road maintenance is like, etc. Same deal for where the rain will be bad, where I might need to worry about hydroplaning, etc.
gmadsen 8y ago
I've always been curious what "skills" need to be practiced to drive in the snow. It isn't overly technical. Just don't accelerate or brake too fast and dont turn while you are doing either. If you feel the car start to wobble or fishtail a little, it means you are going too fast. Thats literally all I change, and I have done fine all my life
- pwg 8y ago
  One "skill" that very much needs practice is skid recovery (for those eventual times when the car, no matter how careful you are being, will want to skid). It was described in the drivers ed manuals when I got my license, but it is a skill that has to become muscle memory habit (i.e., you don't have time to think "which way do I turn the wheel and how much", you have to "just do"). Without any practice (which was way easier in the 80's with rear wheel drive vehicles) you never got the "touch" down to just turn the wheel the correct direction and amount to recover when the car does start to skid.
- planteen 8y ago
  Fish tail doesn't necessarily mean you are going too fast. If you are cruising, it means let off the gas. Have you ever driven a rear wheel drive car on a packed road? You will fish tail when accelerating from a light or stop sign. You need to build some speed and ride the fish tail out.

justtopost 8y ago

I think auto racing has priven there are most certainly qualitively 'better drivers' adjusted for training and experince.

jerkstate 8y ago
And learning to drive in the ice and snow is definitely a leg up; in racing (I have heard this in rally and F1) "If you want to win, hire a Finn"
pps43 8y ago
For some definition of 'better'. I know excellent race drivers who were in rather unfortunate and totally avoidable road accidents.

singingboyo 8y ago

It's also local, not just general snow/ice/rain. I can figure out where ice will probably be here. If I go north into the interior where it's colder, not quite so humid, and snow collects over longer periods? Not a chance - I don't know the local weather, what patterns there are, what the road maintenance is like, etc. Same deal for where the rain will be bad, where I might need to worry about hydroplaning, etc.

gmadsen 8y ago

I've always been curious what "skills" need to be practiced to drive in the snow. It isn't overly technical. Just don't accelerate or brake too fast and dont turn while you are doing either. If you feel the car start to wobble or fishtail a little, it means you are going too fast. Thats literally all I change, and I have done fine all my life

pwg 8y ago
One "skill" that very much needs practice is skid recovery (for those eventual times when the car, no matter how careful you are being, will want to skid). It was described in the drivers ed manuals when I got my license, but it is a skill that has to become muscle memory habit (i.e., you don't have time to think "which way do I turn the wheel and how much", you have to "just do"). Without any practice (which was way easier in the 80's with rear wheel drive vehicles) you never got the "touch" down to just turn the wheel the correct direction and amount to recover when the car does start to skid.
planteen 8y ago
Fish tail doesn't necessarily mean you are going too fast. If you are cruising, it means let off the gas. Have you ever driven a rear wheel drive car on a packed road? You will fish tail when accelerating from a light or stop sign. You need to build some speed and ride the fish tail out.