DriveSmartBC - Should I Have Driven to Work Today?

[skidmark]

For twenty five years I was expected to arrive at work regardless of the road conditions. After all, as a constable I was one of the people expected to be ready to help out if something happened on the highway. Like me, I am guessing that most of us feel obligated to arrive at our jobs ready to work even if the road conditions are terrible due to bad weather.

I found myself second guessing this desire as I nosed my vehicle out of the garage this morning and found the snow level to be higher than the bottom of the car. My street had not been cleaned, the school bus route I pulled onto at the corner hadn't been cleaned and the feeder to the main highway was in less than ideal condition. Was it worth the risk to go to work today?

Conditions varied, but at three major intersections the curb lane suddenly disappeared completely under unplowed snow that was difficult to see until the last few meters. Had I been unable to change lanes I would have been forced to continue on into that snow. Becoming stuck would have been lucky and losing control and causing a collision would have been worse.

Yes, I had reduced speed significantly but others around me had not. They also presented a threat to me. Had they strayed out of the ruts and lost control I was one of the objects they might run into.

Perhaps the smarter decision for me would have been not to have left the garage in the first place.

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[Soundy]

Perhaps it's time to upgrade to a good 4x4 (with good snow tires, of course)

Maybe one of these, done up in RCMP colors and badging? http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/...a0fe4308dd.jpg

[zulutango]

They used to display one of the tracked Bombardier cats at Depot by the museum...not sure if it is still there these days.

If you google this SK Regina RCMP 1997-0203 Depot Division Vehiclesyou will get the picture. It's not letting me link to it for some reason.

[Soundy]

You mean this? http://www.flickriver.com/photos/canadagood/3271978593/

Half-track, niiiiice

[Soundy]

Found another pic of that thing: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/...be70015d_z.jpg

Snowmobiles, maybe? http://www.yellowknife.ca/Assets/Mun...bile200801.JPG

[netfreak]

My car was plowing snow through some left turns in intersections but if it was bad enough to get stuck, I would have gotten stuck in my driveway. The road where my driveway runs is like a back alley.

[taylor192]

Being from Ottawa this is an even worse decision to make, since people make it to work in much worse conditions than we have in Vancouver - albeit with better plowing and salt/sand.

I have watched cars spin out infront of me on the highway when they hit black ice, with me knowing I'm about to run over the same black ice and not beable to stop before hitting them. It is an awful feeling, so I choose to stay home now we it is bad out, not worth the risk. One accident would set me back more than the couple days pay I'll miss every year deciding to stay home.

[wing_woo]

I've had a stupid lady in an SUV run the red light to turn left right in front of me and then braked right away cause she wanted to turn right at the first intersection during a snow storm where the road wasn't plowed yet. Her back end came loose and when she got control, she finally learned how stupid it was and slowed down. She didn't try turning again until a few blocks later.

[zulutango]

When I answered calls at the Deta chment from unsure drivers on stormy days I used to tell them that as they obviously did not feel comfortable driving then why would they want to? The fact they called showed that they felt their skills were not up to it. Was it a life and death matter? If not, wait untill they felt able to handle the conditions.

[mk1freak]

agreed, like the valued police officers, i have a number of high needs people who depend on me to show up to work each day (social services) lucky for me i have a 4x4 but if i had to make a decision i would weigh their needs versus my safety, and my safety would always win.