Driving in snow....

[SSEi95]

A few things to keep in mind...

In many states, the law does not apply directly to snow and how it relates to your car, but it does address this fluffy white stuff in a broader way. Here are some examples...

1) Leaving snow on your front or rear windshield may get you an obstruction of view ticket. This also goes for the front passanger windows.

2) Similar to #1, if your windows are fogged up, and your driving, you can get a ticket. Again, it doesn't matter what is obstructing your view, just the fact that it is.

3) Remove snow off your car completely before driving. In many states large snow chucks flying off your car ontot the roadway can get you 2 tickets. One for litterering (AANYTINGH leaving your car can be considered littering) and the second is for dumping snow on public roadways.

4) If it's snowing, you need your headlights on. In some states you also need your lights on anytime you use your wiper blades.

5) I don't have the details on this one, but I believe there is also some laws about having working wiper blades.

Obviously check you local laws for more details, but this might help you stay out of a ticket and not piss off the guy following you down the road getting a grill full of your roof snow.

[crash93ssei]

A few things to keep in mind...

In many states, the law does not apply directly to snow and how it relates to your car, but it does address this fluffy white stuff in a broader way. Here are some examples...

1) Leaving snow on your front or rear windshield may get you an obstruction of view ticket. This also goes for the front passanger windows.

2) Similar to #1, if your windows are fogged up, and your driving, you can get a ticket. Again, it doesn't matter what is obstructing your view, just the fact that it is.

3) Remove snow off your car completely before driving. In many states large snow chucks flying off your car ontot the roadway can get you 2 tickets. One for litterering (AANYTINGH leaving your car can be considered littering) and the second is for dumping snow on public roadways.

4) If it's snowing, you need your headlights on. In some states you also need your lights on anytime you use your wiper blades.

5) I don't have the details on this one, but I believe there is also some laws about having working wiper blades.

Obviously check you local laws for more details, but this might help you stay out of a ticket and not piss off the guy following you down the road getting a grill full of your roof snow.

Fixed it.... That is one of my biggest pet peeves. I HATE it when it is snowing or raining and people drive with their lights off

[Bonneville92V688]

OH I know!!!!! Sometimes I try to flash them to remind them, and all I get is the finger.

I also hate when people's roof snow lands on my windshield.

[BlackHawk99]

Contrary to what many of you may believe, in a complete white out at night, it's actually EASIER to drive with your headlights off. I just had to do that this past weekend on 131 when passing through Reed City. The snow was coming down so hard and fast that I couldn't see a thing. I turned off my headlights and drove only with my parking lights on was able to see MUCH better. Obviously I was the only one on the road.

[SSEi95]

Yea, I agree with that. Whiteouts can be hard to see thru with regular headlights. Sometimes running just the fog/driving lights is a good comprimise since they usually are lower to the ground and not as intense. Unfortunetly, the law doesn't really take that into consideration and technically, the lights are required to be on. But if running with headlights off make it easier to see the road and what's up ahead, that definetly would make the most sence of what to do.

[2000Silverbullet]

you also need your lights on anytime you use your wiper blades

On the 00 the lights come on anytime you use the wipers. I like that.

On the 94 the lights do not come on automatically with the wipers. Is something not working or is this stock? Bugs me.

[00Beast]

SilverBullet, on the 00 your lights are on all the time, LOL. Unless you have your DRL's disabled, that is.

EDIT:#6: SLOW DOWN!!!In MN, the speed limit is 55, or as fast as conditions permit. Which means that if an officer sees you doing 55 and it's whiteout conditions, with huge drifts on the road, they can pull you over and give you a speeding ticket, and the ticket will state you were going faster than conditions permitted. Only drive as fast as your tires, car, conditions and abilities permit, whether it be snow, ice, rain,etc. I know coming from a 17 year old this doesn't mean much, but this has been drilled into my head by my parents for the past two years, since I got my permit.

[2000Silverbullet]

SilverBullet, on the 00 your lights are on all the time, LOL. Unless you have your DRL's disabled, that is.

Even before I disabled the DRL's, the lights came on full whenever the wipers came on. It is an engineering safety feature. Not just the running lights but all, including parking lights, fogs (if on) and dash.

Does anyone know if the 94 should have this feature but maybe is not working for some reason?? ......particularly the dash lights!

[repinS]

92-95 doesn't have the feature, no. Would be nice though!

Up here at least, the mandated DRL's on all cars mean that in inclement weather there is at least some form of illumination... but it still doesn't address the rear markers not being on.

[jonxmartini]

i have heard that yellow light works better in poor weather conditions than white light

[myfirstbonnie]

Don't forget to clean your license plate area. Your plates must be visible all the time. My friend just got a ticket because his license plate frame was covering his stickers.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Kinda glad NY has us put our stickers on the inside of the windshield. Harder to steal that way.

Also, it's a good idea to replace old wiper blades and top up on de-icer fluid. Nothing worse than not being able to scrape freezing snow from the windshield at highway speed.

[gonzo4191]

beast, i agree, comign home today, in my dads grand prix a guy in an impala blew by me at abour 40, drive as fast as conditions permit, coming from another 17 year old

[laxmangl]

[/quote]EDIT:#6: SLOW DOWN!!!In MN, the speed limit is 55, or as fast as conditions permit. Which means that if an officer sees you doing 55 and it's whiteout conditions, with huge drifts on the road, they can pull you over and give you a speeding ticket, and the ticket will state you were going faster than conditions permitted. Only drive as fast as your tires, car, conditions and abilities permit, whether it be snow, ice, rain,etc. I know coming from a 17 year old this doesn't mean much, but this has been drilled into my head by my parents for the past two years, since I got my permit.[/quote]

No kidding.... I got a ticket for "Basic Speed Violation" I rolled my car going fifteen....

[BlackHawk99]

i have heard that yellow light works better in poor weather conditions than white light

Yup, hence the part about driving with only the parking lamps on!

[dirtracr95]

if its a whiteout or very poor visibility your suppose to have your hazards on. I believe it is a law.

leave enough room between you and the car in front of you because if you are tailgating me in the snow be prepared for a brake check because I need my rear bumper painted and it would be great if someone else paid for it.

[Jrs3800]

All I can say is it would be interesting if we had snow around here.. I was taught to drive on snow and ice... Black ice is always fun too...

About the worst we see here is Dense Fog, and even then some people are using their Brights..

And as more or less stated, in a white out condition you can almost blind yourself with you head lamps...( Grew up in Colorado...LOL )

[wjcollier07]

I was taught to drive in snow too. First started driving in Hawaii (private land only)...but got my license and all that in Wisconsin...I learned how to drive in some of the worst weather some people will ever experience...and also attended a 3 month drivers training course (mandatory in Wisconsin for anyone under 18)...its interesting how much better people drive coming from a place where you actually have to know how to drive, and then multiplying the skills with people who have to attend driving school.

There are quite a few people down here right now from Wisconsin in particular..and they stick out like a sore thumb...no..not because of their license plates, but because they actually drive in a considerate manner. In general, they have excellent lane control, always use their blinkers, use great braking distances, and generally drive courteously...it really is quite a contrast to most of the Florida drivers.

I really wish I could be driving on snow and ice..I miss it a lot...I drove about 5,000 miles per winter in wisconsin and not once hit anything (oh came close like hell, but managed to recover). Sure wish my mother was better at it...she learned to drive in California. Hence the 6 accidents my 93 (shes practically 'if you broke it, you bought it'), and the 9 accidents in the 89. (the 89's front end was definitely built up pretty heavy)

I sure do wish people would take the extra time to clear off their cars completely though...I know I almost crapped myself when a huge chunk of partially iced snow came off a truck that was in front of me on the highway...landed dead center on the windshield on the 89...with the size of it...and the sound it made, I can't believe it didn't come right through...(some serious windshields on the 87-91 H bodies I guess)

[2000Silverbullet]

You guys talkin about driving in snow.

You're talkin to the pro!
I cut my teeth on Northern Ontario roads.
I had to carry a shovel, sand and tools to dig myself out of snowbanks. 100 mph on snow covered roads was the norm. Heck, snowmobiles were passing me.

Yup, hence the part about driving with only the parking lamps on!

Except for those who have cleared!

[laxmangl]

My very first time out on the road was through 4 inches of fresh unplowed slushy snow. It scared the crap out of me.

But once I am off the main roads and can have a little fun, drifting around is a blast. Especially with my wonky wheel speed sensor (keeps turning off my ABS) and new tires