Ouch

Stability control or not, that was a clear case of said driver not being properly trained/mentally equipped to deal with the conditions found on the road. It looked to me as though most of the drivers there had seen conditions like that before, so it wasn't a case of holy crap what is this. If nothing else, it's one helluva PSA for driver training and paying attention.

I've been there so many times up here in Ma. I'd rather drive in pure snow than straddling slush piles. That being said, when in that stuff, I swear you could give me a boiling hot tetanus shot in my eardrum and I wouldn't notice due to my concentration being so heightened and fine-tuned to the task.

Those conditions require the utmost in concentration, calmness and good reactions. I'd venture the driver ran out of at least one of them.

Poor family, man that sucks.

Can anyone identify the M&M of the SUV?

That was really bad.

That is just heinous. I am always nervous and at my highest level of attention while driving in those conditions just goes to show how quickly it can all go to Hell in a hand basket.

FlightService wrote: Can anyone identify the M&M of the SUV? That was really bad.

Looks like a mid to late 2000's Tahoe?

FlightService wrote: Can anyone identify the M&M of the SUV? That was really bad.

My first thought was ~2000 Expedition

Getting in an automobile is by far the most dangerous thing most people do, yet most do it without much thought before, during, or after being out there on the road. That was a sobering and eye opening video, mostly for the way the SUV disintegrated when in a head on with a semi.

ebonyandivory wrote: I've been there so many times up here in Ma. I'd rather drive in pure snow than straddling slush piles. That being said, when in that stuff, I swear you could give me a boiling hot tetanus shot in my eardrum and I wouldn't notice due to my concentration being so heightened and fine-tuned to the task.

Here's the thing that I don't get.

My AWD car has three open diffs, the center and rear are lockable.

Trying to change lanes across slush (in a completely normal, controlled, cruise-maintenance throttle way) is SCARY. I'll take six-seven seconds to change lanes because of how "sketchy" it feels.

BUT. If I lock the center diff, I can just plow over the slush and change lanes like there's nothing there.

I don't see what difference it makes at all. Wheelspin should not be a factor since it takes not much power to drive 50mph even over slush, and I buy badass snow tires and throw them out when they get down to 6-7/32 of tread (and these were new ones, besides), there's maybe 5 degrees of steering wheel angle involved.

Nice to know, to be sure, but I don't understand the mechanics of it.

FlightService wrote: Can anyone identify the M&M of the SUV? That was really bad.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/russiacrash.asp

As best we can make out through translation software, the accident shown in the video clip linked above took place on 24 February 2012 on the M-7 Highway in Russia. As described by the news account, a 32-year-old Moscow resident named Alexander (no last name given) lost control of his Nissan Navara, collided with another vehicle, and then drifted into an oncoming traffic lane where he was hit head-on by a Freightliner big rig. The driver of the Nissan was killed, and the driver of the big rig suffered moderate injuries.

I saw on another board where someone tracked the story down and got the same results so this appears to be the explanation. It does seem odd that a truck driver in Russia would have a Freightliner, though.

In Soviet Russia.....no wait, I got nothing.

The thing i thought when i was watching that video the first time (not here) was:

"HOW important is it really, to live in a place with those conditions, or get where those people were going?"

One of the things that keeps me from moving to a place with bad road conditions part of the year (as opposed to never, where im at) is knowing that most employers would fire me if i thought it was too unsafe to bother going to work for months out of the year. And it seems pretty obvious that the only reason that at least one of those vehicles was going 70mph on a slippery road was to make maybe $150 that day. I mean, why else do you take an 18 wheeler ANYWHERE if not to make money doing it? The other person's reason for driving in those conditions might have been better or worse, but it probably wasnt better enough to die over.

Yeah, maybe being a better driver could have avoided that. Being a better driver could have avoided a million jillion things. Just like being a better soldier probably could have kept 60k USA people alive in vietnam or 5k alive in Iraq, etc, to say nothing of any other nation's dead, or the massively higher numbers from other conflicts. But in the end, why were they even there? If those reasons are insufficient, driving better or shooting better or dodging better can't make up for that. And $150 is not a good enough reason for me to pilot 20 tons at high speed down a slippery road knowing any mistake me or anyone else makes will be fatal to SOMEONE. And for all i know, the SUV driver's reasons were even worse. Driving technique, blah blah blah. The likelihood that all of their reasons for taking those risks were pretty damn pathetic, is the real tragedy.

I work as a tech, and i was under a car on a lift the other day, thinking about what would happen to that car in an earthquake. If i woke up one morning and watched the weather and it said '80% chance of earthquakes today', i wouldnt go to work and stand under that lift. Getting on a highway under those conditions doesnt seem any LESS obvious to me.

I don't think those conditions were all that bad. Just kinda flukey yet probably avoidable accident. There are a few things possible at work here and are common here in the northeast: far too many people believe that 4x4 is unstoppable in the snow and drive accordingly. 2) this was far from "bad driving conditions", there is no way I'd stay home if I had to work. Hell who knows if she was a nurse or doctor and had to save lives for a living.

Vigo wrote: "HOW important is it really, to live in a place with those conditions, or get where those people were going?"

A year without snow or temperatures cold enough to freeze spit before it hits the ground are like a day without sunshine.

(note: it doesn't get that cold here.)

Yeah, those conditions weren't bad. they just require attention, like a strong rain. I drive in those conditions when they happen on a work day, I just leave early, keep my distance from everyone else on the road, and PAY ATTENTION. Watch that vid again. Had I been in the black SUV I would not have been driving next to the box truck in case HE lost control. Had the truck not been there, the black SUV would have ended up in the ditch to the right. Embarrased but unharmed.

one of the first things I noticed was four lanes with no divider. It didn't look like any Interstate I'd ever seen. I figured it was Canada based on the makes of the cars.

Wow.. not that bad? Did you see how slowly and ponderously that SUV was sliding, completely out of control? Under good road conditions that would have been 2 scrapes and noone hurt, if there was any contact at all. Those vehicles were barely in control while going straight, and as soon as they deviated even slightly, lives were in the balance. An abundance of caution can make up for a lot of things, but driving in those conditions NEVER qualifies as an abundance of caution, imo. Im not going to keep tooting my minority opinion horn about it tho.. im on record with my .02, that is all.

Vigo, It was noted that the incident occurred in Russia. If you lived there you would be housebound for months if you wouldn't drive in those conditions. I have lived in the northeast all my life and can assure you that millions of people drive in those conditions every year with no untoward experiences. It was pretty clear from the video that there was driver error involved, both in drifting into the slush and not correcting properly. A terrible penalty certanly for their mistakes, but no justification for hibernating when winter arrives. Just my .02.

Don49 wrote: Vigo, I have lived in the northeast all my life and can assure you that millions of people drive in those conditions every year with no untoward experiences.

Exactly. If the conditions were at fault, we'd see that kind of carnage every day here in MI, well, not this last winter. You stay in your lane, and if you must change lanes and cross through that crap you loosen up on the wheel and take it very slow. Like, a 1/2 mile lane change at 40 mph slow.

Vigo wrote: Wow.. not that bad? Did you see how slowly and ponderously that SUV was sliding, completely out of control?

If you can actually see that far ahead, then conditions aren't that bad.

I ran into that this winter. Zip around someone who is "only" going 40 or so, and then as soon as I get past, I realize that I can't see E36 M3 because all MY headlights were good for was illuminating snowflakes. I could drive fine on other peoples' lights.

And thus did Knurled discover that reverse-raked headlights, while looking cool as all hell, tend to collect snow instead of allowing it to blow off. Had to pull off just about every exit and wipe the snow off of the headlights.

(off to grumble about dumb OEMs designing foglights that can only function with the headlights ON, which completely defeats the purpose of foglights)

My Question is Who is the distracted driver? I see all these videos of horrible, split second crashes that are caught perfectly on film. Do these people record their entire driving time? Or are they taking videos with their cell phones? I believe the latter. Cars don't automatically have cameras in them to catch these accidents now, do they. I know the patriot act took lots of rights away, but black boxes with cameras? Or is it the cameras in police cars?

In reply to wheelsmithy:

I'm assuming it's the last alternative, police cars with video cameras that record only the last five minutes or something like that.

In reply to 914Driver: Don't feel so special about driving in Winter:
Miami, I-95 in summer, 2-3 week dry spell, followed by sudden thunderstorm deluge.
The buildup of oil/gas/grease with fresh rain makes the whole freakin' thing like glass.
Talk about motorized ballet, more like slam dancing at 70 MPH.

At least with snow and ice, you usually have prominent visual and audible clues, not to mention the feel through the wheel.

In I-95 conditions above though, wet pavement all looks and feels the same, until the landscape starts to rotate around, and you start bouncing into/off of things.

I'm Florida born and raised, and I look forward to my trips up North to practice Winter driving skills (in rental cars). You can bet your a$$ I take it seriously (like looking and waiting when the light turns green, for the moron on the crossing street to slide through the icy intersection with all 4 locked up).

Carter

Grew up in those conditions 4 months out of 12. three things. 1. Driving in that takes massive attention (the remark about a tetanus shot in the ear is pretty close), and an awareness of your skill limits, with the concomitant intentional learning curve. And the better you get, the better you know how close to out of control you are. 2. Every other motorist is suspected of being a zombie. Trust no-one's ability but yours, and don't trust yours very much. 3. Always be planning your bailout strategy. Keep looking for the best ditch to drive into.

In short, ride a motorcycle exclusively on every day you can, and learn how to live doing that. Winter driving in a cage is almost easy after that.

Yah, I agree 1,000%, don't trust ANYONE !!!

Having said that, when you are in rush hour traffic, you reallty have no choice.

So either bite the bullet and hope for the best, or just don't drive.

Carter

This is how you do it! (no offense to the poor driver in the SUV video)

http://www.wimp.com/changinglanes/