Snow in Maryland

[Frank McGrath]

As some of you may know, I was scheduled to go to a masonic function last night. Saturday the 6th. I declined the invitation because it was also the date of a Christmas Party that I really did not want to miss. Got all kilted up for the party, raring to go. Collected a few beers from the fridge and started out. The drive should not have taken more than 30 minutes. But lets go back in time about an hour and a half.
It's snowing. Very fine flakes. the weather map shows a front coming through. I just happened to have the emergency services radio on and was listening to a unusually active channel. Accidents, overturned SUV's, cars on fire, Sand trucks in demand. I looked at my wife and said there can't be more than a quarter inch of snow on the ground, lets go. As I live in a valley, one must climb hills to get back to civilisation. One instance of slippery pavement. Keep going. A call comes over the radio for a pole on fire . As we reached the end of our street, I see the lights blink twice on the house in front of us. At first I think that the lights are on blinkers. But when the street light behind me cut off, I said, good time to be going to a party. Keep going. I took a shortcut to the route I wanted to take. Good, because there was an accident involving several cars at the end of the ramp I would normally travel. Keep going. Slow traffic most of the way south. We watched as a four wheel drive pickup spun tires all the way up a hill. Long line of traffic benind him. Keep going. Got to the site of the party. Oh, we were the first there. Knock on door. Dog barks. We ended up bing the first of two couples that did not get the messaage that the party had been postponed until sunday night. Less than a half inch of snow pretty much shut down the whole county. The state police had instituted the emergency snow plan, which in Maryland, closes main roads to travel if you dont have snow tires of chains. Chains!, for a half in of snow.
Well, we will try it again tonight.

[talestalker]

I went to the Scottish Walk in Alexandria yesterday and it was brutally cold. By the end of he parade I was shivering out of control. Great gathering of the clans, lots of tartans.

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . I just happened to have the emergency services radio on and was listening to a unusually active channel. Accidents, overturned SUV's, cars on fire, Sand trucks in demand. I looked at my wife and said there can't be more than a quarter inch of snow on the ground, lets go. , , ,there was an accident involving several cars at the end of the ramp I would normally travel. . . We watched as a four wheel drive pickup spun tires all the way up a hill. . . . Less than a half inch of snow pretty much shut down the whole county. The state police had instituted the emergency snow plan, which in Maryland, closes main roads to travel if you dont have snow tires of chains. Chains!, for a half in of snow. . . .

Well, you see, Maryland drivers in general just don't see any need to learn to drive in snow. Or maybe they really believe that they already know. And they have the conceit to sneer at Mid-westerners.

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[davedove]

Well, you see, Maryland drivers in general just don't see any need to learn to drive in snow. Or maybe they really believe that they already know. And they have the conceit to sneer at Mid-westerners.

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Having come from the Midwest, I can say that you are right. I have found that Maryland drivers react in one of two ways when it snows. They either slow to a crawl, impeding traffic and frustrating everyone else, or they drive as if nothing is on the road. Oh, and it seems they never heard of a safe interval between cars.