To and from the hill !

[Calgal]

This is in response to the I-70 pile up thread, but a bit off topic.
This is something that I have wanted to discuss for a while, but haven't because maybe you will all think I'm a driving wuss!! (NOT)
I was coming back from Nakiska (Kananaskis Country), which is between Calgary and Canmore, with four lanes of highway to drive on, about a month ago. Nice day of skiing, my daughter had taken a private lesson and we both had a great day. We get off the secondary highway from Nakiska and onto the four lane back to Calgary, and there is nothing but bumper to bumper traffic, and most cars are going way over the speed limit (110 km/hr). I was in the slower lane and had to pass a car, so I switched to the passing lane, after making sure it was safe to do so. As I am passing the car beside me I check my rear view mirror ...... big SUV BEHIND ME....so close....I could hardly believe it. When I finally pass the vehicle beside me and have safe distance between to merge back into the slower lane, I check my mirrors, shoulder, and buddy in the SUV .....is in the slow lane passing me on the right. He was driving like a maniac, and it really scared me. He raced by me and continued to do that to other cars on the road.
I don't drive like a granny....but I am certainly not an idiot behind the wheel.
Every car on that highway had precious cargo aboard, mine being my sleeping 10 yr old daughter.
I realize that weather probably had a lot to do with the I-70 pile up (sorry I haven't seen any reports about it). That day on the highway bothered me so much, that I haven't been skiing on a weekend since.
I wish people would slow down and take life a bit easier, and be more patient with other drivers on the streets and highways. There is no reason for our recreational pursuits to be ruined by all that insanity!

 

[Gloria]

If you are a driving wuss than so am I. I get so frustrated sometimes as well. We drive one of the most deadly per capita or whatever stretches of road in the country and I am so amazed when I am driving 60 in the dark, on a sheet of ice and I have some dingledorf in a huge truck 6" behind me with his brights on because he's aggravated that I am not doing 80. Argggh. I wonder all the time why people don't/can't slow down as well.

 

[SueNJ]

What I don't get is that people who drive like that only end up getting a few cars ahead of me in the long run, and in the process, they cut people off, make people mad, and just add to the overall feeling of road rage. All to gain, what, 2 or 3 minutes? Driving back to NJ from VT yesterday afternoon, I can't tell you how many idiots came up behind me, right on my back bumper, on a 2-lane interstate, charged into the right lane, and sandwiched themselves in between me and the vehicle in front of me. Didn't care that they nearly took off my front bumper in the process--they just assumed that, because they put their left blinker on, they could just aggressively swing the wheel to the left and move into the lane.

I was really glad to pull into my driveway last evening! It meant I survived another trip on the NY State Thruway.

 

[Jilly]

On Good Friday I was travelling to Tremblant. I couldn't believe the cops on the road that day. Thing was they could hide behind the snowbanks in the median. Problem is they don't the get right ones to charge. But they did get quite a few. Ontario and Quebec. But the thing I don't understand is speeding in bad weather. I'm sure that is part of the problem in Colorado. But it happens here too on the 401. Just because you drive a 4 wheel drive doesn't make you invincible.

 

[SkiNurse]

My goal in the winter, on sketchy roads or weather, is to make it to whichever resort to ski. If that means I drive 40-45mph IN THE SLOW LANE, than that is what I do. I have not yet been in an accident in the winter. I give myself plenty of room between me and the vehicle ahead to stop. I also figure if I'm going to end up in the ditch, it is much better at 45mph than 65mph. I also never want to be the one responsible for an accident or someone elses injuries.

Now, in good weather and dry roads, I admit...I drive faster than the posted speed limit. :p

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Big problem everywhere, no doubt - to and from ski resort regions. No different in Maine. I've heard boasts about how fast the drive can be made on the Maine turnpike from those en route to Sunday River (and to a lesser extent, Sugarloaf) from Boston. We're talking 80-85+ mph.

Once off the 4 lanes, the going gets tougher. Throw a little snow and ice onto the roads, and it never fails-----accidents.

Mentioned once before in another thread about how I've been tailgated on the 2 lanes and wish I had a rear-window sign: "We know these roads - we live here" Last time a blatant pass happened (2 lane), the car was in the ditch less than 2 miles ahead. Gee, they really saved a LOT of time....

 

[Solincia]

I know, I just don't understand people. The last snow that we had about a week and a half ago <and it's 50 here now!!> cars were driving me nuts. I travel on I-90 where it goes from a 4 lane to a 2 lane, and everyone crams in and rides your bumper if you're not driving AT LEAST 70. Add bad weather to the mix and it's awful.

To make matters worse, when I was getting off the freeway, my car did a 360' and started rolling backwards down the decline from the ramp. Fortunately I was able to stop myself, but not one blessed car <about 7 passed> stopped to see if they could help. Nice. Fortunately with some time and umph I got myself out. I was only going less than 20 miles an hour getting off the ramp! Imagine if I had been speeding!

 

[Calgal]

What I can't comprehend is the amount of confidence some people have when they get behind the wheel !! Do they feel that they are invincible?
I am heading out again this week, probably on Wednesday for a long, over due day off from everything. I will take it easy, but the weekday traffic will be much easier to stomach.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I would have taken his license plate number down and reported him to the state patrol! If you note the milemarkers....in Colorado, THEY WILL FIND AND PULL HIM OVER!

I've done that several times. Call me a Beeyotch, but my safety and the safety of those in my car are more important than being called a name!

 

[Calgal]

NVG....that is something I would have done....but I was so busy trying to get my car over into the other lane (after he raced past me), and he was going so fast. It really *FREAKED* me out how close he was at that speed, and my heart was racing! I just got back into the slow lane and had to gather myself.
Amazing that I can head to the mountains and ski, trying out moguls and double black trails etc, and think nothing of that......but an ignorant driver in a BMW SUV can scare me!

 

[CMCM]

Sometimes people are utter fools behind the wheel. There a 24 mile 2-lane road that we take from our town to I-80 leading to Squaw area...this road is very curvy, and can get snowy and icy. It doesn't matter WHEN we drive it, everyone on this road is a speed demon. The max speed anywhere on this road is about 40 and frequently less, but people want to go 50, 60 or more on it. We repeatedly pull over so the morons behind us can pass....they speed by and disappear very quickly. If you don't pull over, someone is always so itchy to get by that they pass you when they shouldn't. Fools. Idiots. This is a road where you see more than a few one-car accidents, where the driver/idiot didn't make a curve due to speed. People never learn, but the bad thing is when they involve others through their reckless driving. Speed kills, simple as that.

 

[dvmvail]

In colorado there are actually signs posted (glenwood canyon and I think between silverthorne & frisco) asking you to report aggressive drivers (isn't this what you're talking about NVG?) you can usually dial *CSP (or close to that for the state troopers) and they will try and pull the guys over. Or at least if you've got a license plate it can go on record that they've been reported.
I used to dread driving through dowd junction everyday to get my kids to school. Just like you all were saying, people thinking they are living the chevy commercial and busting through bad roads. I can't tell you how many jackknifed semis or cars that flipped over the guardrails I've seen through that tiny stretch of road.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

In colorado there are actually signs posted (glenwood canyon and I think between silverthorne & frisco) asking you to report aggressive drivers (isn't this what you're talking about NVG?) you can usually dial *CSP (or close to that for the state troopers) and they will try and pull the guys over.

Yup! That's what I'm talkin' about! :D

 

[Calgal]

Wish we had signs like that here!!
ON a positive note, I drove that highway today and everyone was well behaved. I had a pleasant trip both ways. Even stopped for a coffee at Tim Horton's in Canmore, to keep me awake for the trip home !!!