🚀 go-pugleaf

Some of these people who talk about how they ``know how to drive in
snow'' (and by extension, most everyone else doesn't) and spin yarns
about how they made it through snow-covered passes without bothering
to put on chains remind me somewhat about those general aviation
pilots who brag about how they know how to fly in thunderstorms, and
how they do it all the time.  True, you can fly into the side of a
level 3 cell and come out the other side none the worst for wear.  But
you can also fly into the side and come out the bottom; and even
experienced pilots do so.

There is another factor to consider as well -- no matter how good you
or your vehicle may be on poor traction surfaces, that isn't going to
help you if the pickup in front of you loses it in an oversteer and
spins into you.

Choosing not to drive in snow or ice unless absolutely necessary is
not a mark of wimpiness; it is prudence.  This is particularly the
case when you have individuals on the roads who observe adverse
conditions and who intentionally push the margin even narrower.  Foul
weather seems to encourage Seattle drivers to tailgate more, even when
traffic is moving at or above the speed limit!

Risk assessment is one of the important aspects of a performance
driving school (*not* high-school driver's ed or the K-Mart Driving
School).  Those individuals who are self-taught, or taught by family
or friends, miss out on this and other benefits of professional
training.  They may acquire some ``seat of the pants'' folklore along
the way, but in the long run they end up disproportionately
represented in the accident statistics.