Let's get this out of the way. When it's snowing or the roads are icy, stay home, please. Safety first. Nothing is worth getting into an accident. Just. Stay. Home.
I grew up far away from the snow and ice. In Florida. Where things are much worse than ice and snow. Just watch the evening news. Let's not get into that. I had to drive north, up I-95, to find snow. It was pretty. I really liked it. Never had to learn how to drive in it. Ice? It came out of my fridge. It wasn't coating the ground turning my driveway into a hockey rink. Those Northerners had to deal it.
I now live where it snows. A lot lately. Ice is a real thing. On the road, not just in my fridge. I get it. I only buy 4WD or AWD cars because, well, I get it. You can't drive on icy roads, and you shouldn't drive through snowstorms if you don't have 4WD or AWD. You hear that people, you SHOULDN'T DRIVE. Yes, I'm talking to you. Your Kia will not make it up the hill. It won't. Of course, please try, because we all need a good laugh at that video of you almost making 20ft before turning into a sled. You just helped someone go viral on TikTok. Of course, you also just more than likely slid backwards into that line of parked cars. Nice job.
In my 20+ years living where it snows, it never ceases to amaze me, how many times I've observed people who have no business driving when it's snowing, and the roads are icy, treat it like a normal day. There was one time I watched a group of very helpful people get a car unstuck from the slushy, icy road just to have the driver give it another go the minute everyone got back in their trucks (4WD trucks!) ...and get stuck all over again! I mean, seriously? His car was still there the next morning. When you see news reports of people skiing down their street or kids playing ice hockey on their cul-de-sac, you should probably get the hint. Of course, people are idiots. It's what makes life so much fun sometimes.
You have an emergency? I understand that. Call for help if you don't have the right kind of car. That's what emergency services are for. If they can get to you, they will. If they can't, there is no way you're getting anywhere in your electric smart car. Trust me on this.
They really need to put temperature gauges on 2WD cars that keep them from starting when they sense icy conditions or something. I know, the technology doesn't exist yet, but something has to be done to keep people from "giving it a go" and trying to get to their friend's house because they made that commitment and gosh darn it, they just won't let them down! People won't change. History shows us that. I can hear someone thinking it. I'll just drive down the hill slowly, with my foot on the brake. Because I won't slide if I drive like that. Nah. Never. If you don't know how to drive in the snow and you don't have the right kind of car, you will re-live your days as kid in the 80's enjoying that slip and slide before you fly off into the grass. Except this time, it'll be your $30k car sliding down the hill treating those other $30k cars parked along the side of the road like bumper cars. Your insurance company is gonna love that!
There's really no hope this practice will ever end. As long as there are "confident drivers" with drivers' licenses, they'll continue to be funny videos, snowbound cars and lots of business for those tow truck drivers! I'll continue to enjoy the added scenery along the highway and city streets while I cruise around in my 4WD truck. There's nothing like playing the "guess which kind of cars got left on the side of the road" game when you head out to grab that coffee the morning after.
Be safe everyone. Get a 4WD/AWD car or keep those pajamas on and stay home!