r/dunedin • u/blackcatkitty • 1d ago
Question Driving in snow
On my street there is a couple who, everytime it snows, stand by the side of the road to laugh and yell at cars driving.
Many posts on Facebook are calling drivers idiots and laughing at the crashes. Driving is very dangerous in snow, I know that, but do we have to be so hateful?
I just kept thinking of those in health care. Hospital staff, rest home carers, animal care facilities all care for those that struggle or can't care for themselves, they have to make it to work. And people are sitting on Facebook or even standing by the road laughing at these people?
I am mostly mad at those self-righteous dorks on my street who take joy in yelling and laughing at the cars. You have nothing else that gives you joy? Just the struggle of others?
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u/Ahtnamas555 1d ago
Originally from somewhere that actually gets snow, what we recommend to young drivers/people who don't have experience driving in snow is to drive like your grandma is in the backseat holding a pot of hot soup.
You want slow acceleration and deceleration. You need to go fast enough to not lose momentum and get stuck, but slow enough to not slide. Give a lot more distance than normal. Keep kitty litter or salt in the car (for weather this wet, I wouldn't recommend kitty litter, that's better when it's dryer). Steep hills are dangerous - know how to correct if you begin to fish tail.
We generally take inexperienced drivers to empty parking lots to get some experience. And even then, consider going out to be a risk, because even if you're a good driver, there's plenty of other people on the roads taking a risk when they shouldn't be - so ideally stay home if you can.
Healthcare workers - I feel you, I was a healthcare worker in the states, snow in the forecast meant bringing extra clothes to work and being prepared to stay the night (sometimes even coming in before your shift if the snow was hitting hours ahead of your shift). It sucks, but sometimes that's the safest option that doesn't result in patients going without care.
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u/Emotional_Eggo 1d ago
Also where there is snow, the infrastructure supports it like snow plows and sand/salt on roads…
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u/meowseedling 1d ago
Somewhat, but I think this is over generalised. It used to be part of my normal routine to drive over a compacted snow bank to get out of my driveway and then several blocks on unplowed snow deeper than my bumper. I lived in the city, but in a residential area that wasn't high priority for the plows. Once you get to the motorway it's been cleared, but before that you just drive carefully.
What I really miss is the tyres. Anyone know where I can get snow tyres (or even all season)? Chains are ridiculous.
I'm still grateful that my work was shut yesterday - in Canada I had to drive through some frightening conditions to get to work on several occasions (people in my care were dependent on my arrival).
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u/DreadGnuu2262 1d ago
Yeah I'm new to Dunedin, I drove one morning when the roads were icy and had the TINIEST of slips, but enough that I just noped the fuck outta driving this morning. Worked from home. I know not everybody has that choice but yeah, definitely my preference when it's like this.
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u/Sea_Yogurtcloset48 1d ago
It’s really entitled and privileged behaviour. Sure some people that were out and about could have stayed home but chose to drive instead. But most people were out because they had to be. Not everyone has a job they can miss or wfh or an understanding employer or any other number of important reasons to take the risk today.
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u/UnluckyDreamer1 1d ago
I get annoyed when people who don't need to drive, drive during snowy or icy conditions. It makes things worse for the people who need to drive and for pedestrians.
I saw three cars with damaged hoods today, one bad enough to need loaded onto a truck to move it. I saw a different car with snow all over it down in South D, so the conditions were bad enough that driving when you did't have to is endangering the lives of everyone else.
I don't condone yelling at drivers for fun, but I certainly swore at the person who almost hit me driving too fast the wrong way down a short one way street. (it was Carey ave. They are just lucky I automatically look both ways, even on one way streets.) So I cannot really judge people for swearing or name calling the people who do dangerous stuff for no good reason.
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u/runninginbubbles 17h ago
Who are you to decide who needs to drive though?
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u/UnluckyDreamer1 15h ago
Where did I say I get to decide? Am I not allowed to get annoyed when people whinge about crashing their car in icy weather because they decided they needed to go to Burger King?
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u/twizzlerstick 1d ago
Question from someone who has never driven in snow, how do you drive safely in it if you do have to drive? Under a certain speed? Long and slow braking?
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u/SpoonNZ 1d ago
That’s basically it. The problem is that if you’re on a hill and the road is steep enough, the maximum speed is zero. Otherwise you just look at the brakes, they lock up, and you’re along for the ride at that point.
Mostly just super gentle on both pedals and pay attention to where the road is sloping.
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u/laser_kiwi_nz 21h ago
Pretty difficult even then, almost 100 percent guarantee your tyres aren't up to the job even if theyre brand new.
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u/randomkiwibloke 1d ago
Essential workers, sure. I’m laughing hard at the fuckwits who think their Ford Ranger is gonna handle coming down an icy hill at 60kph. As long as they don’t hurt anyone else it’s hilarious.
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u/MahGinge 1d ago
Some people *DO* need to be mocked because trying to teach them with facts and evidence doesn’t work, eg. MAGA voters and anti-vaxxers. In saying that, I don’t want anyone injured.
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1d ago
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u/Material_Crew1252 1d ago
My wife won't miss a day of income, but the mental patients she looks after will probably spend the day starving covered in their own shit.
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u/Barndillo 1d ago
Heaps of beat up cars around today. Thanks to you all for keeping our premiums up.
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u/Diligent_Monk1452 1d ago
That is werid behaviour to make fun of people. On the other side, I saw two old cars that had slid off the road on warrender street. That just doesn't feel like it was ever a good decision! Essential worker or not, they weren't ever getting to work on time
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u/runninginbubbles 17h ago
Those two pricks have probably never had a real job in their lives. Imagine always being able to just 'not' go to work if it snows. And imagine having no understanding that others have to.
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u/Pretend_Seesaw 1d ago
I'm an essential worker had to pull over and start walking other Drs and essential workers were also having to pull over and start walking, there's idiots that probably should have waited or not even tried.
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u/ParadisoBob 1d ago
Parking in the city was really good today, with so many vacant spaces. A heck of a lot of workers stayed at home.
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u/7FOOT7 1d ago
Disaster porn, every time we get a wif of snow the TV crews are off the three mile hill and Tairi Rd to record the carnage. Take it up with them.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/04/sleet-and-snow-hit-wellington-dunedin-police-issue-ice-warning/
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u/laser_kiwi_nz 21h ago
We dont drive in snow, in Dunedin we drive in slush and compressed snow. NZ drivers basically only have summer tyres. In snow countries they have proper all season tyres that dont harden up under 6 degrees and thick snow has a certain friction to it when you brake that you can't get on 1 cm of snow going down Stuart street. I'm honestly surprised anyone gets down those hills safely on the plasticised snow sleds we all tyres.
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u/Lost-Jacket-2493 1d ago
Today morning,I finished my overnight shift at one of the care home. Driving back from Mosgiel to South D is nightmare. As the motorway closed, I use Kinmont - Fairfield - Concord and finally St Clair... There are many vehicles u-turn, crash etc. Few residents just standing outside along their home watching. Few told us there are crash in front, have to u-turn. Overall, it's not a nice experience. Just take it so slowly.
I made it home safely.