[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: Americans Can't Drive in the Rain?
bryan@yanomamo.scp.caltech.edu (Bryan Chow) wrote:
>The reason I think that is because here in LA it doesn't rain very
>often. But when it pours, I'd always see cars in the ditch near the
>freeway onramp. The CHP will be on the News urging people to drive
>slowly and safely, and comment about how accident rates shoot up when
>it rains. Also, a lot of people don't seem to drive any slower when
>it's raining.
>
>So, what do you think? Does the average American driver need to
>take lessons in driving in the rain?
>
Ha! Anecdotal evidence: in the process of moving from Illinois to
Georgia, I was on one occasion steaming down I-75 through the north GA
hills when we got some industrial-strength rain. You know that feeling
you get in your hands and seat when the car is going into hydroplane.
45 mph was about as fast as I could go and keep the tires on the
ground. When I came up on an Airstream doing about 40 mph, I just
tucked in behind him to ride it out. Meanwhile all the pickups and
BMW's were zipping by in the middle and left lanes, really moving. I
was AMAZED at the skill those people must have had, to keep those
vehicles controlled under those conditions. As you've probably already
guessed, I got re-educated while counting all the spinouts and
ambulances over the next 20 miles. And this was ON an Interstate...it
had nothing to do with onramps or anything except straight-and-level.
--
Dick Yuknavech rey@mindspring.com
Follow-Ups:
References: