Wow what a rush....slipping and sliding off the road

@tess1960 (2385)
United States
January 17, 2008 10:18am CST
I took hubby for his post surgery check up yesterday and of course it snowed. It was no problem going as it was just starting but coming home was another story. The highway was slick and packed. At times I could not go more that 20 mph. We passed several cars that had slid off the road. I was doing ok with keeping my foot off the brake and the gas as that section of the interstate is hilly. I was averaging about 40mph for awhile and then had to go slower as the speed was causing the car to lose traction or the cars ahead were slower moving. At one point I was doing about 20 and glanced at the speedometer and went from 20 to 40 in a blink. I had never seen that happen before. I told hubby and he said we had lost traction and the tires were spinning. It was just so freaky. We did have a mishap when attmpting to change lanes becasue of a stopped car ahead I hit a slick spot and we slid off the road and into the median sideways. I was so afraid we were going to flip over. Hubby said I did good though and he was actually glad I was driving as he hates driving in snow and icey conditions. I remembered all of the rules, tun the wheel into the slide, don't touch the brake and then when can just tap them. We stopped on the grass sideways with plenty of room to do a three point turn to get facing the right direction. I then drove to one of those little police turnaround crossings in the medians and got on it enough to use it to get back onto the road safely. By the time I had gotten to that point there were no cars coming. Luckily the grass was not slick and I new not to hit the gas too much or we could have gotten stuck there. So many vehicles and semis with out of state tags were passing us at a high speed that it was ridiculous. As turned out about 10 miles from where we slid off a semi was lying on its side on the right side of the road but facing the opposite direction. Hubby thinks he must have went to change lanes and ended up doing a complete u-turn and tipping over. I just hope the driver wasn't hurt. The sheriffs vehicles were lined up about every 1/4 mile from the accident so everyone had plenty warning to get over. I lost count at 5 vehicles and then there were a couple near the semi but no ambulances or fire vehicles. I am so grateful we made it home safely. I think I'm getting 2 new tires this weekend for the front of my vehicle. I'm sure that will help. The back 2 tires look real good and are newer. People, when driving in wind whipped snow please slow down and use caution. Even if the road looks fine, it may not be. Black ice was the culprit yesterday, and slush left behind from the sand/salt mxture melting the snow. HUbby kept saying take your time, keep it slow, theres no hurry to get home. He was right, there no hurry as your families want you home safely. Be safe everyone this winter season!
1 person likes this
2 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
17 Jan 08
Glad you made it home safely. So many people just get in a hurry. It doesn't take much on snowy and icy roads to end up in the ditch. I'm not sure that I would remember to not put my foot on the brakes when starting to slide and turning into the slide. The natural reaction is to do the oposite. it has been a long time since I had to drive on icy or snowy roads. Glad I don't have to anymore.
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
17 Jan 08
My hubby is always drilling the does and don'ts into my head and I learned them as a teen also. I guess I got lucky and didn't panic. It all happened so fast I was surprised I hadn't paniced. It was like WOW, I remembered what to do.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
17 Jan 08
Many years ago back in Nebraska I was driving to work and had only a couple of corners to turn to get there. The corner was just out side of town but when I slowed down to turn I ended up doing a complete cookie. I sure was glad no one was come from either, way if they had been I would have been creamed.
1 person likes this
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
19 Jan 08
I am glad you are alright.I like you brought up how to drive in bad weather.Some people go haywire and think they can drive any old way.I hope they take note,and stay safe.I hope they learn it better to be safe and get there,than speed and not live.
1 person likes this
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
24 Jan 08
Thanks, That day I learned that it doesn't matter what type of vehicle you drive, ice is ice and if you hit a patch you're gonna slide.