Black ice

[Jenny Curtis]

Hi Qlist:

Doyt, that was a harrowing story about black ice.  After driving
learning to drive North Dakota and Minnesota, I was pretty cocky about
driving in the winter until I hit black ice driving into work one
morning.  It had snowed a bit, melted and then frozen on the road in
an invisible thin film.  This was driving an Isuzu Trooper (without
4WD turned on) with new all season tires. I stepped on the brake to
accomodate a slight turn in the road and was amazed to find my back
end suddenly riding in the oncoming lane.  Luckily there was no one
coming at that moment.  I immediately pulled off the brakes and let
the car slow itself down.  I had only been going 25, so it didn't take
long.

These days I use hakkapellitas (studs are illegal in Minnesota) on my
4000 and they are great tires.  I'm not sure they would be a whole lot
better on black ice, however.  I really never want to find out.  That
experience stays with me everytime I'm driving in fresh snow.  I
think, even with AWD, and even with the best possible snow tires you
can still find yourself out of control in winter driving conditions.
Moral of the story is, be careful out there.


Jenny
864KQ:Eurotrash Princess