As I’m sure you’ve heard, if not felt, a good portion of the US has been experiencing below normal temperatures.

I’m not really sure what normal temperatures are any more.  This summer, the Atlanta area experienced higher than normal temperatures – this winter, lower than normal.  So, I’m wondering if the definition of “normal” is going to change.  But, I digress.  Again.

Here in the South, 2″ of snow will close everything down.  And, it’s a good thing, too.  Many Southerners don’t know the first thing about driving in snow or ice.

Last Friday we got 2″ of snow.  Under normal conditions, everything would have closed down Friday, and then opened up when the snow melted on Saturday.  However, a bit of snow can turn into a disaster when you have an extended period of below — way below — freezing temperatures.  I didn’t venture out until Monday.  Why?  Well, silly things were happening on the roads!

On one exit ramp TWENTY SEVEN cars ran into each other sliding in snow and ice.  Drivers admitted that they were going about 40 MPH.  Any Yankee will tell you that you probably shouldn’t be going that fast on an off ramp anyway, and certainly not in icy conditions.

Other drivers who were interviewed after sliding into other cars or smashing head on into trees said pretty much the same thing: “I slammed on my brakes and the car just locked up”.   Well, yes.  That’s what happens when you slam on your brakes on an icy road.

As a Yankee myself, I don’t ever remember being taught how to drive in snow and ice.  I don’t remember that as a chapter in the driver’s education class I took.  I guess it must be knowledge that is just handed down from generation to generation.

Unfortunately, the word never seems to have drifted down very far south.  So, for anyone who is still wondering what to do, here’s the deal:

• NEVER slam on your brakes on a slippery road – pump your brakes when necessary.
• Use very small movements of the wheel to adjust your course if you’re about to run into something. 
• Otherwise, just enjoy the glide. . .  I mean ride.

If you do run into something, odds are you won’t be injured.  But, please!  Remember that the reason you’re in that mess to begin with is because the roads are slippery!  Do NOT leap out of your car to check the damage and start doing an impression of a newborn giraffe.  Ending up on your (how does one spell tookus?) isn’t going to fix anything.

For the moment, the disaster is over.  Temps tomorrow are predicted in the high 40′s, which should get rid of any last vestige of snow.  However, I’ve heard predictions of another artic blast or two happening before the winter is out.

So, please, everyone, do some studying up on winter driving before the next one hits.   Practice pumping your brakes, using a low gear (yes, even automatic transmissions have low gears, you probably just never think about them being useful for anything), and changing lanes using a series of small adjustments with the steering wheel (only on an empty road, of course).

Let’s all bone up on our winter driving skills and maybe we’ll be able to avoid disaster during the next 2″  “snow storm”!