Winter in the Midwest

**Ice** · 12-06-2007, 16:17

*Ice wakes up*

*Ice half asleep checks the weather*

*Ice gets pissed*

19°F
Feels Like
13°F
Updated Dec 6 10:00 a.m. ET

*Ice hates winter*

**Lemur** · 12-06-2007, 16:21

I love winter, and I'll third the suggestion that driving is a different experience when there's ice and/or snow on the ground. My advice if you're going to be driving: find a big, empty parking lot covered in snow. Drive your vehicle around in it. Practice turning and braking in particular. After twenty minutes of this, you should get a feel for it.

**Louis VI the Fat** · 12-06-2007, 16:28

To echo Strike's famous words:

What in God's name is a 'Big Empty Parking Lot' ??

**drone** · 12-06-2007, 16:48

Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

To echo Strike's famous words:

What in God's name is a 'Big Empty Parking Lot' ??

Well, around here you can find one at any public school when there is any semblance of snow or ice on the ground.

Best bet is to find a large church, not on a Sunday. Plenty of room to do spins and have general fun on the snow. Watch out for light poles though.

**Sigurd** · 12-07-2007, 09:36

Originally Posted by Lemur

I love winter, and I'll third the suggestion that driving is a different experience when there's ice and/or snow on the ground. My advice if you're going to be driving: find a big, empty parking lot covered in snow. Drive your vehicle around in it. Practice turning and braking in particular. After twenty minutes of this, you should get a feel for it.

I am a little worried now... Do you mean to say that driving on a skidpan is not part of the drivers licence course?

We had to do two courses. First in a school car and later with your own car.

**drone** · 12-07-2007, 16:41

Originally Posted by Sigurd Fafnesbane

I am a little worried now... Do you mean to say that driving on a skidpan is not part of the drivers licence course?

We had to do two courses. First in a school car and later with your own car.

Well, you live in a country that has to drive on snow for what, 6 months out of the year? Over here, everybody pretty much has to learn on their own. Some states up north might require it, but I haven't heard of it being a requirement. My dad took me to an icy lot a few times to get me used to it when I had my learner's permit. Not everyone does, though, which means it gets really interesting when it snows/sleets in areas where snow is not common.

**woad&fangs** · 12-07-2007, 20:47

I wouldn't know about driving in winter conditions, seeing as thanks to my dear daddy my vehicle is stuck in our front yard

Last time he came home(He's a semi truck driver) he moved the minivan into our front yard so he could park his truck in our driveway. That night (last saturday) we had a big snow of about 6 inches. Then he used the snowblower and blew it all around my vehicle. Then it warmed up just enough so all the snow could melt and then freeze again into solid chunks of Ice

In other news it went below 0 degrees farenheit for the first time this year, yesterday. I still didn't bother wearing a coat. I wore a coat for shoveling the snow(The snowblower isn't working now too

) but that was the first time in more than a year that I have worn a coat for something besides deer hunting.

Also, Madison, Wisconsin has already used their entire snow removal budget for the year after 3 snowfalls. A round of Applause for our brilliant city leaders

Driving in snow and ice isn't required to get your licence up here.

**SwordsMaster** · 12-07-2007, 23:42

Originally Posted by woad&fangs

Also, Madison, Wisconsin has already used their entire snow removal budget for the year after 3 snowfalls. A round of Applause for our brilliant city leaders

Driving in snow and ice isn't required to get your licence up here.

Is that the budget for 07 or 08? Or is that for the whole winter? Because that'll be fun as soon as nobody can get to work... or shopping...

**woad&fangs** · 12-07-2007, 23:51

they added more money into the snow removal budget(for the whole winter) but it still is amazing that they only got through 3 snowfalls with the money they had originally budgeted.

**Ice** · 12-08-2007, 01:35

Originally Posted by drone

Well, you live in a country that has to drive on snow for what, 6 months out of the year? Over here, everybody pretty much has to learn on their own. Some states up north might require it, but I haven't heard of it being a requirement. My dad took me to an icy lot a few times to get me used to it when I had my learner's permit. Not everyone does, though, which means it gets really interesting when it snows/sleets in areas where snow is not common.

No states require it that I know of. I got my license in Pennsylvania and my sister got her's in Michigan. Both didn't require snow driving.