Slid off the road today!

**frugalfriend** · 01-13-2009, 03:55 PM

Well, guess I am still learning how to drive in snow, lol! I thought I had it down with this being our second winter here . . . HA! Today I'm driving along not going fast at all, maybe 30 mph (hubby is always telling me to drive like a little old lady in the snow) and all of a sudden the road, which was pretty much all white packed snow, felt just like an ice skating rink! I didn't feel any traction and my car starting sliding and I had no control. I started to slide at an angle directly towards this pole and ditch at the side of the road. I didn't break but just tried to steer a little to avoid the pole, praying all the way! I was able to stop in the ditch, which wasn't very deep. I was so relieved I didn't hit anything and I was OK, and just sat there in amazement for a minute or two with my heart pounding! I could only back up a little, and then was able to turn the car around and with a few tries barely got out by myself. Whew!

**nancycg56** · 01-13-2009, 04:04 PM

Thank goodness you're OK!

**brenda67** · 01-13-2009, 04:23 PM

I'm glad your okay honey...It's really scary not having any control of your own vehicle..I will never forget my accident (exactly 2 weeks go today) for many years to come..I panic even if we only get a couple of inches of snow because I can't see if there is any ice underneath it..

**Missy** · 01-13-2009, 04:26 PM

Ack!!! Thats scary! Glad to read you are ok!! people were still sliding on my hill this morning.

**vigilant20** · 01-13-2009, 04:38 PM

Wow, so glad you and your car are both in one piece!

**Michelle** · 01-13-2009, 04:49 PM

That must have been so scary. Glad you are okay!

**momof2joys** · 01-13-2009, 05:03 PM

Glad to hear that you are okay and nothing major was damaged!!

I do have a tip for everyone! Some of you might know this, others may not, so I'll just post it!!

When driving in winter, and you can't get traction under your wheels, (ie: parked on ice, or packed snow), take the floor mats (front or back, whatever works) out of your car and place them under your front or back tires. Get the mats as far under the tire as you can and go. When moved to a not slick area, get floor mats and place back in car/truck!!

I didn't know this and a friend told me a few years ago, I do it all the time, my friend has even done it to help pull people out of the ditch. Just a little tidbit of info, I figured it would work and it's not something extra you have to put in your winter/emergency survival kit!!

**Minner77** · 01-13-2009, 05:31 PM

So glad you're okay! Sliding off the road is scary, as brenda says!

I'm originally from Denver and have driven in snow and ice all my life, but went off the road and into a deep ditch for the first time a year ago (doing $4000 worth of damage to my car). I slid for 100 yards -- terrifying. It looked like very light snow but it had sleeted earlier and I didn't know it (early morning). Durn that black ice!

Although I have 30 years' experience driving in this stuff and have always handled it pretty well, I am now very skittish. This is definitely not good since I live in SD, where it definitely snows, and I live up in the Black Hills, in mountainous country with lots of twisty, turny roads. I am officially not a happy camper in the winter time. (Must get over this! I am an adult, and can't just stay home!)

~Mary

**LuvMyHubby** · 01-13-2009, 06:16 PM

Glad you are okay and your car is in one piece. You probably hit some ice that was covered by the snow.

**FrugalMomof3** · 01-13-2009, 06:26 PM

So glad you are ok, be careful!

**pinetree** · 01-13-2009, 07:22 PM

Thank goodness you are ok.

You must have gotten the roads that iced up and then snowed. We didn't get but an inch or two and it was gone yesterday.

Reminder. you need to throw a small bag of kitty litter in your car, you can just throw alittle under your tires and drove off.

Be careful and take care!

**CrazyHomemaker** · 01-13-2009, 07:31 PM

That's so scary! I'm glad you're OK. I'm glad we moved to the South! Just remember, water on the road is just as slick. Leave plenty of room between you and the next car, too.