I know all too good about that RR. I came up 23 from the Ohio River Thursday to Rt. 32. Got on 32 and was in a mess all the way to Cincy. Idiots flying by like crazy. My wife thought I was crazy for driving like an old lady until we pulled off from a stoplight and the 4 wheel drive Durango beside us about spun out just taking off.

 

I was coming through St Louis the other day and it was like the movie"The Day After". It was raining and it turned to ice in like 20 minutes. Four wheelers were everywhere. Thank God for concrete center dividers.

 

Over the years, I've found myself in situations like that.....darned scary. It only takes a few minutes for rain to turn to ice, or snow to get hit with sun, melt, then freeze into ice. I had that happen nearing the top of Soldier's Summit one winter.....but I had an idea it was coming...gut feeling... but all the same when it happened....while I was running slow....it was still a "vinyl sucking moment" when my tractor drives kicked hard to the right...... Got it corrected and stopped on the shoulder and it was so slick that I had to crawl up the rest of the hill on the rough shoulder.

Inattention and complacency.....are expensive luxuries no-one can afford.

There is "absolutely nothing" that can be put in a box or tank that is worth my life, your life, or anyone else's life. If its that important....they can airfreight it.

 

We had a big storm late last April, and a woman came through a grass median towards me. Spun twice in the median, and stuck her hood about 3 feet into the left lane about 75 feet in front of me. Luckily, I was in the right lane, otherwise I'd have plowed right through her. I was already going pretty slow, but I slowed it down a little more after that.

 

You get that sick feelin, kind of like when the cop comes flying up behind you, but then flys right around. Your nerves feel like they are going to explode up and down your spine. I hate that feeling!

 

As far as I know, it does not happen often, but I have seen the temps drop 55 degrees in about 12 miles. It went from above freezing to below zero, and by the time I got to where I delivered, just over 35 miles later, it was more than 30 below. I've also seen "WET" rain coming down in below freezing temps, onto a frozen road surface. And, at times, it can also be as if 'someone pulled a curtain'. If you HAVE to go, allow extra time, and plenty of it.

I always tell dispatch that; "IF IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN BEING LATE AND NOT GETTING THERE... I'M GOING TO BE LATE...