Happens more often than you think.
Just because you can afford a Super-Car, doesn’t mean you know how to drive one.
The same applies to 4-wheel drive SUV’s. You’d be utterly amazed at how many you’ll see on their roofs along I-65 north of Lafayette, In, in any given winter storm.
Bears repeating. Observing the geezers driving faster Porches and Corvettes, it strikes me that when someone can finally afford such cars, they are way past the time when they should be driving same.
A Camry would be better suited to most of them with the skills and driving style I see.
Some don’t seem to realize that four wheel drive makes it easier to go through snow but it is no help at all when it comes to stopping or controlling the vehicle. In fact I had a 79 Cherokee with full time four wheel drive and I think it would fishtail more than a rear wheel drive would. The same thing with towing heavy trailers, some people think they need a huge engine to tow a trailer when what they need most is more braking power. The average driver needs a monster engine like he needs a hole in the head.
SUV owners are just sure that their machine can do just like the commercial, where it charges through the knee deep powder on some mountain road.
Trouble is, Midwest snow storms usually start with the heavy wet stuff. It’s much more slippery than the fluffy drier snows in the mountains. At speeds over, say, 40 mph, 4WD doesn’t help much once traction is lost. By the time speed is reduced, and traction recovered, the need to change direction abruptly (heading for the ditch), causes traction to be lost again.
The ‘it’s all about me’ attitude is very dangerous when placed in a vehicle in bad weather. They feel the need to get around all of the people ‘in their way’. It has probably killed many innocents.
I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB, ND. After a snow storm my wife and I would drive from the base to town (about 15 miles)and count all the upside down vehicles. Most were four wheel drive.
One thing you learn about driving a 4x4 is they are really good at straight ahead traction and going in one direction. So if you find yourself on a slick surface and the car slips to left or right, it will regain its traction and go shooting off in whatever direction it’s now headed. Unfortunately, a lot of people learn this by putting their new vehicle out into a field or across to the other side of the freeway.
I’ve driven that stretch in bad weather many times. You are correct.
L