Can Someone Explain This to Me???

Yes we get snow. I don't understand the milk and bread thing either - most of the people I know who do that remember a terrible blizzard we had in 1978 where people literally were stranded, stores weren't open, the National Guard had to come in, etc. So even though it was almost 35 years ago, my parents are in the "never again" camp and do get gas, milk, bread etc. while I'm more cavalier.

Sometimes I leave snow on the roof, because I'm too short to reach the top of the car and too lazy to get a broom and do it. It's New England though and people know how to a) drive in the snow and b) manage having snow blow off the roof of the car in front of them without crashing. I usually just roll the windows down to get the snow off of them and run the defrosters on the front and rear windshields to malt off the last of whatever is on them after we do a rough sweep of the rest of the car. But yeah there are times (usually when it's nasty wet heavy sleet/snow) when I just clear enough to see what I need to see and assume the rest will melt off as I drive rather than clear every square inch off - when you do that, often the place you started with is already iced over again by the time you're done with the rest of the car anyway so there's no point.

ETA it always cracks me up that there's a run on shovels everywhere when we're getting a good storm. This is New England...are there really that many people out there who don't already have shovels??

I have a HUGE conversion van, I CAN'T reach the roof.....even my nearly 6'3 husband cant reach it. If people are smart they stay far away from me when I'm driving, cause it literally looks like a blizzard trailing behind me. Oh and I cannot fit my van in the garage due to my husbands over abundance of shtuff.

Yes, I live in Chicago we get SNOW.

I clean my car off completely.. with the excetpion of the snow that is falling while I am cleaning, there have been a few times I could not get my car cleaned off because of that. It was falling too fast to keep it clean beofre I got in.

Only stuck on snow gets left, or if I have the van.. as I am only 5'1.. can not reach it.

We live in Texas but came here from New York... People FREAK OUT when it snows here once every few years.

It snowed here about 2 inches yesterday then turned to ice. We know better than to go out on the roads. I know how to handle a car in snow/icy conditions. Unfortunately, Texans do not.

Also-- where we are in North Texas there are no snowplows or sand/salt trucks. So basically the roads are icy until the sun comes out and nature takes care of them.

My complaint? 4 wheel drive on your giant a*s pickup truck does not help you on ice cowboy! Slow Down!!!

I leave snow on the roof because I'm too damn short to reach it even with the long handled ice scraper brush. I remove as much as I can but there is usually a blob remaining on top.

http://theoatmeal.com/blog/seattle_snow

I'm in NH so it's rare to go a season without snow.You would think that people would be used to that fact around here and be at least a little bit more careful, but I think it's just the opposite. Many drivers think that they are experts in the snow and don't drive any different than if it was a sunny summer afternoon. We do have a law that cars must be cleared of snow and ice or you can be fined a minimum of $250.00 up to $1000.00 depending on your driving record. So most people do clear their cars off. The fine is just to steep to ignore the law.

I had to laugh about the sudden need for milk and tp. I worked at a grocery store for over a decade, and even here in NH, the store would sell out of those, plus bread, water, and of all things...chicken. I have never figured that one out. I used to ask "why chicken?" and people would just shrug and say it's good to have on hand???? But the best part, really, is that if the storms are bad enough that the power goes out, all these people have gallons of milk and pounds and pounds of chicken, and I kid you not, they will complain that they had to throw it away because they had no power when they could just put it outside in a cooler and it would be colder than the fridge anyhow.

can't help you with the insight, because there are inconsiderate/rude/thoughtless people everywhere. i can't stand seeing people driving down the road with their car covered with 6 inches of snow. stupid!

yes, i was taught to clean off the whole car, including headlights and tail lights. and i will take the back roads and drive like a granny and get there safely, while everyone else careens around the interstate like idiots, getting into accidents. i also grew up in the midwest, on a gravel road even, so driving in conditions with little traction is nothing new.

No snow here in FL:( but grew up in chicago and yes you must completely clean your roof otherwise it can end up on your windows while you are driving.

It is the law in New Jersey to remove snow from the hood and roof from the car before driving, you could be fined. To not do it is just lazy, and puts other people in danger, it will slide off and could hit another cars windshield blocking their visibility. I always clear the whole car.

How do I handle our snow? I park in the garage, lol. We get a ton of snow, last year we got 133 inches of the fluffy white stuff. While my windows are not always clear (my back window has a tendency to freeze over while I am on the move and the defrosters don't work) I do keep my front window clear. I always take extra precautions though knowing many have limited visibility this time of year. I do hate it when people fail to sweep off their top of their cars though, since it caused a white out for the cars behind them on the road and can cause accidents.

I live in not quite "upstate" NY. I laugh when I see people run and clear out the shelves because of snow! In my little town, if you can get out of your driveway the day after a blizzard, you are good to go. Only twice were we not able to get out the next day and that is in 40 years. We never leave snow on the roof. Dangerous. Now that we are retired unless it is an emergency we do not go out until road is clear.

My car sits in a nice warm garage so I don't have to deal with snow.

I have a theory that those that leave that big chunk of snow on their roof have never been behind their peers. Sorry but once you get hit with a wall of snow and ice you figure out the importance of cleaning it off.

Around here it is milk, eggs and bread and no one can explain why. I was a grocery checker and for my amusement I would ask people why? It is going to snow. Are you out of food? No. Do you need bread? I have a half a loaf. Eggs, I didn't check but better to be safe than sorry......

Not sure if they found it nearly as amusing as I did but I was stuck in a store with the biggest idiots our city could offer so I had to make it tolerable.

I am fairly sure the weatherman gets kickbacks from the grocery store for predicting snow because most of the time it never happens.

I used to own a conversion van and even then, I got all the snow off the roof. Had to use a broom, but it drives me crazy for my windshield to be constantly bombarded by other people's laziness, so I won't inflict it on others.
No one here makes a run to the store unless they are predicting more than 10-12 inches of snow in one day. The main roads are cleared pretty quickly. I really hate it when I shovel out my driveway and then the plow goes by, though. grrr....
I think I actually took my driving test in the winter. I'm a pretty good driver in the snow/ice, and we have great winter tires on our van, but I avoid driving in really bad weather if I can help it.

I think people run out to the store to get stuff becuase they don't WANT to come out in the snow and they can just snuggle down deep in the couch under a blanket and maybe bake cookies or make chili. but if they get it in the house before the snow falls they don't have to go out and clean off the car.

Now, on to snowy cars - I live in NY so I've driven in many snowy times over the years. I try to clean off my car completely becuase i don't like having chunks of snow from the guy in front of me come flying onto my windshield. But I have to confess that I don't always and it has to do with a number of different factors - I now drive a jeep - it's a lot harder to clean off the roof of a jeep than a Nissan Sentra - and I'm tall! When i drove a small car my roof was always snow-free. That's not always the case with the jeep. If I can climb up on the running boards and clean off the roof I will - but if the running boards are covered with ice I don't. It's not working breaking a limb. There have also been times when an icy crust has topped the snow and I just didn't have the leverage & strength to removed the icy crust... As for the peephole snow scrape - that's just crazy. I have driven a few blocks that way when I had to get to the pharmacy when soemone at home, or I, was horribly ill. but never more than the 4 blocks to the drug store.

Times like this I wish I had a heated garage!

Here in IL it is illegal not to clean your entire window when it snows. My FIL got ticketed for it.

During the summer, spring and fall I park in the driveway so we can have bikes and strollers set up in the garage, ready to be used. When the snowy season comes I clean out my garage so my husband and I can both park in there, and so we can bring in our garbage cans so we don't have to walk through snow to get to it. Leaving snow on the roof is inconsiderate to those who drive behind you.

If there's a heavy snowfall and I'm out and about, I make sure to lift my wiper blades to a 90' angle if I have to park for a long time. I also have long scraper/brush, gloves, boots, and a shovel in my van throughout the winter.

ETA: I do always get more milk--all it takes is 1 dropped gallon of milk to incite mutiny amongst my kids. We're milkaholics in my house ;-)

Haha...I live in northwestern Wisconsin and we get snow by the bushels :) I am one of those... 'totally serious' ... people who will scrape a portal. Not in a blizzard of course...but seriously it's like ALWAYS freaking snowing here. So if I don't budget my time as well as I should and am running late for something, I'll scrape what I need (front and sides) and dash to appt. I see no point in clearing off the roof...it doesn't help you see any better...and if it's snowing it will just collect again anyway. That's like shoveling the driveway while after it just started snowing. Schools here don't shutdown unless there's at least 12 inches overnight. You do learn to drive careful, just becomes second nature. Would never, ever, stock-up on anything because of snow....again it snows (or can) at least 6 months out of the year.
Most days though, if car isn't in garage, I will just let the vehicle warm up for 20 minutes and usually the ice and snow will just melt off, and whatever is still there will fly off while I drive.

I live in Winnipeg. We get snow. Lots of snow. I took my drivers ed training in December, so I learned to drive in snow. I've never had an accident in 25+ years of driving, but I did go into the ditch once. I don't even buy snow tires, just all seasons. If a blizzard is predicted I might stock up on milk, but otherwise snow is like any other day. When I clean the snow off I clean the windows, then the hood and the lights and the license plate. I clean the roof of the car if I have time and I never clean the snow off the roof of the van, because I can't reach. It just blows off anyway.

I live in the state of WA. Opposite sides of the world almost!
We don't get a lot of snow where I live, although some years have been worse than others.
We (the general we) are not all that great at driving in the snow. There is wide spread panic when we are told it's going to snow. Stores are out of EVERYTHING if we are told it's going to snow. It's ridiculous. Gas station lines are outrageous!
And you should see some of us try to drive!! ( i put myself in there too sometimes) It's insane.
When I do venture out I always take a broom and clean off my whole car, I don't want snow flying off of my car and onto another and then that car can't see.
But, if it's snowing I would rather just stay at home.
L.

I can drive really well in snow or ice. I don't like it, but I can do it.

The only reason I leave snow on the roof of my car is because it's a minivan and I can't reach it. Not even with a step stool. Sorry. If my husband is home he can reach most of it.

i hate when people leave snow on the roof of their car, i mean really how lazy are you??.. for anyone who says otherwise i guess youve never had the pleasure of driving behind someone who didnt bother to clean off their car, and had a giant chunk of snow/ice fly off and right onto the hood of your car/windshield.. its so dangerous, especially if youre going to be on the highway. I clean the car off enough that i can open the drivers side door, and let the car run for a while with the defrosters and heat on n then clean off the rest.. if its just a little bit of snwo i just dust the whole thing off with a snowbrush.. Im in north jersey andmost people here are the same way, if you so much as mention the word snow the supermarkets are a night mare!.. i dont get it .. i remember when i worked at shoprite a few years ago the news said we would get snow and that store was jam packed with people freaking out from the minute we opend until we closed, and then we wound up getting an inch of snow, if that

If you think that's bad you should see it southern Florida when it rains hard. Oh my gosh you would think the apocalypse is coming. All the elderly drive with their hazards flashing at about 10 mph. :P

When I lived in the midwest I would try to push most of the snow off my windshield and roof. Boy I don't miss those days. I never, ever miss snow.

I grew up in Westlake, OH. So yeah, I totally get the snow. Always scraped the whole car. I lived in Kentucky for a while and let me tell you those people are dangerous on snowy roads or icy road. Totally clueless!!!! Yes, there would always be a run on eggs, milk, bread, batteries. Then we would never get anything!!! I think it was a conspiracy myself! =)

I live in Houston now not a big mecca for snow! =)

I live in GA, so we do get snow, And thats everywhere, people here dont know how to drive, it drives me crazy. I was always taught take off all the snow, and drive slowly. but the stupid rednecks in there jacked up trucks think that only taking off the snow off the windsheld is ok and that hitting the gas as hard as they can is the way to drive... seriously your truck cant get traction. and you wonder why you keep sping out.

I do wish everyone would clean the snow off their vehicles before driving. We definitely do. It is hazardous otherwise.

I know what you are saying. I try to stay stocked on the necessities so I don't have to go get bread and milk. When I have to, I don't "stock up" like the people tend to do when it is going to snow...I just get what I know I need (regardless of the weather).

I clear my windows completely and knock off the loose snow....I don't get every bit of it off because it often is wet/frozen.

I live in Minnesota. :) No, I do not leave snow anywhere on the car, because it can randomly blow down into your view unexpectedly. When I brush off the car, I brush off the entire car, also making sure to uncover the lights. Another thing about snow on the roof...if you leave it there, it can fall in when you open your doors. Same thing with snow on the trunk and opening the trunk. :) So yeah, pretty tedious about that one!! ;)

As for handling the car...safely. But I have been a winter driver my whole driving life, so I am used to it. I know how to drive and stop safely, what to do in a skid, etc. I truly enjoy driving in the winter...the only thing I don't like is being on the freeway in a blizzard. :)

Can you please box up some of the snow for the next time I come up? We were skipped down here and I LOVE snow :(. Jeff saw some on his way to work though, and he's not a big fan of it.

It's the same down here. When we first moved here in 2000, our first day of school was cancelled for RAIN. Yes, rain. We had just moved from Boston...so we laughed for years about it. I guess it's beacuse in reality we really don't get too much here, so people freak out. But it still makes me laugh :).

Sounds pretty typical....

As far as the cars, they are probably in a hurry...

(I grew up in Kansas, and lived for 10 years in Iowa.... I've been driving in plenty of snow!)

I didn't like leaving snow on my roof... it would frequently slide down either the front OR the back, and obscure my vision.

I also didn't like leaving snow on the hood of the car, because it would then fly up and hit the windshield.

I like clear windows when I drive!

Also.... down here in Texas, as others have pointed out, it can be SO insane trying to drive on ice and snow.. I know how, and go slow, and keep extra space between myself and the car in front... but other people don't!

LOL! This is funny! I'm from upstate New York and I too know how to drive in snow; however, I try not to do it around here because I don't trust OTHER people on the road. Also, they aren't as good at getting the snow off the roads around here like they were in NY. It's just now safe the way they do things around here. Something I've noticed living down here is that it's hard to find exactly what you need to get the snow off your car--a snow brush (well at least a good one that actually does the job). Thankfully I brought my sturdy one with me from NY. I always brush off my car and it's actually some sort of law that you have to get the snow from off the top of your car in NoVA (at least) because of danger of blow off, but people still don't do it.

Yup, here in MI we get snow.

I clean off the windshield and all other windows, head lights, brake lights, and sometimes I do the hood of the car. But the roof? No, I drive a van it'd be kinda hard or tedious to remove the snow off the roof. I usually start my car and let it run so most of it melts off before I leave anyway.

We are in the Dallas area and we got snow for Christmas. I think the weatherman said the first time in 37 years!

Ours started with overnight thunderstorms that lasted through lunchtime and then changed to snow. It is beautiful.

As of now, I still can't get out of my driveway, it is a steep slope up. I don't think many people have been on our road yet either.

Most cars are in garages and there are no issues with snow on cars. Our neighborhood frowns upon cars parked on the street and they are minimal (mostly guests and college students home for the holidays).

We don't bother getting snow off the roof... One way hubby looks at it is that if the snow is melting off your roof, you need more insulation, lol.

We do NOT get out and drive in it. Hubby was raised in PA and well capable but it gets crazy here with people who believe they can drive on ice. There have been tons of accidents (mostly minor) and it is not worth taking the chance for someone to hit us just to get out. We don't have SUV's with 4 wheel drive, etc. Hubby has a high end sedan, I have high end luxury sports car and daughter drives a high end car as well.......SO for those reasons.. Nope, we will be in the house until everything clears up.

As for running to the store, I was pretty well stocked because of my prepping for Christmas. However I am low on milk at this point and tomorrow is my daughter's 18th birthday and I need to get her cake. I will be able to do that late this afternoon or tomorrow so I don't feel rushed.

I changed my profile pic to my view from my kitchen window. Beautiful snow we rarely see which was about 4".

Happy New Year!!

ETA... Bridgette H.. You are SO on target. We stay off the roads to keep ourselves safe from the cowboy drivers!!

i get snow where i live I actually got some yesterday....you can get this scrapper utinsail and just scrap ur car all over and it will be much eaiser just make sure u drive slow after it snows...you do leave the snow on the roof because the snow will melt anyways...

I live in Kansas. We get snow. And I LOVE MY GARAGE. I have always had my car in it, until just recently when my husband had to borrow my stall for something. Today was the first day I had to get out early, so I started my car and let it run for awhile, so all the frost would melt off my window. Who the heck can drive while seeing out of a small hole? I have seen it done but I don't agree with it. I think the police should stop and cite the people who do it. I mean it is pretty dangerous when you can't see the cars around you. Oh, and as far as snow on the car, I use a broom to sweep it off, roof, headlights, all of it. I hate the snow blowing up in my windshield.

Why does it bother anyone if someone drives with a snow covered car? I don't really get that, but anyway..........I live in Chicago and snow is a way of life. If I get around to getting the snow off the roof of the car, I do. If not, I don't do it. Depends on how much time I have to clean off the car. Nevertheless, I completely clear the windows.

I live in your area too and have for a long time. It's comical to see folks freak. I too get BreadMilkToiletPaper when real snow looms, though that stuff outside today doesn't count....

Maybe folks here freak because they remember years like, oh, maybe 10 years ago when the area was hit with a big snowstorm and we found out that the snowplows intended to work in Northern Virginia were kept way down I-95-- almost to RICHMOND, an hour away from here. So even the plows could not get up here. That idiotic problem has been fixed since then but it's a good example of how the Mid-Atlantic really doesn't cope well at all with the logistics of snow. I went to college in Chicago and we never, in four years, closed for even one hour because of weather, and we had heavy snow every single winter; the difference is how well the cities handled the snow, because every major street and most minor ones were cleared before the next rush hour.....

Here, your street could be snowed in for a week or more before you ever see a plow -- if one ever comes at all. And I know a lot of folks right here in Fairfax County suburbs -- not out in the country, in the close-in suburbs -- who simply get together with neighbors and get a contract with private plowing services every year, because they know the county or town will never plow their streets. Ever. So I think people panic around here because they remember "the last time," whenever that was, when they couldn't get out for days yet could see the main road a block away was clear!

And I never leave snow on the roof any more. I have had snow from other cars crash down in front of me on the road. And once when I DID leave some on the roof because it was too icy to dislodge -- it melted while I drove and when I stopped it all slid over the windshield, totally obscuring any view! I learned then to get it all off no matter what. To the short lady who said she can't reach it all: Heat up the car long enough to get the bottom of it really warm and you can push it off the car in a slab (usually). I wish we had laws requiring folks to get all the snow off the hood, roof and trunks of cars, especially large vehicles like SUVs and vans where I always see big slabs of snow left on there by lazy drivers!

Like clockwork there will always be a news report from the store showing the people buying the toilet paper, milk and bread. And then cut to the home depot where they are buying salt and shovels. We definitely have winter weather in Pitt so you think there would be no surprise but still-people must rush to the store.
Pittsburgh is practically all hills so its really hard to drive in the snow so I don't if I can help it. I hate to leave snow on the rrof though b/c it blows on the windshield as soon as you drive.
While we are on the topic-one thing I don't understand is the people who shovel their driveway all day long during a snowstorm. Its like-you know you will have to do that again- Why not do it all at once? Unless of course there is a huge amt forcasted. Then I 'guess' I can see why.

I'm in Chicago. Yes, we get snow. We only run out for supplies if they are predicting 12+. Otherwise, roads will be clear to drive within two hours of the snow stopping.

We park our cars in our garage. In fact, last Wed, hubby came home from work and spent 2 hours clearing out the garage to get both of our cars in it (he had his tile cutter and other tools out).

No, leaving snow on the roof is stupid because it just slips off and obstructs your vision.

I live in DC right now, actually grew up here so I know exactly what you are talking about. The idea of snow makes people panic here and clear the shelves :) It's because DC is such a transient town for most people. Think about all the people that move in and out of the area on a regular basis because of the governement. You have tons of americans and then tons of diplomats, and others from other countries that may have never experienced snow/ice before so they think they need to stock their house because they might not make it outside for days. Most of them don't know how to deal with the snow much less drive in it. It sucks and it makes for dangerous situations all the time. To answer your other questions I try not to drive in the snow if I don't have to but if I do I make sure I leave plenty of time to clean off the car totally even though I drive a SUV and am pretty short so getting the stuff off the roof is pretty hard for me. I also leave plenty of time to get to my destination and drive more cautiously because the people around me are idiots and driving normally (but not you Cheryl :).

What you're describing isn't unusual at all.
At least it's not in Wedtern PA.
My guess is that it's pretty much like that (panic buying) anywhere it snows.
I'm guessing this is a vent, not a "question", right?

We've all seen the little old ladies with 5 gallons of milk and 5 loaves of bread in their cart at the market!

I always figure, if we run out of milk, we'll drink something else. No big deal here to me.

Oh-by the way-it's illegal here to leave snow on your car like that. I believe it's also illegal in NJ. It's a danger/hazard to others.