It is funny to hear people from the north talk about how they have no problem driving in the bad weather of the south. A few years ago in Asheville a study was done. It looked at over 5,000 accidents/incidents for like the last 10 years occuring during the winter or winter weather in Western NC. It was something like 68% of the wrecks the driver at fault was originally from the north, a transplant who learned to drive in the north, and over 80% of those did not involve any other car. Meaning they lost control of their vehicle.
My experience in driving in a variety of places around the world is that snow is very easy to drive on but not ice. In defense of some my only concern on the roads during inclement weather are the other drivers but as someone else pointed out when you do not have to drive in it very much it creates a greater danger for the roads.
But always love the people from up north with their driving stories in blizzards that they can do blind folded.
One of the issues with the south and other warmer regions is the lack of experience in driving in inclement weather because issues I have seen are exactly what you are saying not to do. Another major factor in the south is also the fact the roads are usually not prepped as well or many times after the fact.
And yes my only concern out there are the other drivers. Sliding on ice is just like threshold braking, just got know when to accelerate out of it.
North Dakota and Montana just spread sand if conditions at ramps, etc. get to dicey. The main thing for all to learn if one must drive on ice,,don't tailgate,,put it in neutral when coming to a stop,,if you start sliding, back off the throttle and be calm. 90% of the time you can steer out of a slide. If you have front wheel drive you can power out of a slide - if you can catch some solid pavement. Rear wheel drive vehicle will not power you out of a slide and most of the times make it worse. Main thing to remember is to be a prima facia driver. As first conditions permit is how one should drive.
