I will admit, that I've ended up stuck in the ditch as a result of snow -- but only one day. I was determined to work my shift.
But, 3 times that day found me stuck. I barely made it the 50-miles of backroads to work in the '97 Civic. The snow was well up to the sills of the stock DX and untreated roads with steep hills took many tries to accomplish. Once I got onto treated roads, it was fine.
Later that day, we were returning a non-emergent patient home in the E-350 van ambulance unit. I was the lucky driver and the patient lived in the middle of nowhere. We get to the driveway, and it took a steep 45-degree angle, upwards about 200 yards to the house. My partner and I didn't want to risk slipping with the stretcher trying to hoof it up to the house (I could just picture the patient sliding down the hill, sled-style)-- we had to give it a shot. With a running start and plenty of diesel torque, 3/4 of the way up, all traction was lost and we started to slide backwards. ABS probably would've helped steer backwards while sliding, but right into the ditch we gently plopped, nose up. After someone with a heavily modded Jeep helped take the patient to the house, it took both the Jeep and a tractor, to get us out (2-hours later). All tow-trucks were booked solid for hours, and we were on the non-emergency list that day. Not one of my best days as you will see
Luckily, no damage to the unit, so back to station we went as 2 other units saw the same fate. After a couple more calls on the emergency list, the 16-hour shift ended. Back into the Civic and homeward. On the last 2 miles of the carefully navigated trip, I hit the lowest altitude of the roadway, which had generated freezing fog on a slight bend. At around 25 mph (55 zone) I turned the wheel left, but the DX went straight -- into a field short of a creek. Firmly stuck again, it took a passerby in a 4X4 truck about 30 minutes to get me out. Damage: muffler split. Obstacles missed: "Slippery When Wet" sign.
Exhausted, on the way up another hill to the farm -- all traction was lost again, slid backwards and was was stuck in the rural road - sideways. I didn't dare take another move or unintended sliding in random directions occurred. I nearly said to hell with it.
I walked the remaining mile, thawed out, and pulled it home with the farm truck.
In summation, ABS would've helped in every instance, and SC on the ice, and basically all day long, but honestly, those vehicles were definitely not made for unexpected snowstorms. It's easy to get yourself into a mess, but hard to get out of -- which is the point of the reflection -- SC can prevent that mess in many cases.
Let's do a poll (separate thread)
RH77
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