[Lina]

I want everyone please please PLEASE be very careful when you are driving. I witnessed a car crash about 15 minutes ago on my way home from dinner with my family and grandparents. It was on palatine, by the MAPS office. This car slid and it was turned toward the median. They didn't have their emergency flashers on, but my mom and I were able to drive around them. No more than 5 seconds later, we hear a crash. I look into one of the side mirrors and I see the car that hit the one that was stuck, spinning in circles and hit the median on the other side. I think there might have been another car that hit one of those two, but I don't know because it was too dark.

We keep driving, thanking God that it was not us, and then we see more police cars. A car slid into a lightpost and it fell down onto the street. On Palatine, there are three roads. We were in the middle and the one on the right had the lightpost on it. It is very scary and I want everyone to be careful. Drive slow and drive safe!

[XenoBlade]

Glad you are safe Lina

But yeah you chicago area folks watch out. Old Man Winter is out for blood...

[Jguy]

Yes, it is very very icy out there. I stepped on the brakes in my apartment parking lot and slid about 100 feet just some time ago.

[The Fujoshi]

Thank god you're not hurt!

God Chicago drivers are a bunch of idiots; too many hit and runs and drunk people here among other things.

Not everyone from chicago is like this but apparently this happens a lot here ><

This post has been edited by The Fujoshi: 21 February 2011 - 09:23 PM

[SongstressLenne]

Oh man, I'm afraid to drive to work tomorrow now. The people on the roads are big enough idiots as is at times.

Just take it slow everyone. If you witness a bad crash and you don't see either party getting out of their car call 911 to report it, don't wait for someone else to do it. Please be the good samaritan not everyone has a cell phone. I understand if you cannot get out of your in a safe area to check on them, don't do it unless you are in an absolutely safe area to move. Sorry, it's the future medic in me coming out >_<

Also wake up early so you don't have to speed and rush to get somewhere. I hate getting up early but if it's to ensure I will be going at a safe speed, it's worth it.

[Lina]

Luckily there were police nearby that one crash. Someone had to get towed near the Palwaukee airport (not on Palatine Road, but the one to the right of it going towards Arlington Heights road. I forget the name of the street) and there were two police cars. The crash that happened was no more than 40 or 50 feet in front of the police cars.

And thank you guys! I am very thankful that I am safe, but I pray that those who were in the crash are safe. I called my dad and one of my brothers and told them to drive slow and safely because I don't want them to get hurt.

This post has been edited by Lina: 21 February 2011 - 09:31 PM

[Kev]

Yeah, it's bad out there. I almost faceplanted walking down State 10 minutes ago, I can't imagine what it's like to drive. Gotta look both ways 3-4 times when approaching intersections because I'm seeing ALOT of people overshooting lights. ABS won't do much when there's ice everywhere!

[Ranko]

So... the roads are slick tonight... and of all nights... my brakes died on me while driving.... I almost died of fear when I couldn't stop... luckily no one else was around.

[rwarsauce]

I was scurrred driving home from work today... I got home about 10 minutes ago, on my way home I saw 4 different crashs... on golf... then like it was taking forever i turned around, went the long wway on bartlett road and wutttt like 2 more crashs ;-;

[sammy-45]

Yeah my cuz was going to come see me tonight, but saw a big accident and turned around and went home. He saw about 15 cars spun out in just 5 miles. With lots of fender benders. It was so bad that the state police were over-whelmed, and had local law out helping on 355.

He also called 911 to let them know about a car that had spun out and was in a ditch. On 3-way calling the local police could not get the state police for 5 min. But at least he reported it, and gave a good location.

So be really careful out.

It's not just the bad drivers tonight it's everyone!!!

[KnitChick]

I crept home, sticking to 40-45 mph on the highway in the right hand lane. People were blowing past me at 90 mph, I mean, seriously what part of "Slow down, leave longer intervals, make way for snow plows" doesn't compute for these people? I didn't slide at all, nor did my ABS go off. I guess that's a sign of how awesomesauce my car is and my super-cautious driving skillz. But even before I got out of the Starbucks lot onto the street I saw a car being pulled up on a flatbed right behind the Bux. Sheesh!

[redx1]

It looks nasty out there. Keep safe everyone. Be safe on your commutes tomorrow.

[zero.eoj]

Yeah i actually saw that too! Took half an hour to get from palatine to rand! damn 53 was closed!

[evaunit01berserk]

As a former philly driver, my dad gave the best advice when driving on ice when I was learning to drive


Its not how fast you can go, Its how fast you can stop.

SUV and 4 wheel drive owners...I'm looking at you.

[Rukariou]

Ice is the worst. Luckily we haven't had a lot of ice this year, but man did we last year.

It's not always the people driving 90 that end up in the ditch. I am very catious and I still ended up in a ditch. One big gust of wind pushed my car across the oncoming lane of traffic and into a ditch. Tow trucks were so busy that night I waited two hours for one. At least my boyfriend was there to keep me company.

[GITS SAC Motoko]

Make sure everyone uses four wheel drive for this weather! It helps. And if your car is back wheel drive, take a different one or arrange a car pool with someone who has front wheel or 4 wheel drive. Or if there's a setting to set the car in four wheel, DO IT! 2 wheel drive has you eeeeeverywhere in this stuff >.<

[Rukariou]

GITS SAC Motoko, on 22 February 2011 - 08:06 AM, said:

Make sure everyone uses four wheel drive for this weather! It helps. And if your car is back wheel drive, take a different one or arrange a car pool with someone who has front wheel or 4 wheel drive. Or if there's a setting to set the car in four wheel, DO IT! 2 wheel drive has you eeeeeverywhere in this stuff >.<

Except 4 wheel drive isn't going to help you when there is ice. I have 4 wheel drive on my Jeep. It helps with snow, slush and sometimes if there is a lot of rain. Nothing short of chains on your tires is gonna help you with ice, but cities normally don't like it since it tears the road up, lol.

[AshBird]

KnitChick, on 22 February 2011 - 12:14 AM, said:

I crept home, sticking to 40-45 mph on the highway in the right hand lane. People were blowing past me at 90 mph, I mean, seriously what part of "Slow down, leave longer intervals, make way for snow plows" doesn't compute for these people?

I really hate that. Why can't everyone go slow on the highway when it's icy/snowy? Everyone I've ever seen wreck on the highway in these conditions were going to fast and caused their own problems.

The worst vehicle I've driven in wintry conditions was a SUV. The 4 wheel drive doesn't help at all and the weight makes it hard to stop at higher speeds. It doesn't help that most of the reckless drivers I see in these poor conditions are SUV drivers. It's almost like they just assume that their SUV is better than the average car and forget that it's all about the tires they have and most SUVs don't come with tires meant for off-road or icy conditions.

To be fair though, I never have used a rear wheel drive car in wintry conditions. I want to live.

[SongstressLenne]

Lina,
The story you told us about the crash made it across several news stations and they showed pictures. It looked REALLY bad. >_<

[Jguy]

Rukariou, on 22 February 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Except 4 wheel drive isn't going to help you when there is ice. I have 4 wheel drive on my Jeep. It helps with snow, slush and sometimes if there is a lot of rain. Nothing short of chains on your tires is gonna help you with ice, but cities normally don't like it since it tears the road up, lol.

Actually, tire chains are illegal for everything except 18-wheelers in IL, I think.

4 wheel drive doesn't help you with rain, it's actually not recommended for it. It'll tear the heck out of your differential. Never use 4-wheel drive on dry pavement. Ice/snow only. If you drive a rear wheel drive car, put a couple of sandbags in your trunk during the winter months. front wheel drive and rear wheel drive cars are equal in power and tire grip, it's just the front wheel drive cars have more weight on the front end with the engine. If you drive a Rear Engine real wheel drive car, you're good too.

[Lina]

I've been trying to find articles on it. Please link some if you have any!

It's scary to think that could have been me, my mom and sister had we not seen that car.

[SongstressLenne]

Here's the one from Channel 9: http://www.wgntv.com...0,3359937.story

[Lina]

That's a different one. The crash that I saw was by the MAPS office and Palwaukee airport. That's still very sad though. I would be too scared to get out of my car in fear of getting hit. :'(

[Valkyrie]

I actually work in the Palwaukee neighborhood (my work is off of Hintz Road, on one of the side streets a couple blocks down from Wolf). I think the only time I've actually seen the road affected by an accident was on Feb. 3 - Hintz was closed at Milwaukee Ave due to an accident of some sort. Which didn't surprise me; that road is practically designed to curve just like a snake.

What DID surprise me was that everyone had been playing nice on the roads the day before that storm....and yet now, they're right back to their cocky mindset of "ice, what ice, hurr hurr hurr, I can haul butt, no problem!" People, let me educate you. You can see snow on the ground. You CAN'T see black ice on the road. That's the reason you should stop being an idiot and SLOW DOWN.

This post has been edited by Valkyrie: 22 February 2011 - 08:29 PM

[P-Bear]

Lina, on 21 February 2011 - 09:30 PM, said:

Luckily there were police nearby that one crash. Someone had to get towed near the Palwaukee airport (not on Palatine Road, but the one to the right of it going towards Arlington Heights road. I forget the name of the street) and there were two police cars. The crash that happened was no more than 40 or 50 feet in front of the police cars.

And thank you guys! I am very thankful that I am safe, but I pray that those who were in the crash are safe. I called my dad and one of my brothers and told them to drive slow and safely because I don't want them to get hurt.

!!!!

I'm freaked out now because I have to drive to Wheeling (past the Palwaukee airport) and then from Wheeling to Palatine (on Palatine rd) tonight! Ahhh, I HATE that crazy divided highway!