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Okay so i admit i live in the frozen north, as i type this post tonight it is snowing outside, there is already two inches accumulated and it's expected to continue to snow until the end of the week. But the scary part isn't the snow.
It started to snow early this morning but the roads still retained heat from the previous day's warmer weather, as a result, all the snow that fell on the roads melted on contact making the roads wet. This evening at around 6:00 that heat ran out and all the water on the roads turned to ice; it's smooth, it's black, and it's covered in a thin layer of snow. Unfortunately for me i was unaware of this hazard as i got into my car at 6:20 to go meet a friend for coffee. Everything was going okay until i put on my brakes and nothing happened, i slid though a red light (thank God no one was in the intersection) and kept on sliding for nearly a block fighting to stay on the road and stop. In the end i couldn't hold the car on the road and i nailed the curb. (Slight damage to the wheel, I’ll have it looked at tomorrow) By this time i was rather close to the coffee shop so i continued (extremely carefully) there. I had a nice long conversation with my friend. I was reluctant however to leave, but i realized that my mother would be very worried about me and the storm seemed to be gaining force. So with trembling hands i got back in my car and crept home. At one point on the drive i was going down a very slight hill near my house at around 30 kph (i honestly don't know what that is in mph but i think it's around 15. Slow no matter what system of measure you use.) there was an intersection at the bottom of the hill some 2 blocks away and i wanted to see how much stopping power i had. I put the car out of gear and pumped the brake (no antilock brakes, (1985 Toyota)) i slid for two blocks down a very slight hill without slowing down at all...when i got to the intersection there was a car coming and i knew there would be no way in hell he could stop so i took a risk, i let off the brake and turned right into the curb and somehow as if by magic (perhaps there is a god) i hit the curb and stopped.
Well i made it home tonight, with only a little damage to my car. I've been driving for 1.5 years now, I’ve been though winter and didn't have a problem. But i will NEVER go out in weather like this again.
My hands are still shaking an hour latter. I can't tell you guys how happy i am to be alive posting this right now. I'm so glad to be alive. (and so glad my mom doesnt know the condition of the roads or i'd have hell to pay  )
Take care everyone, and please, drive safe.
Pyro.
Do what you love, changing the world is incidental.
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