Scribble #9: Designated Driver Part Dva

There is no middle ground in Slovak driving, and this is particularly true when it comes to guiding an automobile through snowy and icy weather. Particularly ice. This winter's weather has been amazingly unpredictable and we even had a temperature difference of around 18 degrees during one week. This may not be such a big thing in Canada, which is a country that was never properly finished, and as a result the weather there can be safely described as 'a bit mental'. And we never had to take a pickaxe to our car in order to get four-inch thick layer of ice off. Also as a reference to how big Canada is... from Sala, we can reach three capital cities within three hours. In Canada, if you start off at Edmonton, you can reach Calgary in about the same time. And trust me, you really, really don't want to.

There is practically nothing that a lot of Slovak drivers (particularly those with 'BA' in their number plate) will slow down for. Blind corners, overtaking up a hill, leapfrogging in front of oncoming traffic - these are all taken for granted. Ice really isn't. And neither is snow. Driving limits are 50 km/h in a town, 90 on the open roads and 130 on the motorway. Drivers either go at a snail's pace in winter, or at a ludicrous speed that will either make them or another person end up in a ditch as all of them drive bumper to bumper. For instance, you suddenly find that you've hit ice and you are losing control of your car. You slip it into neutral and don't make any sudden turnings but instead steer it gently into the skid. Then you get hit by the guy behind you because he's decided to panic and put his brakes full on, thus sliding into the back of you. You now totally lose control of your vehicle and end up going into a ditch, while he keeps going on his merry way. I saw this time and time again, with people trying to flag passers-by down, with half of their car's rear end missing or stuck in the nearest tree.

Driving in snow, even with winter tyres, is something to be respected - I know, since I have hit a ditch once and had a few close calls. Winter tyres are lovely, but they are not made out of some sort of magical substance. Mrs. C has grown up in Canada, and has hit the ditch on numerous occasions, and this may not be her own fault either, as the roads can get so bad that the only way that you know where to go is to follow the person in front. If he happens to seemingly fall into a large hole in the road, then you kind of end up following him, no matter how hard you try not to. On the other hand, Canadians get skidpan training, which I think would be a lot of fun to do.

There have been quite a few times where I've glared back at the glaring high beams in my rear-view mirror, especially when on ice and that person is a little too close for comfort. But there's nothing you can do about it, except for going at a snail's pace yourself. I'm just glad the weather's warming up and the snows are melting. Roll on spring and 20C, that's what I say...