|
|
Post by alicechalmers on Feb 25, 2019 15:51:27 GMT -5
Here in northern Wisconsin we've been hit by significant snowfall, culminating in a blizzard on Saturday night through Sunday. Many roads were impassable. Plow trucks would open up a road only to have it drift shut due to ongoing wind. On Sunday evening most counties in the area pulled their plow trucks for the night.
And of course, people drive and get stuck. There was a 100+ car pileup in Eastern Wisconsin, and in Minnesota people were stranded on the highway for hours. I mean hey, it's great job security if you're a tow truck driver, but sometimes it's too dangerous for them, too.
Is there a point at which it should be illegal to be on the road? Or perhaps you can only be on the road under specific circumstances? What would those circumstances be and how should it be enforced?
To expand upon the problem, many people are required to go to work even if their jobs aren't truly critical. Should businesses be fined if they require their employees to come in when it's hazardous to do so?
|
|
|
|
Post by Tpatt100 on Feb 25, 2019 16:12:14 GMT -5
I think if you don’t slow down to take into account for weather conditions then you should be penalized but some employers are terrible about letting their employees stay home if the weather is bad.
Back when I worked retail the store manager used to make managers stay at his home if they lived further away if the weather was bad. I mean they can’t “make” you but employers can just put you on an unwritten shit list and find some other way to get rid of you
|
|
|
|
Post by alicechalmers on Feb 25, 2019 16:18:01 GMT -5
Should businesses ever be forced to close? For example, if a bank wants to stay open during a blizzard, does the government have a place in saying "No assholes, there is no reason for this and you may not put people in danger."?
|
|
|
|
Post by TapToTalk on Feb 25, 2019 18:48:56 GMT -5
Can't the Governor or Mayor declare a weather emergency if it's so bad? I seem to recall one once years ago back in Ohio; like only police and emergency personnel were allowed on the roads.
|
|
|
|
Post by GiftOfFlavor on Feb 25, 2019 18:48:57 GMT -5
In Colorado I think they’ve change the rule up in the mountains. If you do not have snow tires or chains and all wheel drive and you get stuck or have a problem they can give you a big fine.
I am perfectly fine with that. Too many people trying to take their rollerskate car up in the mountains get stuck. It puts rescuers and other drivers in a very dangerous situation.
|
|
|
|
Post by TapToTalk on Feb 25, 2019 18:50:59 GMT -5
In Colorado I think they’ve change the rule up in the mountains. If you do not have snow tires or chains and all wheel drive and you get stuck or have a problem they can give you a big fine. I am perfectly fine with that. Too many people trying to take their rollerskate car up in the mountains get stuck. It puts rescuers and other drivers in a very dangerous situation. I think there are checkpoints on the way to Tahoe when chains are dictated; you don't have them on, you don't pass. I don't do snow any more, so Nov-April, I don't even consider going near there. |
|
|
|
Post by shaena on Feb 25, 2019 19:19:08 GMT -5
Governors can ban vehicles from roads if need be. Usually though in my state its limited to non essential state workers. They certainly do it all the time for big trucks, which I find in most cases absolutely ridiculous, but I digress... big trucks have to carry chains or socks from October to April out west or face fines. And mandatory to put them on when its ruled. Cars should be the same in my opinion.
|
|
mare
Full Member
Posts: 2,517
|
Post by mare on Feb 25, 2019 19:20:33 GMT -5
In Colorado I think they’ve change the rule up in the mountains. If you do not have snow tires or chains and all wheel drive and you get stuck or have a problem they can give you a big fine. I am perfectly fine with that. Too many people trying to take their rollerskate car up in the mountains get stuck. It puts rescuers and other drivers in a very dangerous situation. I think there are checkpoints on the way to Tahoe when chains are dictated; you don't have them on, you don't pass. I don't do snow any more, so Nov-April, I don't even consider going near there. There are. We went there for our honeymoon in March and were told to buy chains for the rental. Being from Missouri, we were freaking out because we didn't know how to use them. Turns out we didn't even need them. This was before internet so we were asking locals how to put them on if needed. LOL |
|
|
|
Post by shaena on Feb 25, 2019 19:50:21 GMT -5
I think there are checkpoints on the way to Tahoe when chains are dictated; you don't have them on, you don't pass. I don't do snow any more, so Nov-April, I don't even consider going near there. There are. We went there for our honeymoon in March and were told to buy chains for the rental. Being from Missouri, we were freaking out because we didn't know how to use them. Turns out we didn't even need them. This was before internet so we were asking locals how to put them on if needed. LOL We have happily reached the point when chains HAVE to be put ON, we park! It sucks to do, we have to have socks now which are easier to use, but my husband still avoids those routes now!  |
|
|
|
Post by mmeblue on Feb 25, 2019 20:03:25 GMT -5
Local governments around here will declare curfews for hurricanes. At certain points even emergency vehicles are not allowed on the roads, though those restrictions get lifted first.
I'm surprised to hear that isn't done for blizzards.
|
|
|
|
Post by alicechalmers on Feb 25, 2019 20:22:42 GMT -5
It's kind of crazy. The only thing that ever happens is that sometimes part of a highway will get shut down, but that doesn't really mean anything. I've driven on a shut down highway because I had no idea. lol. I get that we live in the north and life goes on as usual in event of snow, but this is way more than usual. Businesses still insist on staying open and demand that their employees come in, even when the county sheriffs are all saying to stay off the roads. People drive in to town for stupid shit and get stuck. And nothing ever happens.
|
|
mare
Full Member
Posts: 2,517
|
Post by mare on Feb 25, 2019 20:58:05 GMT -5
The problem is employers who won't give employees a break when weather is terrible. They can get disciplined or fired. Aldo, what about essential personnel like law enforcement or medical staff?
|
|
|
|
Post by nansel on Feb 25, 2019 21:19:23 GMT -5
The highways get closed here occasionally, when there’s too little visibility. I don’t know what happens to employees then. This is a pretty relaxed part of the world, I can’t imagine anyone gets fired because the police closes their route to work.
I’ve been on a closed highway by accident, once. It was blowing like crazy, so I was being really careful. We survived, but it wasn’t an easy drive! They don’t close them for silly reasons.
The city never shuts down, people just go more slowly. The plows are out even as it snows, so we never go many hours before the main roads are cleared. Sidewalks, too. Side streets take longer, of course. So getting to work always happens, I just have to plan on much more time to travel.
|
|
|
|
Post by justthinking on Feb 25, 2019 21:58:11 GMT -5
The big problem with the massive collision yesterday was they had several inches of fresh, dry snow being blown around by 30-50mph winds. Visibility was reportedly about half a mile and traffic was moving at 20-30 mph on an interstate where the speed limit is 70mph. A big gust in an open area picked up a bunch of snow and caused a total white out. The plows really couldn't get ahead of the snow at all because of the wind.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sprockey on Feb 26, 2019 10:04:05 GMT -5
Only if the state govt declares a State of Emergency. Otherwise you can't fine people for trying to get to work.
I don't think you can fine businesses who want to stay open, either
|
|
|
|
Post by alicechalmers on Feb 26, 2019 10:07:50 GMT -5
Only if the state govt declares a State of Emergency. Otherwise you can't fine people for trying to get to work. I don't think you can fine businesses who want to stay open, either But should you be able to? Is it reasonable for the government to say that a business may not endanger employees? |
|
|
|
Post by Sprockey on Feb 26, 2019 10:18:09 GMT -5
I don't think it is. I think it infringes on freedoms.
We all have decisions and choices to make. I would like the govt to make fewer of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by alicechalmers on Feb 26, 2019 10:36:29 GMT -5
I lean hard libertarian, so I don't think they should actually be forced to close. I mean, no one gets to tell me that my farm has to close, yanno? But I also see FAR too many businesses forcing employees to come in when their job is not critical, and I wonder if there is a role for government in protecting citizens. Could that fall under work safety regulations? DOT? I don't know. I think it's an interesting thing to contemplate.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mamapalooza on Feb 26, 2019 15:51:44 GMT -5
No, I don't think gov't should force businesses to close. Close a road if need be (which happens here for avalanche risk/control). The gov't mandates certain tire specs throughout the winter months, that's enough.
|
|
