New driver - can employer force me to use my car if it’s snowing

keith1950

Hi, you should always try to get to work however bad it looks.

Looking out of your front window may be frightening to you, but how do you know that the main roads haven't cleared?

If you set off and are not getting anywhere within an hour then turn back and ring work.

How do you expect to get any experience if you don't even try?

In approximately 3.5 million miles of driving I have always managed to get to my destination although sometimes a bit late.

Would it make any difference to your decision if you weren't paid if you didn't turn up.

However if you can make it into work by other means then at least turn up and let them find you a pool car to use.

He who dares wins !!!

photome

JethroUK wrote: »

Probably for the same reason she doesn't 'try' (practice) exiting her car through a window when it's 20' under water, or she doesn't 'practice' driving drunk

Driving in snow is not 'compulsory', so you dont NEED to experience it

That of course depends on your job and wether you want to keep it. I am a field service engineer and drive 30000 a year, not sure the company would be to impressed if i refused to drive everytime it snowed

We have had snow since monday here and it was really bad on tue with temps of -15 and so many main roads closed it was ridiculous, but I still managed 150 miles that day all be it it took me 2 hours to do 10 miles at one point

To the OP i think you prob did the right thing unless of course you took the job knowing that you would have to use your car to be able to carry out your job.

2mm on your tyres doesnt mean you have to go straight out and buy more tyres so ignore those that give you hassle, of course they are very close to being illegal but they are not!

And ignore the idiot who says return your license

Yolina

How about contacting your driving instructor and asking for a couple of lessons in the snow?

basill

caz_cardiff87 wrote: »

along with some really useless advice e.g. keep a spade in the car and use some old carpet to stick under your wheels if you get stuck....

This sort of advice is worth taking, what if the snow comes down when you are already at work or on your way somewhere? If you get stuck on a journey its much better to be able to clear a bit of snow and get yourself moving again. Cat litter or sand are alternatives to carpet.

Even if you have to buy some items your winter kit will probably last a lifetime of driving

I would add extra warm clothing, a drink and a packet of chocolate digestives to the list at the very least.

B

neilmcl

photome wrote: »

And ignore the idiot who says return your license

And the person driving around on 2mm of tread this time of year isn't?

Nerja_2

Its beyond me why so many people go out when its snowing on normal car tyres, let alone summer tyres with 2mm tread.

If your employer expects you to drive in the snow, then I would suggest that your employer sends you on a snow driving course and supplies you with winter tyres and/or snow chains.

I have a 4x4, but there are mountain roads not far from here where it is illegal to drive on them without chains.

Its no surprise that the UK grinds to a halt when there is a bit of snow if the mentality is to try and drive in it as if it is a summer's day.

To the OP - stand your ground and don't drive in the snow as you and your car are not equipped to do it.

steve-L

JethroUK wrote: »

Probably for the same reason she doesn't 'try' (practice) exiting her car through a window when it's 20' under water, or she doesn't 'practice' driving drunk

Driving in snow is not 'compulsory', so you dont NEED to experience it

First, you're fundamentally correct ... I'm not having a go....
Second, I phoned in and said I was working from home....
I justify that as I can't work from the car and I have deadlines.... (not that anyone asked) ....


However, driving in snow is something likely to happen ... you set out and its not snowing and then it snows....

My work has taken me to every continent except Antarctica and I have had to drive. As such my various employers have sent me on regular advanced and defensive driving courses through the years...
I also spent 2 winters in Norway... where skid patch driving is part of the driving test.

I have also had several refreshers to my North Sea survival where I have to get dunked in a toy helicopter....

Being prepared to drive drunk is for most pointless as you will never be required to do it....
Being able to get out of a car that goes over a bridge is a rather unlikely situation that is not worth preparing for....

Being able to drive in snow, seems to me something you can easily find yourself in.

Overall though there is a bit of a gap....
The OP is NOT confident in snow (OK and fair enough)
However they have 2mm of tread ......

I'd agree with those saying, change your tyres ASAP... don't wait for the legal minimum. If you are not confident in snow then why risk a similar experience in heavy rain due to aquaplaning.... or even light frost, some diesel spilled etc.

For the OP's wellbring it might not be a bad idea to get some all weather tyres AND spend an hour with a friend/relative who is experienced and confident on snow.

Then, if they do get caught out they are at least confident of dealing with the situation not to mention other circumstances that cause lack of grip.

My OH went out (without kiddy) to Supermarket and slipped on a roundabout and scared herself to death.... had I slipped a bit it wouldn't have concerned me in the least because I'd both be expecting it and know how to handle it....(having experienced it before).

Half the issue is people's initial reaction when they skid is to put on the brakes... and that is in most cases in snow the wrong thing to do... (except what might be termed advanced techniques)....

SLITHER99

In my experience, driving in the snow is far more dangerous than driving in dry conditions. However, any incident is entirely based on luck. You could easily get blinded by the sun on a summer's day and accidentally smack into a brick wall, but you could also skid on black ice to do the same thing.

I've no idea where people get "old carpets" from. Is there a magical shop that sells them?

Let me put this into more perspective for you. I passed my test at 17. Given my family backgrounds, since my legs were long enough, approx 13 or so, I've had a chance to drive range rovers, dirt bikes, a couple of motorbikes and some smaller JCBs.

At 25, I had a contract role where we had to use pool cars (complication of business insurance required, etc, cheaper to have contract staff using poolers). However, for insurance purposes, we all had to do the Advanced Drivers course. Excellent course, IMO should actually be the standard test, but whatever, my opinion's worth it's weight in hot air, right?

So, I've had an advanced driver's license for 5 years. That said, I refuse to accept that I'm somehow God's gift to the roads. I find such a smug attitude a turnoff and achieves nothing.

The last snow storm we had, I chose to drive in the snow to get to my gym (keeping fit has been my new kick for a LONG time). On the entrance road to the complex, I was driving slow (7-8mph), my tyre pressures were optimum, I had snow tyres on my front wheels (simply due to mileage). I was doing everything right.

However, as it was obscured by snow, I misjudged where a severe road hump was on the entrance road - I thought it was further along the road. The car started to skid, I tried to correct, tried to go with it, but it was just gone. Nothing I could have done and wham I ended up in some gates.

Now, there was no major damage, the insurance sorted it (amazingly in my favour) but there we have it. All that experience and a chance incident which made me have an accident in the snow.

Amazingly, I had no end of insults coming from all directions. INCLUDING some people here who called me a "scamming phuck", told me that they'd love to see me hanging by the neck, I wasn't driving appropriate to the conditions, etc, etc. Nicely, a lot of those comments were removed, I guess some moderator thought they should censor it a little. I also had tonnes of people telling me how I obviously can't handle snow driving, how I should have "driven out" of the skid, etc. To me, all just posturing, typical English attitude of one-upmanship with no real basis.

But, if anything the years of experience I personally have, snow conditions represent a far greater risk of skidding out and there's every possibility that while you may be able to "get out of it", there's every possibility that you won't!

Whether or not you're justified in your opinion to not drive under snowy conditions, it's up to your employer how to deal with it. Personally, if you're not confident driving in the conditions, I feel better that you don't. But, for all your boss knows, you're just after a day off. You could offer to take it as vacation pay? You could offer to meet a work colleague to drive in with them?

If you're after justification not to drive, you don't really need it; if you don't want to, don't. But you also need to reach some sort of comprimise with your employer.

I currently commute 45 miles to work. In these conditions, I'm lucky in that I have the benefit of being able to work from home and an understanding boss - something I appreciate isn't in every walk of life. My previous company demanded I got to work regardless of the conditions and, whaddya know, my third day trekking through the snowy roads, some guy behind me lost control at the lights and slammed into the back of me. Sure, I could have yelled at his inexperience, etc, but there you have it. The sum total of sympathies my employer extended was "We will call it unauthorised leave and you won't be paid". I retorted with my resignation.

Of course, given the age of both cars, we were both left car hunting and I was left stranded in my small town with no transport. So I get where you're coming from - if you wreck this car, you're not getting another. It was 6 months until I could get another car and I'm in a fairly decent paying job!

Sgt_Pepper_2

OP the simple answer to your question is. If you're not contracted to use your car and have one at work as part of your contract. They can't make you drive it there.

Sgt_Pepper_2

SLITHER99 wrote: »

In my experience, driving in the snow is far more dangerous than driving in dry conditions. However, any incident is entirely based on luck. You could easily get blinded by the sun on a summer's day and accidentally smack into a brick wall, but you could also skid on black ice to do the same thing.

I've no idea where people get "old carpets" from. Is there a magical shop that sells them?

Let me put this into more perspective for you. I passed my test at 17. Given my family backgrounds, since my legs were long enough, approx 13 or so, I've had a chance to drive range rovers, dirt bikes, a couple of motorbikes and some smaller JCBs.

At 25, I had a contract role where we had to use pool cars (complication of business insurance required, etc, cheaper to have contract staff using poolers). However, for insurance purposes, we all had to do the Advanced Drivers course. Excellent course, IMO should actually be the standard test, but whatever, my opinion's worth it's weight in hot air, right?

So, I've had an advanced driver's license for 5 years. That said, I refuse to accept that I'm somehow God's gift to the roads. I find such a smug attitude a turnoff and achieves nothing.

The last snow storm we had, I chose to drive in the snow to get to my gym (keeping fit has been my new kick for a LONG time). On the entrance road to the complex, I was driving slow (7-8mph), my tyre pressures were optimum, I had snow tyres on my front wheels (simply due to mileage). I was doing everything right.

However, as it was obscured by snow, I misjudged where a severe road hump was on the entrance road - I thought it was further along the road. The car started to skid, I tried to correct, tried to go with it, but it was just gone. Nothing I could have done and wham I ended up in some gates.

Now, there was no major damage, the insurance sorted it (amazingly in my favour) but there we have it. All that experience and a chance incident which made me have an accident in the snow.

Amazingly, I had no end of insults coming from all directions. INCLUDING some people here who called me a "scamming phuck", told me that they'd love to see me hanging by the neck, I wasn't driving appropriate to the conditions, etc, etc. Nicely, a lot of those comments were removed, I guess some moderator thought they should censor it a little. I also had tonnes of people telling me how I obviously can't handle snow driving, how I should have "driven out" of the skid, etc.

But, if anything the years of experience I personally have, snow conditions represent a far greater risk of skidding out and there's every possibility that while you may be able to "get out of it", there's every possibility that you won't!

Whether or not you're justified in your opinion to not drive under snowy conditions, it's up to your employer how to deal with it. Personally, if you're not confident driving in the conditions, I feel better that you don't. But, for all your boss knows, you're just after a day off. You could offer to take it as vacation pay? You could offer to meet a work colleague to drive in with them?

If you're after justification not to drive, you don't really need it; if you don't want to, don't. But you also need to reach some sort of comprimise with your employer.

No you haven't, you've got a standard DVLA licence same as the OP.