I work on the railroad at times when they have emergencies (so sometimes you just have to go) and yes I have been out in some bad weather I also drive around 45,000 miles a year and have a lot of experience driving in a variety of weather conditions. I also prep when I drive and keep food, water, warmth in my vehicle in case of the aught oh moment. I agree I don't want to put others in harm to help me and I support the dumb motorist laws like Arizona has.
Just by the fact that there are many different opinions on this very thread makes it difficult to determine what is "right" or "fair" or "safe", etc..
In some states, they are starting to charge people for rescue operations when they head into the wilderness and get into trouble.
Part of what the State is trying to do is keep the roads free of traffic so they can more effectively clear them. Police and Fire want to have resources to continue to catch bad guys and put out fires and such. Not spending their time rescuing people in 4WD's that end up off the road stuck.
And, I may be naive, but I think they want people to be safe and not get injured or freeze to death.
I grew up in a northern state and I could have gone out today and got around. But I had everything I needed for today in my home. My job enables me to work from home if I need to. Even though our plant and offices were closed, being in sales I still had customers in other parts of the country who did work. So I did a little work and made french toast for breakfast. After all I had eggs, bread and milk!
1. The question demanding an answer is that off whether we need or should have a nanny state controlling when we are allowed to leave our homes.
I honestly don't understand how people sitting at home feel qualified to second-guess the decisions of the professionals who are responsible for the public safety. I guess that's a fundamental difference in perspective between those who trust authority and those who don't.
Have you ever met some of these so called professionals?
Are there individuals who should not be trusted? Of course. But I trust that if the city/county/state "powers that be" declare a state of emergency and say that travel is unsafe, they are much more qualified to make that judgement than I am.
And it's all about I, I, I, I, I.
I think the first question demanding an answer is do you think it really matters what kind of state you think you need, nanny or otherwise, would in any way affect the kind of state that you in fact have?
I would have videotaped it and called the news and gave them the footage. A guaranteed fix to that problem!F .gov, just do what you got to do but be smart about it, -50* wind chill will kill you damn fast, the drifts were bad, even to much for my 1ton truck to make it through in the country, unless you have a humvee and know what you at doing you were not going to be able to make it in my area.
If I need to get somewhere there is a reason for it and I am not going to let .gov tell me what I can/cannot do.
I watched a city owned pickup with plow on it doing sonuts/180's and screwing off the other day in a brand new truck, makes me mad to see some ass screwing off in the truck that we paid for while we pay him...