Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:24 pm
Denver, Colorado often has interesting weather.
Due to low humidity, we do not feel the Winter cold nor the Summer heat as keenly.
But at 1 mile high, less atmosphere allows more UV penetration. So I always wear a hat and clothing to avoid sunburn.
One afternoon in early September, I was heading west, emergent. (red lights/siren)
Starting out in clear skies and bright sunlight, I soon entered falling snow of an advancing storm.
Still, in my rearview mirror, things were sunny and bright through the snow!
Continuing north, then west, the snow density increased, becoming a mild blizzard.
As I quietly (no siren) headed down the street towards a familiar residential intersection, one vehicle ahead saw the emergency lights and pulled right, I suddenly saw a red traffic signal above.
I was ALREADY arriving at the intersection!!!!
Instantly I applied brakes and slowed as quickly as possible, but slid on the now slippery surface.
Worse, a southbound vehicle was already pulling into the intersection!!!
All I could do to avoid hitting it was to gently steer to the right and pass barely behind it.
Luckily there was no other vehicle following him, otherwise I would have slid into it --entirely MY fault.
I was shocked that I had lost perception of distance traveled and had arrived at that intersection before even beginning to slow for it.
(Naturally, this time the usually green signal was RED!)
The rest of the trip was in blizzard conditions.