Is there a word for out-of-staters who don’t know how to drive in the snow?

Submitted by cbandes t3_10dyrld in massachusetts

My wife is from Colorado, and she was saying (as we were stuck behind some snowpoke who kept hitting the brakes whenever they saw a flake or two) that they had a word for out-of-staters who couldn’t drive on mountain roads (They called them flatlanders) and she wondered if there was a New England/Massachusetts term for folks who couldn’t cope with winter driving. I couldn’t think of one.

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The_eldritch_bitch t1_j4obxws wrote

They’re all a buncha jabronis

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pro_auto_advisors t1_j4oh4et wrote

Follow up question - what should we call New Englanders who can’t drive in the snow?

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PantherBrewery t1_j4oiccu wrote

Amateurs

Usually the owners of 4X4s found drifted into the median.

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TingGreaterThanOC t1_j4psmmp wrote

They think their car has magical powers to overcome their lack of driving skills 😂

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sydiko t1_j4q7bbm wrote

Those people are not from New England though? Typically they drive those jeeeeeeeps and trucks with a false sense of AWD security.

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PantherBrewery t1_j4qkd97 wrote

I like to check the plates. Lot of Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the ditch. Sometimes they had passed me a few miles back.

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InevitableOne8421 t1_j4qmq3g wrote

Especially sad when they don't know how to engage 4L or lockers when they have them

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EnoughIdeas t1_j4rztbr wrote

It's always a 4x4 with nice tires sitting in the median as a fleet of shitty fucked up paint 99 civcs with all season tires drive past.

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waffles2go2 t1_j4rzh5u wrote

"F-ing Assholes in front of me"...

Pretty much a general-use go-to for any situation.

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sydiko t1_j4q76bs wrote

I don't think its possible to be born here and not know how to drive in the snow?

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chevyadsict83 t1_j4qjnf5 wrote

Ya. People from mass are fucking dopes in the snow

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wittgensteins-boat t1_j4yypk3 wrote

We Western Massachusetts folks in the Bekshires do just fine in the snow, because we have to.

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Maronita2020 t1_j4o0tuz wrote

I would call them idiots for driving here.

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ForTheLoveOfAudio t1_j4oq5ez wrote

No matter from whence they originated, they will always and forever, to me, be Floridians.

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doctor-rumack t1_j4pzge8 wrote

Growing up on the Cape we called pretty much anyone from out of state New Yorkers.

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EnoughIdeas t1_j4s016q wrote

To be specific it's always people from NYC or around it. Mid state and the north contry NY has two seasons, winter and one week in july.

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individual_328 t1_j4o99vm wrote

Flatlander is used by lots of people in mountainous areas to refer to outsiders. It's common in Vermont.

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HankAtGlobexCorp t1_j4riyqk wrote

Vermont, the extremely mountainous place with the 26th highest point of the 50 states.

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Animallover4321 t1_j4o6bnw wrote

What’s the word for asshole that was tailgating me on 95 when I was going nearly 70 in the middle lane, same speed as the car in front of me but keeping a little extra because space because it was snowing and visibility was getting worse.

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darksideofthemoon131 t1_j4p9u9j wrote

Was on rte 9 yesterday morning because I didn't want to be on highway during storm because of tailgaters who get impatient when I go speed limit to be safe.

Still had people riding my tail and flashing lights despite going the speed limit. Had one come within an inch of hitting my car because they slid at the stop light because there was snow and ice on the road.

I've lived here my whole life. I know how to drive in the snow- be cautious and don't think you're invincible. Driving like there's nothing on the ground doesn't make you a New Englander, it makes you an asshole that will cause an accident.

You know its snowing, leave early if you need to be somewhere. I am not going to go faster because you're late. Especially during snow

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Bayoris t1_j4pd9v0 wrote

I’m with you. A lot of the time people who complain about others not knowing how to drive in the snow actually are complaining about the fact that they are driving slower.

Driving slower is how you’re supposed to drive in the snow.

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Hungry-Moose-121 t1_j4pyro2 wrote

If people are almost hitting you because of how slow you are going, why not pull over and let them pass?

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darksideofthemoon131 t1_j4q08yh wrote

If I'm driving the speed limit in the center or right lane during a snowstorm and that's not fast enough, that's a you problem. I fully admit to going 75 when it's nice out and the roads are clear- but during a storm it's not happening.

I took rte 9 for the sole purpose of the slower speed limits. I stayed in the right lane the whole way, drove the speed and kept a distance between myself and others. Started slowing down before stop lights to not slide into others- how am I in the wrong? Just pass me in other lane, I'm not gonna be moving out of the way cuz you're in a rush. I'm at work now. I don't start for another 45 minutes- why? Cuz I like to leave early and avoid traffic and not get into a road rage because I didn't plan my day right.

When you do shit like that- you're an asshole. Aggressive driving serves no purpose but fueling road rage and accidents. Both of which contribute to the exorbitant insurance rates we pay in this state.

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RisingPhoenix92 t1_j4qp9by wrote

Why is the responsibility on the person driving safely? Also he wasnt driving slow he was driving an appropriate speed for the conditions, attitudes like yours are why I have to spend money I was saving to get a new car because mine was totaled by a fool like you.

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PersonalFudge9059 t1_j4osowm wrote

People who tailgate during/after snowstorms are assholes, and reckless. I don’t care if you have AWD or winter tires, go slower and stay at a distance of 2 cars from the person in front of you. Idk how people pass driving tests lol.

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Animallover4321 t1_j4p7ycc wrote

I don’t get tailgating you don’t get there any faster if you leave a little room in front of you.

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GoochMasterFlash t1_j4phv0d wrote

You especially never get anywhere faster when 2/3 people will just slow down if you tailgate them. Nothing makes me want to go from driving 5 over to driving 5 under like some asshole trying to get into my back seat. Ill let them pass illegally if they want to be that stupid. Only successfully baited one person into a ticket doing that but its so rewarding

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Animallover4321 t1_j4pxuaf wrote

Isn’t it satisfying? Eventually with the asshole behind me started to really piss me off (again he could pass at anytime in left lane) so I ended up slowing down to the speed limit which at that point was 55. Too bad he never got a ticket.

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BlaineTog t1_j4qfy79 wrote

They're trying to force the driver in front of them to go faster. The idea is to make them so uncomfortable that they either speed up just to get some tail room or move a lane to the right to get out of the way.

Mind you, slow driving in the fast lane is its own faux pas, but I don't find that to be a problem nearly as often as tailgaters do.

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Animallover4321 t1_j4qg2jg wrote

Yeah but when there’s a car in front of the car being tailgated there’s nowhere to go.

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BlaineTog t1_j4qj855 wrote

They expect you to tailgate the car in front of you, impelling them to go faster. It's stupid, I know.

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RisingPhoenix92 t1_j4qood6 wrote

Had a trucker do that to me, was pissed off enough by it I didnt realize I should have asked my friend to grab the plate number and call both Staties and Target for the driver causing such an unsafe situation.

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Maronita2020 t1_j4r9klj wrote

I've had both cars and truckers do it to me a zillion times over and just slow down and drive like that for over five miles and they blow their horns continually so I slow down even more. They keep blowing there horn so I slow down even more then they move to another lane give me the middle. I give them a big smile and a wave. I'm sure I've pissed them off big time since they didn't get the reaction from me that they wanted by giving me the middle finger. lol

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DunkinRadio t1_j4pyaa4 wrote

Whenever I've asked people why they drive so close the answer is invariably "I want to get there sooner/faster."

[shrug]

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Giving_Cat t1_j4ot9yb wrote

Grew up in Western Massachusetts. Really, the other side of the Connecticut River. Now in Southern California. You have nothing to complain about. Here rain has the worst driver response ever. The first drops cause a huge decrease in speed. Then when they discover they aren’t melting they go back to normal speeds just as the road oils make it maximum dangerous.

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cakeba t1_j4qr1h1 wrote

It's not a competition. The dumbasses in your neck of the woods don't make the dumbasses in our neck of the woods any less dumb of ass.

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pleasedtoseedetrees t1_j4pu71h wrote

Can confirm - I lived in SoCal for a year when I was 19 (a zillion years ago) and was shocked at how people drove out there when it rained.

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-PC-- t1_j4skjpn wrote

Yeah, I'm from around where you describe. When you're in Springfield, it's always fun in snow. Last year, I drove during a blizzard on State Route 57 in Agawam and I drifted a little bit. However, while I drifted a little bit, I watched someone drift into the center and down into a slight ditch. These people act like they've never seen snow before after one year.

On another note, my aunt lives in Palm Springs and when it rains these people don't know how to drive either. So, you're right too.

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LadyTigerBomb t1_j4vicp6 wrote

I hated driving on 57 in general but in the snow is an absolute hellscape. Love my hometown but 57 is garbage.

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-PC-- t1_j4viu0j wrote

Yeah, I'm from across the river from it. I hate going over the south-end bridge and then trying to get on 57 from the circle under 5.

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Mnemon-TORreport t1_j4ptzdj wrote

No distinction needed because people from here can't drive in the snow either.

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savory_thing t1_j4r62h8 wrote

The dumb ones are the ones who don’t slow down when there’s snow on the roads.

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EnoughIdeas t1_j4s08id wrote

"I have AWD and snows I don't need to slow down!"

God my car is good in the snow but it sure as hell doesn't have a magic ability to stop on black ice or slush.

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ADarwinAward t1_j4s9mow wrote

Got rear ended while parked at a red light. Was headed to the doctor during snowfall.

Person gets out and the first thing they say is “I was going the speed limit”. Idiot

It was maybe my 3rd time driving in snow and even I knew better

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jeepjockey52 t1_j4phcw3 wrote

I’ve been calling them flat landers for a long time. I learned to drive in the Worcester hills in the winter.

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CT_Patriot t1_j4ps5dq wrote

Watched a SUV go flying past me on the Merritt Parkway years ago when it was snowing hard and fast covering the roadway big time. Snow had already accumulated and trucks yet to clear.

There i was, in the right lane crawling in a company car (Ford Focus Wagon- all season tires) just taking it easy with this horrible car and conditions when a SUV in left lane flew by me.

As I was crawling, I watched the SUV all of a sudden cross over to right lane and continue into the woods. No heavy damage to it, the fool got out fine but seemed pissed off (gee, wonder why🤔).

Now, driving a Subaru Outback, no problem in snow and can travel at parkway/thru way speed levels without issue.

I just wish anyone in a poor vehicle not good in snow just learn to keep right and take their time as opposed to attempting faster travel that results in them spinning off sideways in front of us who know how to drive in snow.

Its the local roads where I find those who know or not know how to drive in snow and see them crash into poles, signs or off the road.

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aja09 t1_j4parzv wrote

Wicked bad drivers

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Quiet-Ad-12 t1_j4plff7 wrote

Wash-ashore's is what the Cape folks call anyone who isn't 7th generation lobstahmen

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IwearBrute t1_j4przsg wrote

Well, for one, I'm starting to call them snowpokes

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ExpatPhD t1_j4pwrug wrote

A lot of the snow in Colorado arrives in the morning and is gone by the afternoon (especially in Denver and Co Springs - high plains desert). I found Coloradans just as bad and aggressive as Massholes on the roads - snow or not - and moreso when I still had Mass plates.

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InjectCreatine t1_j4rv8o3 wrote

I live in the springs, grew up in MA. Driving in MA is a calculated madness. In Colorado people simply don't know how to drive. Yesterday I saw someone come to a completely dead stop in a rotary in order to let someone merge in.

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ExpatPhD t1_j4s01oj wrote

Admittedly Colorado was the first place that I've ever seen people drive around with just plain coffee mugs filled with boiling hot coffee. No travel mugs. Just... Mugs.

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RevengencerAlf t1_j4r0m3p wrote

Same name as in-staters who don't know how to drive in the snow. Fucking idiots.

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themightydognar t1_j4ohpft wrote

I call them jerries. Same as what I call people who ski in jeans

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drmissmodular t1_j4pxfe1 wrote

Knuckleheads if I’m feeling generous

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420trashcan t1_j4q84vx wrote

I don't know. But there IS a word for the attitude of people who think AWD makes them invincible.

Subris.

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NightWalk77 t1_j4qc8ml wrote

Heck people native here still don't know how to drive in it.

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amoloney26 t1_j4r72jh wrote

i think it’s “fahkin idiots” but could be wrong

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Graywulff t1_j4rg6hl wrote

Snow tires if you have rear wheel drive. Seriously a game changer.

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hockeystick13 t1_j4rzo1b wrote

Ah another idiot who thinks awd means all wheel stop .

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FarDistance3468 t1_j4sjwsc wrote

Asshole?? I’m pretty sure it is asshole

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baddspellar t1_j4plbvs wrote

There are many words for them, most of them not suitable for children. Only exception I can think of is "idiot", but that word is more often accompanied by a more offensive adjective that starts with "f".

People in Colorado must be a lot nicer to use something inoffensive like "flatlanders"

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CannaTrichMan t1_j4pyc32 wrote

I just call em flatlanders too, but that’s for a lot of things, not just driving in inclement weather

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tzmad t1_j4q2fq5 wrote

Flatholes

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Unseen_Unheard_ t1_j4q3h3x wrote

Yeah, a lot of people I know call em "flatlands".

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Banea-Vaedr t1_j4qrnfw wrote

We used to call them "Johnnies", as in "Johnny Reb" as a derogatory term for "Southerners"

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Icy_Arachnid_260 t1_j4qtihx wrote

I'm from Michigan and people in Massachusetts don't know how to drive in the snow, or rain or anything else. They talk a big game but are as bad as any state they complain about.

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the_sky_god15 t1_j4r2znq wrote

Fucktard is generally what I’ve heard used.

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amoloney26 t1_j4r713v wrote

vermonters apparently use this term too lol

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bluegoobeard t1_j4rmoq9 wrote

I’ve heard “dinghy” for out of state people who don’t know how to handle a rotary and just follow the tail of someone else to get through, like dinghies following a larger boat.

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chevalier716 t1_j4rrnue wrote

I have tells for bad snow drivers, not so much nicknames, though I use them as nicknames something:

Florida plates or Green plates = Old drivers, avoid during snow travel.

No headlights = it's law that you have to have lights on in bad weather here in Mass, but people still don't and it's not really enforced. So, when people do it, you know they aren't thinking of other drivers on the road and being visible to them.

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Lolobecks t1_j4s4s7n wrote

Pretty sure it’s “massholes”

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8valvegrowl t1_j4s70he wrote

Massholes. Connecticunts. Nude Hampsterites. Maine-iacs. And Qweebs.

-Learn to heel toe and left foot brake to balance your wheel slippage. ~Vermonter.

Upstate New Yorkers are exempt.

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Capable-Still2060 t1_j4s8xcu wrote

I think many New Englanders know simply just avoid driving in it, when possible. And one benefit of our grid lock traffic, is it's harder to die if everyone's goin ' slow!

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JenLaGs t1_j4shc61 wrote

Lived in MA my whole life and I will drive at a speed where I feel comfortable enough if the roads aren't totally cleared yet. All the people who want to tailgate me can go around or fucking wait because I don't care. I give people from out of state a break during storms because I'm sure it's new and intimidating for some of them. No need to be a complete asshole when it comes to driving in a snow storm.

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failedfourthestate t1_j4sz50c wrote

Morons, literally what I mutter to myself before I do something moronic on the road and am oblivious to the irony. Haha

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UKisBEST t1_j4o4jkw wrote

Flatlanders. No, wait, that's you guys...

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BarRegular2684 t1_j4pcl82 wrote

Most of the words I use would get me banned. If we could just chuck them all in the harbor we could call them chum…

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Aromatic-Economics95 t1_j4qctlw wrote

I’m originally from North Jersey, I moved to Mass when I was 4. So I inevitably slip into a Tony Soprano-like rant including many a “muthafucking cockshuka!!!” I’m not proud of it, but it’s who I am.

0