You would think that because Finland gets a lot of snow - that everybody hates it.
But that's not true!
Because it's dark by 4pm...if not earlier...and the sun doesn't come peeking out until about 9-10am...it's pretty dark out! The snow acts as a reflector of the street lights and it brightens up the area A LOT.
But at the same time, it has it's down sides too....like having to bundle yourself and your kids up in at least 3 layers....pushing a stroller with hard plastic wheels can be a complete pain when there's clumps of snow in the way (or the sidewalk has yet to be plowed)....oh and then half the side walk is usually gone too.
And a word of caution:
For some reason - Finnish drivers do not (doesn't apply to all) sweep the snow off the roof of their vehicles.
Can we say: DANGEROUS?!
So please, PLEASE, PLEASE...wipe the snow off the roof of your car.
Onto other Dangerous Snow-Related Accidents in Finland:
But that's not true!
Because it's dark by 4pm...if not earlier...and the sun doesn't come peeking out until about 9-10am...it's pretty dark out! The snow acts as a reflector of the street lights and it brightens up the area A LOT.
But at the same time, it has it's down sides too....like having to bundle yourself and your kids up in at least 3 layers....pushing a stroller with hard plastic wheels can be a complete pain when there's clumps of snow in the way (or the sidewalk has yet to be plowed)....oh and then half the side walk is usually gone too.
And a word of caution:
For some reason - Finnish drivers do not (doesn't apply to all) sweep the snow off the roof of their vehicles.
Can we say: DANGEROUS?!
- Scenario #1: Think of it this way...you're the driver behind the jerk who didn't sweep off their roof...a bit of warm air, a breeze or a sharp turn or brake - and POW! You have tonnes of snow and possibly ice on your windshield...you can't see...it's a green light and you can't see.
You're swerving...the people behind you are swerving...and the jerk up ahead is trucking along totally oblivious to the hazard they just caused you. - Scenario #2: You're a cyclist (yes Finns ride their bikes in the winter) and you get a face full of snow....and then you fall and possibly get hit by someone else from behind or on the side.
- Scenario #3: Scenario 1 happens and your windshield cracks...it's totally possible with the weight of ice and snow and speed and other physics-related things...and 1 little tiny crack can cause you a huge-assed problem. It'll spread and it costs a TONNE of money to replace your whole windshield!
So please, PLEASE, PLEASE...wipe the snow off the roof of your car.
Onto other Dangerous Snow-Related Accidents in Finland:
- Be cautious of walking under trees....they are heavy with snow and probably some ice because it's been raining....it hurts quite a bit when a chunk falls and smacks you in the face, head or neck.
- Be VERY cautious of walking near tall buildings...sometimes people are on the roof shovelling the ice and snow off and it hurts a lot if you get hit. Normally there's someone below telling the shoveller when pedestrians are walking by....not always.
- Sometimes ice and snow just falls off the roof of buildings - the taller the building, the faster the fall, the harder it'll hit you. So try to not walk glued to the sides/fronts of a building....
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| Many pine trees are so old that the weight of the snow is weighing down their branches and they are SNAPPING off...so be careful! |
