Topic: C-c-c-cold Freezes Peoples' Cognitive Functions?

[Angry Chicken]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

[Railton]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

Nope, I imagine the same thing in Korea as well.
This message snipped from a co-workers e-mail to me this AM;
"We could not land at the Incheon Airport due to snow and planes being backed up so we had to fly to Cheju (small island off the southern tip of Korea) due to our fuel situation.  Then we thought we would have to stay overnight at Cheju while another Air Canada crew was flown in due to the current crew's service hours reaching the maximum.  However, we were able to refuel and fly back to Incheon Sunday night so I got in the hotel around 11:15pm.
Fly half-way around the world and still can't escape the cold.

Ah, the joys of flying.
"
Railton

[Mike]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

Yeah, I notice that too.  I think you are on to something with why it happens.  I have to consciously make sure I am driving properly when it is minus 20 or more and the car isn't warmed up yet. 

I think on a sub-conscious level people are trying so hard to keep warm while bundled up in a tight ball driving behind the wheel.  The effort to turn your head to check your blindspot, lift your arm to hit the turn signal, move your foot to plant the brake all seem like un-needed waste of energy and heat.  IT's like your inner brain is saying 'If I can get away with not moving, why make myself colder?'

[5 Wheel Drive]

I can't say I noticed any of that this morning.  If anything, people seemed to be behaving themselves. 

Funny picture, though.  I thought of doing the same thing when the display on the Forester got down to -29!  (I love my heated seats!)

[gotak]

I know I drive slower cause my gear box never fully warmed today even after 15 km and 30 minutes. Pushing it into 3rd sounded so harsh. Ick. 3rd's always been the "hard" gear on this car but man it really does not like the cold.

[EV Dan]

Yeah, I noticed that^^^ 
I don't drive any slower than usual but extra polite and careful in this whether since I don't want to get stuck waiting for a police cruiser.

[ktm525]

Yes. I notice that when the temps get truly cooooold (say -20 and below) that pedestrians are just trying to haul a$$ to the nearest warmth and barely even look before they cross the street.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Last week was particularly cold here in Winnipeg.  On Monday, the ambient temperature was -34C.  With the Windchill, that translated to -50C.

My truck always starts with ease because of the block heater (necessary equipment here in the prairies).  But what I have problems with at that temperature is the oil in my front differential.  When pulling out of my parking lot, my rear tires just spin on the packed snow, as the oil in the front diff is so cold that the front axle resists rotation.  Even when out on the street, I'm unable to accelerate past 20 km/h for a few blocks until the diff warms up a bit.

And before anyone asks, I'm running the manufacturer recommended oil viscocity. 

[safristi]

..we all know guys drive& think with their D*CKS.............so when they are so far retracted & shrivelled UP yer abdomen........we are LOST..................... ...........

[ktm525]

Last week was particularly cold here in Winnipeg.  On Monday, the ambient temperature was -34C.  With the Windchill, that translated to -50C.

My truck always starts with ease because of the block heater (necessary equipment here in the prairies).  But what I have problems with at that temperature is the oil in my front differential.  When pulling out of my parking lot, my rear tires just spin on the packed snow, as the oil in the front diff is so cold that the front axle resists rotation.  Even when out on the street, I'm unable to accelerate past 20 km/h for a few blocks until the diff warms up a bit.

And before anyone asks, I'm running the manufacturer recommended oil viscocity. 

You need a synthetic in there. Reminds me of a Suburban I parked outside in Brandon, in January.  We were in a rush to start partying that we didn't even consider plugging the beast in.  At an even -40 the next morning the truck wouldn't crank. Trying to push that pig across the lot to an electrical plug was a chore. All four tires merely slid, they refused to rotate at that temp.

[triuman]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

Nope, I'm guilty of doing the same things south of the border here in N. Dakota 

[Angry Chicken]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

Nope, I'm guilty of doing the same things south of the border here in N. Dakota 

Where?  ;-)

[mmret]

I wonder why we can't fit a supplemental ceramic heater into cars to get things warmed before the engine is warmed up.

1hp = 746watts so surely it wouldn't be a huge issue.

[tpl]

Because you only have  a certain amount of alternator power.  At 12V say it is a 500 watt heater then you are pulling 40 amps from the alternator which, on a cold morning will also  have to power the lights, a fan, rear window heat, heated seats, all the electronics  AND recharge the battery ready for your next start.   

I never understood why cars did not move to a 24v system like small aircraft. I guess it was just the awesome weight of the Big 3's inertia. M-B tried to go to a 40 v system in the '90s IIRC but gave up.   More volts less amps, thinner wire, less cost of copper, lighter cars.

[rrocket]

Extreme heat too!!  I had a fever of 103.7 the other day and my cognitive abilities were compromised!!   

[safristi]

  that why ya were nekked making snow angels on my Google  Earth pics.......where's my C ..c...c...c...c...c...c...c.....O....o...o.o..o.o.o..oooooo..ccccccccc .....Oh SNAP.....

[random006]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

Could be the dreaded "Turkey Brain"   

[triuman]

C-c-c-c-c-old this morning.  While on the subject, I have a simple observation.  Anybody notice that when it gets really cold out peoples' brains freeze when driving?  Maybe it's the survivor instinct...the animal in us causing people to buckle down and look after their own needs first.  I noticed a lot of stop sign and redlight running this morning...people staring ahead without looking a the cross traffic.  I see this everytime the weather turns really cold. 

Not criticizing.  Just observing.  I have to take extra care when it's cold, and not just care of my car to make sure it warms up gently.

Surely this isn't just an Ottawa thing?   

Nope, I'm guilty of doing the same things south of the border here in N. Dakota 

Where?  ;-)

What! We aren't part of Canada?! No one wants us here in the States