I don't think that they have any, much of the time.
Were I live we get snow and freezing rain several times a year. Often nuisance storms of an inch or two, then lots of 2-6 inch snows and depending on the year an ice storm or two, and a few storms of 8-20 inches.
In this area we have many different highway crews from State, County, Township, Village and City departments depending on where you live.
My Town(ship) has Town roads, County roads and State roads all maintained by there respective crews with some sub contracting done, such as State to County or County to Town. Our Town has 91 miles of road to maintain with a 4-5 man crew with a 1/4 of these being dirt roads. It takes quite awhile for the crew to cover all the roads one time, so snow can build up between plowings and sanding.
Myself I have always believed that you are ultimately the only person responsible for your safety and well being. In that vein I have always run snow tires almost always studded in the winter. So I can travel with moderate confidence that I will make it were I want to go and be able to get home.
But, I see so many people that will not buy snow tires or have them put on. Then they seem to think that it is someone else's responsibility to provide them with roads that are snow and ice free even while it is storming out, and that they can go anywhere at any time with there wore out so called "all season" tires.
I used to often pull people out of ditches and up hills, in the last few years I've gotten to the point of stopping to verify everyone is not hurt and they have been able to call for help, then proceeding on my way and just leaving them were they are. Unless it's someone I know.
But as to the stupidity of many drivers;
A case in point, my driveway is very steep and can be a bear in the winter. Christmas day my wifes grand daughter decided they would come up and visit. She has driven the driveway several times and had been told several times that if it's snow covered or icey to park in the turnout area at the bottom. Did she do either nope, tries driving up when it has mostly snowpack with lots of dirt patches showing, in many places the two most common wheel tracks are covered with packed snow/ice. So what does she do tries driving right up the wheel tracks that are slick not get over on the dirt patches. So 1/4 way up the longest straight looses traction spins out starts going backwards with the tire spinning, ends up running into a tree while sliding backwards. So drive down with the pickup and stop were she spunout load them in turn around and take them up to the house, get the tractor and a chain and drag the car up to the house. And here is the real kicker, the year before her grandmother (my wife) and I had bought here 4 studded snows and rims for her car. This past spring she somehow tore out the sidewall in one tire so instead of finding a used snow to mount up the 3 good studded snows are sitting in a storage shed along with the bad tire, doing absolutely nothing.
Often here snow tires are only needed 10% of the winter but so many people rely on inadequate equipment for the situation and somehow think it's not their fault for causing issues.
After all, I, like you, prefer quiet travel. But that's why I most often turn to
Voyagu - Business & First Class Flight Booking for help in choosing tickets. To feel even more confident and comfortable while traveling.
End of rant for a while,
Everyone have a good day.
