when they're nonessential and probably shouldn't have been opened in the first place. I know not everything should shut down because it snows, because in some places that means places wouldn't open up all winter. But not only is this dangerous for the workers, it also creates extra problems for the essential personnel that have to work. If you're on your way to work and in an accident, fire and police have to respond. If they're responding to something like someone having a heart attack and end up stuck behind someone that spun out and blocked the road, the person they're trying to get to may die.
Several years ago, we had a blizzard before Christmas. A good foot and a half of snow. It was declared an emergency, and people were asked to stay at home. One of my friends was complaining online (I think Facebook? it was 2009 so I don't remember if it was there, might have been Livejournal) about how bad the traffic and roads had been while she and her husband had been driving all around doing their errands (grocery shopping, library, etc.). It just really irritated me and I know I commented on it, and apparently what I said sunk in because when we had our next blizzard (in February of the next year, two blizzards in one week, we had nearly 5 feet of snow - it was referred to as Snowmaggedon around here), she specifically posted to say they stayed in this time.
I hate having to drive in snow, but since I'm an essential employee I have to go in. I'm in the process of purchasing an AWD vehicle right now; honestly it's long past when I should have gotten one. I have driven Mr. Kris's SUV in the past when I've had to go in, or had coworkers that could give me a ride (and if it's bad enough we're able to request a ride from officers with 4x4s, a god send during Snowmaggedon when I had to work every day that week!). And we have one AWD van at work now, and in the next month or so we're getting a Ford F150 4x4 which I'll actually be assigned to drive. I still hate driving in it though, mainly because of the other drivers - you have people that know what they're doing and are cautious and paying attention, and then you have *******s who get a vehicle with AWD and think they can just drive 60 mph on any road and love to tailgate anyone who actually is driving appropriately for the weather. I have always said I want a display on my car that I can type stuff in, things like "GET OFF MY ASS" to send to the drivers behind me šššš
