When did people start driving so fast on the ice?

[say_der]

Yesterday was the 1st time in a couple years that I fished on a Metro area lake. Maybe I've slowed down a little in my old age, but Judas do people ever drive fast out there. 35-40 mph easily. Why?

I've always kept it under 15, even on big water lakes. Usually under 10 on small bodies of water like this one was.

Doesn't seem to safe or smart to me.

[spasticcp]

I think that people are losing their grasp on common sense more and more each year, and with each new generation. That's the only explanation that I can come up with. Individuals are smart, people are stupid.

[beer batter]

I honestly think people aren't aware of the under-ice wake that occurs when driving on the ice. I was talking to some people about it over xmas and they were very surprised. These were not stupid people either.

When you really think about what driving is like on the ice, it doesn't feel like you're creating a wake while you drive so unless someone tells you about it it's not very intuitive.

Educating people about it is the only thing that will help. Signs at access points (DNR could help there), and friendly reminders from people. It's always easy to just lump everyone else into the "stupid" category, but it's not really fair to them if they don't know any better.

[hanson]

If there is one thing that peaves me out on the lake, it is getting passed on an ice road!

Lake of the Woods & Red are notorious for this.

[korn_fish]

I know what you mean. Out on prior I thing some people think that there is a minimum speed limit that they must stay over.

Couple days ago I swear a couple people were going 60+. I am pretty sure they were too. Dumb thing was, that a guy in a portable next to me made a comment about the speed, then jumped in his truck to go chase the guy down. They actually went around a couple of times on lower prior before it ended by the "chaser" giving up to come back and fish.

[spasticcp]

It's not just the wake effect I'm referring to, it's the simple fact that you cannot stop in time out on the ice. It also makes it a lot easier to simply lose control of your vehicle. These people speeding on lakes don't just do this during the day, but at night as well. Very easy to smash into another vehicle, an icehouse, or someone walking on the ice. To me, that's a lack of common sense, and also a lack of respect for the people around them. So when I grouped these people into the stupid category, that's exactly what I was referring to.

[efgh]

When driving fast on ice it creates a wake that goes out ahead of your truck or car, this causes the ice to break and you could end up in the drink, a few years ago I saw seiners hauling full pickup loads of rough fish from the west shore of east jefferson to the east shore by beaverdam, there was only about 7 or 8 ins. of ice, they went real slow, about 5-6 miles hr. looked to me like they were driving up hill all the time. I asked one driver, why so slow with that load? answer, If I went any faster I probley won;t get 500 ft. with this truck before it went down.

[mistermom]

Stupidity on the ice isn't anything new. I was in a car with some buddies going 90 mph sideways on West Rush 20 years ago. Fortunately nothing happened; but if it had we would have all been toast.

mm

[scalescratcher]

Those that don't know about the wake effect must not be watchin their holes while they're fishing (if they ever stop to do so)! Watching the water rise and fall in the hole is enough to tell me they're pushin a good wave under that frozen crust.

[M.T. Bucket]

I was just going to say the same thing. When one of these guys flies by, the water bulges right out of the hole. A couple of years back I saw a guy in a full sized van get a running start from the access parking lot and hit the ice at full speed--don't know how fast, but it was insane. He must have been concerned about getting stuck, because he just busted through snowdrifts like crazy.

Personally, I don't like it because I'm a pedestrian out there. I think the guys flying around on the ice usually have a little liquid courage in their veins...

[Neiko]

I was on Elk tonight and some kid was doing 50mph and cranking the wheel. I was kind of hoping he would go in just to teach him a lesson. I think the TV people should do a special on it so everyone is aware of it. I know a lot of people are surprised when I tell them.

[Tom Linderholm]

You know in the thought of safety's sake, would it be worth while to post a laminated sheet at the access explaining the dangers to themselves as well as others. I mean we are all here to share info on this great recreation and I think it is obvious they don't have a clue what the dangers are. Personally can think back to high school days doing foolish things like this and not knowing the dangers. Or just calling in the mounty's would take care of it to. It just takes one time to teach a lesson. I think we would all rather it be without the loss of life.

[Feldy]

The other night I was fishing on Lotus when a car full of kids made laps on the lake going 55+. We had to get out of our shack for safety reasons to make sure they didnt' run us over. Really makes you mad.

[mrwalleye_13]

If there is enough ice, i'll drive a little faster and not be too concerned about the wake, but if i am on a lake with a lot of people fishing... or any at all in the area i am driving, i go slow. I doesnt really concern me for ones safety when they are going fast, its the water coming up in my hole that p-s me off. I have always heard of the wake/wave and usually i drive about 5-8 mph on new ice. Me and buddies have driven up to 70, kids = stupid, i am one and i even know that.