Never mind that the roads are clear. There might be a patch of unmelted snow – or ice! – on a sidestreet somewhere.

Someone might slip!

It's laughable – pitiable – to people who grew up in the Before Time, when schools were only closed if a blizzard hit and only after it actually hit. Not because the weather guy said it might snow. We kids of the Before Time had to wait for the snow and hope there was enough to get them to close the schools. Often, there was a two-hour delay. It was rare that we got the whole day off.

What is Safetyism doing to the minds of today's kids? Imagine growing up the way the kids grow up today, trunk-or-treating in the school gym rather than hooliganing with other kids from door to door on your own. Being taught to fear cars – and driving – via overt and subtle conditioning, beginning with the Safety Seat Thing. Now it's devolved to being afraid of snow. That it might snow.

In the Before Time, when it snowed, we took to the roads with gusto, if we were old enough to drive. It is how we learned how to drive. There is no better teacher than experience. But these are experiences the kids of this time are denied.

Saaaaaaaaaaaaaafety first!