Winnipeggers lashed out at snow removal delays and deeply rutted roads Monday, while one city councillor blamed poor driving for several weather-related crashes.

Coun. Grant Nordman (St. Charles) wrote a Facebook post Sunday about four vehicles he spotted stuck on medians and a boulevard along Ness Avenue. Nordman argued the drivers involved were to blame for failing to slow down to cope with poor road conditions.

"I swear there are more idiot drivers per square mile in this city than anywhere on Earth," Nordman wrote.

Nordman stood by the comment on Monday, noting online responders agreed with him.

"Just because a sign says 50 (km/h) doesn't mean you have to go 50," Nordman said. "You can't fix stupid."

Some Winnipeg drivers agreed with placing blame on motorists for recent crashes.

"I think it's totally warranted. I've seen some real idiots out there who are tailing me when they can't stop," Sari Fields said. "Have you been on Facebook lately? Everyone's saying the same thing."

One councillor, however, questioned the city's performance on snow clearing to ensure street safety.

"For the third straight time, Zone J didn't get done in the 12-hour window and I want somebody new going in there," Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said. "I'm fed up with it."

Mayes said he also witnessed at least one rear-end collision where the driver didn't appear to be driving too fast.

Zone J was one of several slated for residential snow removal between 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Monday. It apparently wasn't the only area not cleared on time.

Matthew Hicks' St. James street was also slated for plowing by early Monday morning but he says it still wasn't cleared by late that afternoon. He said an operator at the city's 311 line told him the street's condition wouldn't be inspected for at least two days.

Hicks said it's unfair to blame drivers for all weather-related collisions when plowing levels falter.

"Winnipeg drivers are not idiot drivers. We're putting up with conditions the City of Winnipeg put in front of us," he said.

Nicole Napady agrees. Napady recently rode in a vehicle that crashed when its tire collided with jagged ice on the road and popped, sending it into a 180-degree spin before it slammed into a snowbank.

Napady said the Dec. 30 crash on Hespeler Avenue occurred even though the driver was traveling at "well under" 40 km/h.

"Some people drive to conditions and still spin out of control," she said.

Mayor Sam Katz agreed ruts haven't been cleared off all streets, a situation public works and its contractors must fix.

"They have to go back and redo it, and do it properly, or they don't get paid," Katz said.

The city's street maintenance manager could not be reached for comment Monday.

joyanne.pursaga@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @pursagawpgsun