arcticairsnowremovalsystems Snow And Ice -Remove It Before You Go Or Get Pulled Over In DC Dislodged Or Falling Snow Or Ice From Vehicles Pose Risks of Death And Injuries WASHINGTON, D. C. (Monday, December 9, 2013) — With up to five inches of heavy snow in the forecast, area motorists should make sure to remove snow and ice from all of their vehicle’s windows and mirrors before venturing out on area roadways, warns AAA Mid-Atlantic. It is against the law in an increasing number of states and cities to drive around with an icy or snowy build-up on the vehicle. In the District of Columbia the drivers of trucks with heavy snow will be pulled over by an array of law enforcement agencies operating in the city. In addition to shattering windshields and causing property damage, it can be downright dangerous too, causing death or serious bodily injury to other drivers and their passengers and forcing drivers to swerve to avoid the flying chunk of accumulated snow and ice. When heavy snow or ice becomes airborne from a vehicle traveling at 65 mph or at highway speeds, it seemingly has the velocity of a heat-vehicle missile aimed at your windshield. In fact, the excessive weight of ice and snow atop a trailer can add as much as two tons of extra weight to a semi-trailer rig, the trucking industry estimates. That’s a clear and present danger on area highways after a “snow event.” Once a winter storm hits it happens all the time. Motorists find themselves dodging hoary blankets of snow and ice flying from the roofs of cars, SUVs, trucks and tractor-trailer rigs. In the District, the law lays it down. Police officers can pull drivers over for traveling through the city with accumulated snow or ice on their vehicles. Neither Maryland nor Virginia has a specific vehicle snow removal law aimed at protecting the safety of traveling public. “It is imperative for drivers to first remove snow and ice from the roofs, windshield, trunks, and hoods of their vehicles before hitting the roads,” warned John B. Townsend, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “For safety’s sake, all motorists should clear snow from the roof as well as from the windows and windshields. It is plain old common sense. Unfortunately, many drivers fail to realize or to care enough that the accumulated snow can fly off the vehicle while driving, posing a big hazard to others on the road. Once it is dislodged, it can fall onto the windshield while driving, obscuring the driver’s vision and putting their lives and their passengers at risk.” Currently, however, there is no fine for the violation in the nation’s capital even though there is such a law in place. Although the District Council passed an emergency vehicle snow removal law in 2009 that remained on the books for 225 days, it has not since passed a permanent law specifically setting a fine for the offense. Two years ago members of a Virginia General Assembly subcommittee tabled a bill drafted to penalize drivers up to $75 for failing to remove snow and ice from their motor vehicles. Yet, Maryland law requires drivers to clear snow and ice from their windows and vehicle lights, but not from their hoods or roofs, according to published reports. Curiously, Maryland has “no allowance for snow or ice when the truck is weighed,” the trucking industry says. “Just as the removal of snow from sidewalks along your home and business is a responsibility of all citizens, removing snow and ice from vehicles should be the responsibility of every driver. It is the duty and debt we owe one another,” said Townsend. Given the sheer weight and density of accumulated snow and ice on vehicles, it constitutes inconsiderate driving at the very least and careless driving at worst, cautions AAA Mid-Atlantic. Drivers should be mindful of the fact that freezing rain can add 10 to 20 pounds per foot to the weight of a vehicle, which can result in serious danger when it is not removed from the roof, windshields, windows, mirrors and lights, warns the auto club. Every winter drivers get into vehicle crashes because they fail to properly clear their windows of ice and snow, highway safety officials warn. To combat this, a tiny handful of states on the east coast, namely New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, has passed laws requiring drivers of vehicles to remove snow or ice from their cars before driving. Reportedly, a new vehicle snow and ice removal law goes into effect in Connecticut in late 2013. In New Jersey, the drivers of commercial vehicles can be fined from $500 up to $1,500 for violating the state’s snow and ice removal law, which went into effect in 2010. A survey by AAA Mid-Atlantic showed that 67 percent of the drivers it polled in that state supported the law. Under Pennsylvania law, the operator of a vehicle can be fined up to $1,000 if the snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious bodily injury, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. In New Hampshire, motorists can “be fined $250 to $500 for not clearing snow and ice off your roof with higher fines for second offenses.” Compounding matters, over half (54 percent) of big rig drivers surveyed in the United States and Canada said they “rarely or never” remove accumulated snow and ice from their vehicles, according to a 2009 study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Yet 35 percent of the tractor-trailer drivers surveyed could tell of an experience of snow or ice causing injury or property damage to another motorist, the ATRI study revealed. Driving around large trucks can be very challenging, and even more difficult in poor weather conditions, advises AAA Mid-Atlantic. If drivers notice ice or snow falling from or flying off a big-rig, they should avoid traveling alongside or close behind the truck, warns the auto club. Here’s the upshot for all drivers, no matter the size of the vehicle. Before starting out in snowy weather, take time to remove the snow from the entire car, especially the roof and hood, so it doesn’t blow onto your windshield or blow into the path of other vehicles. Make sure your mirrors and lights are clear as well. Is your vehicle covered in snow after the big winter storm? Here is a link to a video presentation of AAA’s tips for properly removing snow from your vehicle. Remember, removing snow and ice from your car before leaving home improves visibility and makes your car lighter and more responsive. Using proper snow removal procedure protects yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:40:51 +0000
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