Many people find it hard to believe that a small amount of snow blowing off of a car can cause any damage to another vehicle or pedestrian. When in fact, there are many factors that can make it dangerous. These include:
Danger to Other Drivers. While driving or changing lanes, especially on the highway, snow can blow off of your car onto the vehicle behind you and obstruct the driver's view. This can cause that driver to brake suddenly and get rear-ended or swerve into oncoming traffic resulting in a head-on crash.
Blocking Your Visibility. Ice or snow can slide off of your cars roof onto your windshield. This can obstruct your view or worse-- damage your windshield. Windshield replacements can be quite costly.
Ice Grenades. During Winter, ice tends to build up on your car. If you are driving at a high speed while one breaks off of your car. the momentum can send it hurtling towards another vehicle or even towards a pedestrian. These ice grenades can cause serious damage or injury, even when they don't directly hit anything. They can stay in the roadway for other vehicles to hit, like a dangerous game of road ice hockey.
Driving during the Winter is hazardous enough. But, driving your car covered with snow? That's a BIG risk to take and in some states is illegal. These states include:
Alaska
Connecticut
Georgia
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Wisconsin
The laws vary from state to state, so be sure to check your state's laws for up-to-date regulations. In the states mentioned above, you can be fined for illegally driving your car with snow on it. These fines can range from $75 to over $1,000.
Even though it may not be illegal in your state, it is still very dangerous!
Always remember to leave in enough time to warm up your vehicle and remove any snow or ice that has accumulated.
J&S FixQuik Auto | Mobile Auto Repair | Aurora, IL
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