After a snowstorm, finding your car covered in snow can be frustrating. Many drivers may quickly clear the windows and windshield but leave snow on the roof or other areas of the vehicle, especially when running late.
However, leaving snow on your car while driving is dangerous. It can obstruct your vision, fall onto other vehicles, and create serious hazards for you and other drivers on the road.
Decreased visibility
When snow slides off the roof of your car, often it moves forward, landing on your windshield. This can significantly reduce your visibility while driving.
Even a brief loss of visibility can be extremely dangerous. It increases the risk of not noticing a vehicle slowing or merging ahead, a pedestrian crossing the road, obstacles in your path, or even traffic markings.
The same risk applies to drivers behind you. Snow that falls from your roof onto another vehicle can temporarily obstruct their view, putting them at risk of missing other vehicles, pedestrians, or hazards on the road.
Snow that has frozen into a solid layer on your roof can be especially hazardous if it falls while your vehicle is in motion.
Objects in the road
When a chunk of ice falls from your car roof and lands in the roadway, it creates an immediate hazard for other drivers. A solid object in the middle of the road can cause vehicles to swerve suddenly, brake abruptly, or lose control, greatly increasing the risk of collisions.
Damage to cars
Falling chunks of ice can also cause significant damage to vehicles. If a piece of ice lands directly in the path of a moving car, striking it can result in a collision.
Similarly, ice that dislodges from your roof and strikes a vehicle behind you can cause damage such as dents or a broken windshield, potentially leading to an accident.
In Massachusetts, under MGL (Massachusetts General Law), it is illegal for any load, material, or loose debris to fall from a vehicle onto the road. All loads must be properly secured. Snow left on the roof of a car is not secured, and if it dislodges and causes an accident, the driver can face significant liability, including potential charges for reckless operation.
Failing to fully clear snow from your vehicle is a careless act that can put you and others at serious risk. Accidents caused by falling snow or ice can result in severe injuries or even fatalities, making it essential to remove all snow and ice before driving. Taking this simple step helps protect everyone on the road.
Sources:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter85/Section36