Have you ever driven your car without clearing the snow off it to save a bit of time? Did you know that, besides posing a safety threat, this could land you with a fine?
Police regularly issue reminders that motorists must clear the snow off their vehicles before driving. But you’ve probably seen cars on the road with the roof and back window covered with snow. Of course, that prevents the driver from properly seeing everything around them. Police have come up with the term a term for such vehicles: “igloomobiles”.
A question of safety
Clearing the snow off a vehicle is a question of safety both for the driver of that vehicle and for others. The Highway Safety Code requires not only that snow be removed from the windshield and the back window but also that the door windows be clear. Police can stop a vehicle that has snow on any of these areas and require the driver to clear them. The same goes for the car’s lights and reflectors.
Driving with snow on any of these parts of a vehicle can lead to a fine of $100 to $200.
Flying snow: a danger to others
While it’s essential to clear snow from the glass areas, mirrors, and lights of a vehicle, it’s still not enough. Since 2018, the Highway Safety Code has made it illegal to drive a vehicle with snow (or anything else) that could fly off and pose a danger to other motorists.
That foot of snow on your car’s roof may not interfere with your driving visibility, but some could fly off and hit the windshield of the car behind you. So, it’s important to remove the snow from all parts of your car — for your safety and that of others.
A matter of identification too
Aside from safety issues, you are required to remove the snow from your vehicle to ensure that it can be identified at all times. Snow on your vehicle could make it impossible to identify its brand and model. You must also ensure that your licence plate is clear of anything that could prevent it from being read. Failure to do so could lead to a fine.
Éducaloi’s research on “igloomobiles” has turned up few court decisions on this topic. It’s probably hard to contest a ticket for this offence when police have a picture of the snow-covered car!