It seems à-propos at this time of year – winter – to talk about massive flying discs of snow that come hurling at you on the highway at high rates of speed, usually after going over a bump in the road.
And, while I don’t get as riled up about this subject as others, that’s probably only because it happens on a more limited basis during a specific time of year.
If you live in a cold weather state like I do, you play a game of highway dodgeball, swerving to avoid said flying discs and hoping they don’t smash into your car like this:
It’s particularly frightening when those discs come flying off of a semi-truck.
People complain it’s too difficult to clear off the top of their vehicle. But is it? Really?
Sure, it’s certainly easier to just clear off your windshield and windows – although some people for some bizarre reason don’t even bother to do that. Plain stupidity.
And clearing off your rooftop requires a tad more time and you probably need to climb up on the frame of your car to do it adequately, but…
… people have been KILLED by these flying discs! Like dead. Or, their car has been damaged, or it has caused someone to swerve and they hit you [see: Accidents: Ain’t Nothing Good Here].
We could also display a little Canadian Road Rage 
The Law: Almost a dozen states have passed laws requiring drivers to remove snow and ice from their vehicles. These laws are often enforced at the discretion of the highway patrol and can result in a fine. The states that currently have laws on the books are:
Alaska
Connecticut
Georgia
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Wisconsin
Trucking.org has a decent 2016 list of the deets in each state.
Have you ever experienced this?
Resource Links:
Good Housekeeping. You heard me, Good Housekeeping
Weather Guide
Not usually a problem here in Atlanta, but it does make me giggle that Georgia and Tennessee have laws about it!
We already know Atlanta is ill-equipped to handle the snow… #snowmaggedon
Maryland needs this law now, and there should be a mandatory night in jail. Complete disrespect to the safety of others. The punishment could not be harsh enough.
A night in jail?!
I ABSOLUTELY cannot stand when this happens! If I am driving behind someone on the highway and they have not cleaned off the roof of their vehicle, I usually try to move around and pass them.
This is a pet peeve of mine, not because it’s dangerous, but because my mother-in-law doesn’t remove the snow luggage from her roof in the winter and then wants to pull into my garage when one of our cars are not there. Where does she think all of that snow will go when it melts?
LOL
A Massachusetts State Trooper just tweeted this car that he pulled over for having snow on the roof. They take this annoying habit very seriously there.
https://twitter.com/DustinGFitch/status/1102572757554991104
Amen for Massachusetts!