When winter comes around and the snow finally sticks, it opens up a plethora of dangerous situations you’ll want to avoid. From snowy walkways to slippery roads, winter is a crucial time to take all safety precautions. However, sometimes these hazardous situations aren’t always obvious and easy to avoid. Winterizing your car during the Canadian winter months is crucial for both your safety and that of other drivers. When you wake up in the morning and witness the heavy snowfall from the night before, it can be easy to wipe off your windows and mirrors and get behind the wheel to work. Unfortunately, doing the minimum can lead to some serious consequences. Not only is this extremely dangerous, but it can land you some hefty fines. Luckily, isure has everything you need to know about whether cleaning snow off your car is mandatory.
Don’t Be Careless or Dangerous! Clean Snow Off Your Car
As mentioned above, when winter comes around, it opens up the potential for many dangerous road conditions. We all know just how hazardous an icy road can be. However, not cleaning snow or ice off your car can make matters much worse. Doing a haphazard job of cleaning your car in the morning can leave your field of vision skewed, making your commute potentially more dangerous.
Completely removing any traces of snow from the roof of your car is crucial to ensuring the safety of those around you. Additionally, it will ensure that you have complete visibility, especially if caught in a snowstorm. By not cleaning off your car, you risk chunks of snow or ice falling onto the road, onto other vehicles, or onto pedestrians. This is especially the case in areas where you are going at a higher speed, such as a highway. Loose snow can easily fly off the roof of your car and land on the vehicle behind you, obscuring their vision and potentially causing an accident. On top of this, it is a massive annoyance for fellow commuters! By ensuring your roof, back trunk, and car hood are clear of snow and ice, you help keep an already potentially dangerous situation at bay.
Tips to Clean Snow Off Your Car
1. Make Sure You Give Yourself Ample Time in the Morning
This is particularly crucial the morning following a significant snowfall. This ensures that you can do a thorough job in removing the snow and ice from your vehicle. This doesn’t take too long, so by giving yourself an extra 10-15 minutes, you can ensure your commute is safe.
2. Have a Second Snow Brush Handy
Having a second snow brush and scraper handy (in your garage or home) is always a good idea. This is so you can brush off your vehicle and get into it when you cannot access your door or trunk due to the heavy snowfall. Your brush and scraper are no good when they’re stuck in the car!
3. Warm Up Your Car!
This one may seem too easy, but it’s a massive help! By warming up your car during the cleaning process, you can speed up melting time! By heating the windshield and back windows, you can remove any residual ice or snow more easily. Many new cars also come with features that will warm up and melt the ice off your windshields and windows.
4. Don’t Fall for the Hot Water Hack!
Many people think it’s easier to remove ice from your car by applying or pouring hot water on it. This is something you definitely want to avoid! The shock from the hot water onto the cold windows can cause them to crack or smash. If you’d like to use heat, try to park your car at an angle where the sun is hitting it. Additionally, hot water in cold temperatures will create another sheet of ice. This applies to walkways, too!
5. Get a Foam Brush
It is always a good idea to get yourself a good-quality foam brush for cleaning snow off your car. This way, you can use it on all parts of your vehicle. If you only have a brush with bristles, try to avoid using it on the exterior paint of your car! This is because the rough bristles can scratch it.
6. Avoid Large Trucks
When on the road, it is a good idea to avoid large trucks on highways. These larger vehicles typically have excess snow on their roofs. Snow and ice can fall when they are traveling at high speeds and potentially hit your car, causing an accident!
Fines for Leaving Large Amounts of Snow On Your Vehicle
On top of being extremely dangerous, leaving snow on your car can also land you a hefty fine. By driving with snow on your vehicle, you are breaking the law. Ontario law requires that your windshields, roofs, and hoods be completely cleared of ice and snow before you hit the road. If caught, you can face a fine of up to $110. This number will also rise if one is fined multiple times for the same offence. Additionally, you can get issued warnings and demerit points.
As per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, no one should take their car onto any public street or highway “unless the windshield and the windows on either side of the compartment containing the steering wheel are in such a good condition as to afford the driver a clear view. This includes the front side of the motor vehicle.” Also, the rear windshield must be in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the rear of the motor vehicle.”
Last winter, the Ontario Provincial Police and Halton Regional Police stated that they issued multiple $110 fines to motorists who did not clean snow off their cars before getting behind the wheel.
Keep Your Car in Tip-Top Shape
Not only does keeping your car clear of snow and ice keep others safe, but it also saves you from costly repairs. Even when parked, snow on your car can damage its body and parts over time due to the added weight. So, keeping your vehicle maintained throughout the winter, even when you aren’t using it, is a good idea. There are many ways snow can damage your vehicle, such as:
- When hitting the brakes, snow can fall from your roof and damage or break your window. On top of this, it can fall down the front windshield and damage your motor.
- When snow melts, water can seep into your motor and damage it. This can also be made worse if the water freezes again. This can damage your engine’s moving parts or cause the belt to come off.
- Road salt can corrode your car’s body and engine, as well as cause it to disintegrate. This can lead to rust and even form holes in the metal underneath the paint if your vehicle is older.
- Snow packed into your car’s exhaust can block the air passage and cause it to release CO2 into the vehicle.
- Snow can damage your brake system by damaging its seals and pads and causing a brake fluid leak.
Remember that accidents, injuries to others, tickets, or damage to your car will all take a hefty toll on your auto insurance history and premiums. So, never cut corners, and make sure cleaning snow off your vehicle is always a top priority. Contact us today to submit a claim or request a quote!
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