Clean the cars or risk a fine
If you have employees who operate company vehicles, you probably have a written policy about how they’re to be operated. But does the policy say anything about snow clearing?
We’ve all seen people who refuse to clean their windows; drivers who think that running the windshield wipers is enough. That’s dangerous and could result in a fine – the law says that you have to be able to see clearly out the front, side and rear windows of your vehicle (although there are exceptions to the rear window if you can see using your side mirrors.
But what many people don’t realize is that it can also be an offence to drive with snow and ice piled on top of the car, even if the windows are clear.
Police have discretion in this regard: drivers have been charged after ice flew off their vehicle and struck another one. The charges have included having an unsafe load; or driving a vehicle that is in an unsafe condition.
Even if the police don’t lay charges, drivers have been successfully sued when ice from their car or truck hit someone else.
The issue has really come to a head this winter because it’s been so mild. Snow is usually fairly easy to clear off the vehicle, but the abundance of freezing rain, ice pellets and all the other precipitation we’ve had lately can stick hard and be tricky to remove. So, the tendency is to leave it on the roof, and wait for it to come off on its own.
Now is a good time to remind your team that this isn’t acceptable. Whether they’re operating a company vehicle or their own, it’s important to clear the snow and ice as much as they possibly can.
It’s also important to be aware of snow and ice coming off other vehicles, particularly transports. Remind your team to follow at a safe distance so they have more time to react if a sheet of ice comes at them. They may still not be able to avoid it, but anything they can do to increase their odds is bound to help.