Motoring Discussion > Driving with snow on roof = 3 points	Legal Questions
Thread Author: Mapmaker	Replies: 47

Thu 2 Dec 10 09:15   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Mapmaker

I hear a rumour that the police in Sunderland have been told to stop cars with snow on their roof and give them 3 points and a £60 fine. Sounds jolly sensible to me. Reply to this message | Report message       2

Thu 2 Dec 10 09:21   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Perky Penguin

Falls well within the "Haven't they got something more useful to do" category! What will they be doing about huge trailers with 1/4 of a ton of snow on their roofs? B all, so why pick on cars? Reply to this message | Report message       1

Thu 2 Dec 10 09:24   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - movilogo

+1 Public are unhappy with police for a reason! Reply to this message | Report message       1

Thu 2 Dec 10 09:24   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - BobbyG

This has been doing the round by text and email so much up here in Scotland that Strathclyde Police had to issue a statement saying it was lies. Yes they advise to clear snow off roof but aren't going on the offensive. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 09:31   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - NortonES2

Given that the driver will be driving blind if the roof-load slides over the windscreen, some action by police on clearing snow from windscreens and roofs is overdue! Like here: www.cyclechat.net/topic/73574-ironic/ Last edited by: NortonES2 on Thu 2 Dec 10 at 09:32 Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 15:50   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Mike H

Anyone travelling to the continent for skiing etc needs to be aware that there are more rigid rules in Austria and probably Germany - here in Austria I gather it IS an offence not to clear your car. Whether you'd just get warned or fined I'm not sure. It makes a lot of sense anyway irrespective of the legal position. Perhaps Andy B knows what the situation is in Germany? Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 15:54   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Iffy

...Perhaps Andy B knows what the situation is in Germany?... When my brother was in the RAF in Germany he told me it was an offence to drive when the car windows were dirty. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 10:35   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - SteelSpark

If only the police did go for all the easy catches, they could park on the main road near me and get 10 mobile phone users a minute. The fact that they don't do that suggests to me that they are not obsessed with handing out as many points and fines as they can, as many people seem to claim they are. Last edited by: SteelSpark on Thu 2 Dec 10 at 10:35 Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 10:39   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - R.P.

It's only a rumour - already countered by Scottish Police as mentioned. Last edited by: Pugugly on Thu 2 Dec 10 at 10:40 Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 10:42   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - corax

This happened to me last year. I was driving my Dads Avensis. When I pulled out of a petrol station I had to brake sharply to avoid a car cutting across me, and a ton of snow slid off the roof straight onto the windscreen. I had the wipers on intermittant, and before I could turn them off they swept a large chunk away, but it would be easy to break something with that much snow. The Avensis is very aerodynamic with a gently sloped roof, making it easy for this to happen. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 10:45   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - R.P.

I have to confess to hoofing the car from some lights - and the snow came off the back of the car ! Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 10:47   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - BobbyG

A large W H Malcolm artic deposited what seemed like a ton of snow on the roundabout in front of me yesterday! Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 11:38   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Bromptonaut

>> A large W H Malcolm artic deposited what seemed like a ton of snow on >> the roundabout in front of me yesterday! Only snow? I've had huge shards of Ice fly back at me from the top of artics. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 11:48   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Bellboy

ive always removed the snow from my vehicle roofs if i can,i usually use a long soft brush,yesterday i used my arms Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 11:55   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Old Sock

A few years ago in similar weather conditions I was driving to work in a Citroën CX on a cold but very sunny morning. The CX's ventilation is not the best, so I had the bright idea of opening the sunroof. The roof had just opened fully when I realised something was slightly amiss with the 'diffused lighting' from above. I'd managed to close the roof by about ¼" before three inches depth of snow landed on top of me! Oh how I laughed :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 12:11   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Zero

I cheerfully managed to dump about 3 cubic yards of fresh Nottinghamshire roof snow over the audi A3 that was tailgating me. He kept back a bit then. 3 hours to do 150 miles back home this morning (avoiding the A1 between Newark and Grantham*) Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Its very thick at home, equally as bad as that we had last year. * Followed and Audi A4 Avant allroad on some pretty thick covered b roads, ice packed with fresh on top. He was driving it in a very sprited and skillful manner indeed. I have nothing but praise for the front tyres on the lancer, they were good in snow last year and clearly havent lost the plot this year either. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 13:06   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - corax

>> I have nothing but praise for the front tyres on the lancer, they were good >> in snow last year and clearly havent lost the plot this year either. What are they? Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 13:30   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Bellboy

What are they? >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>> round black things that go on rims and helps your car drive smoothly in memory of .......Leslie William Nielsen, OC (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010 Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 13:32   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Zero

>> What are they? >> >>>>>>>>>>>> >> >>>>>> round black things that go on rims But thats not important right now. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 13:35   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Zero

Roadstone n2000 directionals. they have a very acute V shape tread pattern. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 13:50   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Fenlander

These Zero?? www.f1tyresperformance.com/foto/n2000.jpg They have a very similar pattern to my money no object favourite winter tyre.. Goodyear Ultragrip 7. files.e-pneumatiky.cz/images/goodyear-ultra-grip-7plus.jpg The rubbish summer tyres on snow are the ones with straight tread groves like the Michelins on my C5. Once they get half worn many of the little tread sipes go and they act close to slicks on snow. www.kolumbus.fi/rengaslasi/kesarenkaat/Michelin_Energy_Saver.jpg Last edited by: Fenlander on Thu 2 Dec 10 at 13:51 Reply to this message | Report message       1

Thu 2 Dec 10 14:32   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Armel Coussine

Never mind points. My car's chef's hat of snow increased drag to such an extent that I could barely reach 110mph in the lanes here. Of course on the main road it was impossible to do more than 50 because of all the mimsers. Only kidding. Had a lot of trouble getting out of the yard, until I remembered that the traction control works best at an idle. It's looking picturesque here, very, but that's about all I can say for it. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 2 Dec 10 14:35   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Zero

>> These Zero?? www.f1tyresperformance.com/foto/n2000.jpg >> >> They have a very similar pattern to my money no object favourite winter tyre.. Goodyear >> Ultragrip 7. Yes them the exact ones. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 13:54   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - R.P.

I had rather a dramatic illustration of how dangerous this can be yesterday - driving along a dual carriageway yesterday at a stately 60 mph or so - I was overtaken by a white unmarked Luton bodied van (driven as it turned out by a weasel faced sack-jawed specimen) as it rocketed past me at an illegal speed - all the ice from its roof dislodged itself and scattered across both carriageway (mainly mine) - very, very frightening, but I kept my nerve and drove steadily on - some collided with the car - no damage to car. If I had been on the bike it would have, in my mind, been less impactive.. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 14:10   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - movilogo

In news today www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336708/Drivers-face-60-fine-snow-roof.html Although police has confirmed no automatic fine as yet. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 14:16   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Runfer D'Hills

Not very hard to clear snow off the roof of a car and anyone who has not done so and braked hard probably won't forget or omit to do it again...Soft sweeping brush gets it off in moments, no excuse really. Must though be quite hard to get it off lorry roofs. I wouldn't fancy roaming about up there in the dark with a brush. Shouldn't think truck roofs are all that strong either. Might be wrong of course. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 14:17   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - R.P.

Still could have caused a very nasty accident - another car was on the verge of overtaking me, could have gone either way that one. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 14:56   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - sherlock47

At least it would have been mainly snow. The lumps that detach from the bottom of lorry chassis are generally black and made of solid ice. Now that would do real damage! Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 15:05   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - R.P.

Your're right - the whole thing happened in slow motion sheets of frozen snow cartwheeling gently towards me - the outcome would have been serious on a bike though. I gave him one of my evil stares when I overtook him later in slower traffic. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 15:14   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Runfer D'Hills

I >> gave him one of my evil stares when I overtook him later in slower traffic. You want to be careful doing that sort of thing in a white X1. He might have thought you were trying to catch his eye so to speak...Any blue lights in the cab ? :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 15:14   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Bromptonaut

>> In news today >> >> www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1336708/Drivers-face-60-fine-snow-roof.html >> >> Although police has confirmed no automatic fine as yet. >> I don't think any force has suggested the possibility of a fine/Fixie simply for driving with snow on the roof. They're not however excluding prosecution where snow on roof is a factor in an accident. Daughter and I were showered with ice off a removals van yesterday; not sure how driver might have prevented it though. Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 8 Dec 10 at 15:14 Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 15:25   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Mapmaker

Humph>>Must though be quite hard to get it off lorry roofs. I wouldn't fancy roaming about >>up there in the dark with a brush. Shouldn't think truck roofs are all that strong either. >>Might be wrong of course. So what. A driver is responsible for his vehicle, no ifs, no buts. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 15:30   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Runfer D'Hills

Didn't mean to make anyone cross ! Just saying, I wouldn't fancy it myself. Not in any rush to become a truck driver though so beginning to wish I'd not mentioned it ! Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 17:28   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Pat

Yes, the driver is responsible for the vehicle but if you get up in the lorry in a lay by after sleeping in the cab and it's snowed heavily overnight, what are we supposed to do? We are not technically allowed to climb on the roof without ladders and safe landing cushions as in H&S rules. The only option is to refuse to move the vehicle until it thaws....then face the wrath of the public because the shop shelves are empty and don't forget, lorry drivers mostly don't get paid until the wheels start turning in the morning. So what's your solution the the problem MM? Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 17:30   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Statistical Outlier

Don't be silly Pat, most on this forum don't want to be bothered with real life complications. Have you not noticed how much debate on here dies once we move on from politically skewed sweeping generalisations to the nuance and complexity of real life? Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 17:33   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Pat

I certainly have SO Real life is a dark, unlit layby at 3am on a freezing morning. A trailer that can be 15' 6'' high and no means of getting up on the roof, but who are we to let the facts stand in the way of an idealistic view. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:20   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Mapmaker

>>So what's your solution the the problem MM? It's not up to me to provide a solution. It is up to your employer who has H&S responsibilities towards his employee, and up to you who - as a road user - will be the one who gets the points/jail sentence if the snow falls off your roof and causes an accident/kills somebody. What would you do? Drive on with a dangerous quantity of snow on the roof and prove how little you care about the safety of the general public? Not good enough, I'm afraid. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:22   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - BiggerBadderDave

Taking a low bridge at high speed is probably the easiest and safest way to clear it. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:25   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Pat

I would expect the car driver behind me to have enough common sense to anticipate the possibility of it happening, and therefore leave a far greater gap. After all, as a car driver you are expected to do a risk assesment of the situation in front of you and act accordingly. But since you are incapable of coming up with a solution to the problem other than to pass the buck on to someone else, I suppose that would be too much to ask. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:29   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Mapmaker

I don't need to provide a solution. I'm not travelling behind you. It's not my liberty that will be at risk if the snow comes off my vehicle and somebody is killed as a result. It might not be a car travelling behind you; it might be a car travelling towards you. I'm only trying to help you pda, but you seem to have adopted the "if I kill somebody it's not my fault" approach. Granted the risk of this event is small, but the consequences are so life-changing that I wouldn't be so casual about it. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:33   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Iffy

I've often been glad of snow blown off the vehicle in front. Cleans the windscreen a treat when the washer bottle's frozen. Wouldn't want an avalanche, though. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:37   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - RattleandSmoke

Just seen some silly dopy woman get out of an 58 reg Astra Couple with the windscreen all iced up apart from a very small patch. That deserves three points!. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 18:57   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Pat

While I share your concern MM for other road users, there isn't a practical and safely approved solution, so we just have to take the risk. I can only hope the Judge will take a more reasonable view of the circumstances at the time. Had the lorries on the M8 this week taken your view, they would all be sitting there still blocking the motorway waiting for a thaw. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 19:06   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Skoda

MM, easily solved. Leave a gap. A whack of dislodged ice can't travel backwards, it can only fall, more or less straight down. From 15' it takes less than 2.5 seconds to drop to the floor. Make it a 4 second gap on account of the conditions under tyre. Last edited by: Skoda on Wed 8 Dec 10 at 19:06 Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 8 Dec 10 19:48   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Bellboy

i was on the M1 today and had a few scary moments with flying ice from hgv's, but as pda rightly says there is no answer as the ice or snow cannot be removed easily prior to a journey or it could indeed form during a journey its one of lifes little obstacles we either endure or just stay in bed and clain the social i guess Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 9 Dec 10 13:02   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Snakey

Whats the tolerance for this rule then? Is a foot of snow on the roof unacceptable but 2 inches is ok? What if (like my car earlier this week) you have a hardened layer of icy snow that won't budge? After my 60 mile commute it was frozen on even harder if anything. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 9 Dec 10 15:48   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Pat

I do hate to be the one to point you to this link www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Excess-snow-prosecution-hoax.6648007.jp Confirmation of earlier posts Pat Last edited by: pda on Thu 9 Dec 10 at 15:49 Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 9 Dec 10 15:51   Driving with snow on roof = 3 points - Zero

Its a natural hazard. The Lorry driver responsible for the weather now as well? Anyone with any brains will realise the dangers and give the lorry a wide berth, just as you would in heavy rain. Reply to this message | Report message