God damn Semi-trucks with snow on their roof... Cousin got in an accident

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Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
Got a call from my dad today that my cousin was in the hospital this afternoon. Apparently she was driving to school this morning to substitute, driving in the left lane with a semi-truck in the right lane a little bit ahead of her. A huge piece of ice flew off the roof of the truck and went right through her windshield. She swerved off the road but didn't hit anything. The truck kept right on going, but luckily the guy behind my cousin kept on driving to get the bastards license plate. He got it and came back to my cousin to call 911. She's fine, thank god. Makes me wonder, why don't they make it a god damn law to clean off the roof of your vehicle of ANY sort when you get snow on it. It's even worse the next day when the sun hits it, melts it, and turns to ice.. like in my cousins case. I see it everyday going down the NYS thruway, huge chunks of ice and snow and whatever else flying 50 feet into the air and plummeting to the ground. Just irritates me. Now even more since the incident today.

Cousin is thankfully fine. She just sent me pictures. I didn't even imagine it like this. So.. VirginiaDonkey, please shut the hell up. Thanks.

Pics:
Front of car
Another one
Driver's POV
Ice made it to the back of the car
The ice ripped the headrest right off the passenger seat

Holy sh|t! Your cousin is lucky to be alive! If that block of ice had gone through on the driver's side she would be dead!
 

SmoochyTX

Lifer
Apr 19, 2003
13,615
0
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!
yes, i do!

OP, glad your cousin is OK. i have had ice/snow chunks fly off semis and come hurling towards me, but i never realized they could exert such force and cause such damage.

sadly, i doubt the truck driver will be held responsible. (hopefully i am wrong.) just like when a stone flew up from the truck in front of me and cracked my windshield (i could identify the exact truck too) the insurance companies wouldn't fault the truck driver.


let us know how your cousin makes out with this.
A stone flying up (from the ground) from a driver in front of you (doesn't matter the kind of vehicle) is different than a chunk of ice or snow flying off of their vehicle through your windshield. Of course they're not going to blame the driver of the 'stone-thrower' for that.
 

deerslayer

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,153
0
76
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?


I was wondering the same thing. I would love to watch a trucker cleaning the ice off the top of his trailer.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!
yes, i do!

OP, glad your cousin is OK. i have had ice/snow chunks fly off semis and come hurling towards me, but i never realized they could exert such force and cause such damage.

sadly, i doubt the truck driver will be held responsible. (hopefully i am wrong.) just like when a stone flew up from the truck in front of me and cracked my windshield (i could identify the exact truck too) the insurance companies wouldn't fault the truck driver.


let us know how your cousin makes out with this.
A stone flying up (from the ground) from a driver in front of you (doesn't matter the kind of vehicle) is different than a chunk of ice or snow flying off of their vehicle through your windshield. Of course they're not going to blame the driver of the 'stone-thrower' for that.
i realize they're not the exact same scenerios, but i'll be surprised if the end result doesn't come out the same = truck driver not at fault.
 

amicold

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2005
2,656
1
81
With all due respect this is one of those freak things you can't really blame anyone for. That would be very difficult to clean it all off, as well especially in NY no one cleans the WHOLE car off as it snows too frequently for it to do much more than waste time.
 

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
81
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!

It is the law to do so in many states, and I would imagine every state that receives any appreciable amount of snowfall.

To the OP thankfully no bodily harm was done, but wow that looks like a major close call.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
6,813
1
0
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

Maybe they should use a shovel and a ladder, MacGyver?


Many trailers aren't designed to support a person walking up there....

Of course, we could just either retrofit or scrap all the current trailers and put deicers on the top, but I don't want to hear your whining when your twinkies go up in price.
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

Maybe they should use a shovel and a ladder, MacGyver?


Many trailers aren't designed to support a person walking up there....

Of course, we could just either retrofit or scrap all the current trailers and put deicers on the top, but I don't want to hear your whining when your twinkies go up in price.

If they can't support a person up there, then I don't think they should have a couple hundred lbs of ice up there either.
 

SmoochyTX

Lifer
Apr 19, 2003
13,615
0
0
Originally posted by: BigJ
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

Maybe they should use a shovel and a ladder, MacGyver?


Many trailers aren't designed to support a person walking up there....

Of course, we could just either retrofit or scrap all the current trailers and put deicers on the top, but I don't want to hear your whining when your twinkies go up in price.

If they can't support a person up there, then I don't think they should have a couple hundred lbs of ice up there either.
:thumbsup:
 

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!
yes, i do!

OP, glad your cousin is OK. i have had ice/snow chunks fly off semis and come hurling towards me, but i never realized they could exert such force and cause such damage.

sadly, i doubt the truck driver will be held responsible. (hopefully i am wrong.) just like when a stone flew up from the truck in front of me and cracked my windshield (i could identify the exact truck too) the insurance companies wouldn't fault the truck driver.


let us know how your cousin makes out with this.
A stone flying up (from the ground) from a driver in front of you (doesn't matter the kind of vehicle) is different than a chunk of ice or snow flying off of their vehicle through your windshield. Of course they're not going to blame the driver of the 'stone-thrower' for that.
i realize they're not the exact same scenerios, but i'll be surprised if the end result doesn't come out the same = truck driver not at fault.

I believe you're responsible for anything coming out of or falling off of your vehicle (even though there are signs on trucks saying they aren't liable, they are). I don't believe a person is responsible for road debris the vehicle kicks up.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
0
71
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!

YES I DO. and it is irresponsible for anyone NOT to do so.

but i bet YOU don't. :roll:

just because you don't do it, you think it excuses others?
 

naldo

Golden Member
Aug 5, 2001
1,163
0
71
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

QFT

Plus I'm almost certain the amount of injuries/deaths from people falling off of icy trailer roofs would far exceed those caused by the ice falling onto the road.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Originally posted by: naldo
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

QFT

Plus I'm almost certain the amount of injuries/deaths from people falling off of icy trailer roofs would far exceed those caused by the ice falling onto the road.
How stupid would you have to be in order to allow yourself to fall off an icy trailer roof?
 

Mday

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
18,647
1
81
Originally posted by: Number1
You people must be getting snow once a year or something. Here in Canada we get the snow off the windshield and side windows and we drive.

Tractor trailers should clean the snow off their cargo box, I agree but for cars?

Give me a break.


edit spelling.

Last winter, I was on the highway (passenger in a VAN), and there were a bunch of other vans and SUVs with 6" of snow (partially frozen). There were large pieces flying off and cars were swerving to avoid being hit by the debris (can cover windshields, etc). You're telling me that's not dangerous.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
lol at the stupids thinking it's okay to drive with hundreds of pounds of ice on a trailer.
 

McCarthy

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,567
0
76
Originally posted by: Howard
Originally posted by: naldo
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?

QFT

Plus I'm almost certain the amount of injuries/deaths from people falling off of icy trailer roofs would far exceed those caused by the ice falling onto the road.
How stupid would you have to be in order to allow yourself to fall off an icy trailer roof?

People slip on ice all the time. Add to that the trucker would be exposed to the wind. There was a death at the airport last week when a man fell off a refueling truck on a windy day. Coworker said he lost his balance when a gust hit him. Once you slip you're in for it as there are no guardrails or anything of the kind to use to catch yourself.

Just think how much of a chore it is to shovel your driveway. Now make your driveway 45 feet long, that being a common length for a trailer. Further, cover that asphalt or concrete of your driveway with a smooth aluminum skin with rivets every few feet. Now clean that off.

And then go drive for eight hours.

Even if no trucker ever fell off the driver fatigue alone would increase accident rates.

Think how many times you've heard of someone falling off their house while shoveling snow off their roof. Frequent story? No. A few each year? Yes. How many people shovel their roof each time it snows? Not very many.

There would be tens of thousands of truckers having to do this each time it snowed. Their fall would be closer to a two story drop and rather than onto snow or the bushes by the house it'd be a drop to the parking lot. It would be carnage.

I'm not saying flying ice is a good thing; obviously it is not. If you want it removed though you need to come up with cost effective way to do it that doesn't actually endanger more people. Until then, keep CraKaJax's cousin in mind and be extra defensive about your driving.
 
Jun 14, 2003
10,442
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i agree, my car was covered in snow yesterday, and while it was only the fluffy soft stuff (not ice) i could see as i accelerated down the on ramp the mini blizzard following my car, the guy behind was getting showered wit snow lol

so its a pretty wise move to just remove all of it before you set off, it doesnt snow that much here and i can just remove most of it really quick with a squeegee.

sometimes even a bucket of warm water does the trick.
 

skace

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
14,488
7
81
Originally posted by: McCarthy
I'm not saying flying ice is a good thing; obviously it is not. If you want it removed though you need to come up with cost effective way to do it that doesn't actually endanger more people. Until then, keep CraKaJax's cousin in mind and be extra defensive about your driving.

It's not my responsibility to find a safe way to remove ice from trucks. That is the truck driver and truck companies responsibility.
 

McCarthy

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,567
0
76
Originally posted by: skace
It's not my responsibility to find a safe way to remove ice from trucks. That is the truck driver and truck companies responsibility.

Fair enough. Just as a reminder though...

Originally posted by: nweaver
Of course, we could just either retrofit or scrap all the current trailers and put deicers on the top, but I don't want to hear your whining when your twinkies go up in price.

The risk free world doesn't come cheap.

 
Jun 14, 2003
10,442
0
0
Originally posted by: randomint
Originally posted by: Number1
I drive my car with snow on it all the time. I never killed anybody.

You guys make it sound like it's worst then driving drunk.

Please, get off your soap boxes.

what are you smoking? those things crash into windshields like concrete slabs at those speeds.

and it's not always that this happens and it's not just "snow", it's ice. when you have that fluffy stuff for a few days or so on your vehicle's roof and THEN it solidifies. add a little sun to the mix and there's enough melting to make that stuff break off in slabs of ice.


well i can see ice in particular being less hazardous from a car roof, given its height relative to your windscreen you'd have to be driving pretty close to the car infront (which is a no no in bad weather anyway) for it to come through the windscreen and the closing speed would not be as great.

id bet in most cases of car vs car the ice would hit the deck before reaching the car, or smash the front bumper/lower bonnet. but given probability, there is always a chance the wind could pick the ice up a certain way, like if it was a big sheet of ice, it could act like a wing and launch up into the air before stalling and crashing down. closing speed would be much great then and its falled from a height.

with the trucks, they are much higher than cars, so when it falls of it got further to travel, more time to slow down, and its more like falling on to you, rather than travelling at you from the front

powdery snow of course is a hazard where ever it comes from, it obscures your vision as it whirls around in the turbulent air behind a vehicle.

even so, while i argue that ice falling from a car has got less chance of causing damage and serious harm, its better to be safe than sorry and you should just clean it anyway.

if you think about it ice is water, although it occupies more space than the same amount in liquid form, water is quite heavy, having a couple of extra kilos on your car will decrease your MPG, use more fuel for accelerating and cause your braking distance to increase. so if you look at it from that point of view....your doing your car and wallet a favour as well as other road users.
 
Jun 14, 2003
10,442
0
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Originally posted by: deerslayer
Originally posted by: nweaver
it's easy to sit in your car and say they should clean the ice off...but how about logistics....how the hell do you propose they get that ice off the top of their trailer?


I was wondering the same thing. I would love to watch a trucker cleaning the ice off the top of his trailer.


invention time

big car wash type affair at the depot. like a bridge type structure loaded with big fans that blow hot air across the bridge and the parpets, then it just moves down the length of the truck melting the ice and snow off the truck

it could employ pressure washers that use a de-icer mix, or hot water to blast stubborn chunks off.
 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: VirginiaDonkey
"But he should know that he had 10 inches of snow on his roof."

and that's his fault how?


Do you clean all the snow off your car before you drive?......... Didn't think so!

The driver is responsible for the safe operation of their own vehicle.

No exceptions.