Tip #5: Clear the roof, hood and lights before you drive; New Jersey law requires it
New Jersey law requires drivers to make reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice and snow from their vehicle, including the roof, hood and trunk, before driving. A clear windshield is not enough, and drivers can be fined if they do not.
Tip #5 in one line
New Jersey law requires drivers to make reasonable efforts to remove accumulated ice and snow from their vehicle, including the roof, hood and trunk, before driving. A clear windshield is not enough, and drivers can be fined if they do not.
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Call nowWhy the roof matters
A slab of snow on the roof does not stay there. When you brake, it slides forward over the windshield and blinds you. On the highway it lifts off in sheets of ice that hit the windshields of cars behind you. That is the hazard the New Jersey law was written to stop, and drivers who leave snow or ice on the vehicle can be ticketed, with larger penalties if flying ice causes damage or injury.
The rule applies to cars, trucks and commercial vehicles alike. If you drive a box truck or a van with a tall roof, plan for how you will clear it before the storm, not on the morning after.
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Call nowWhat to clear, in order
Start the engine first, outdoors and with the tailpipe clear, and turn on the front and rear defrosters so the glass starts warming while you work.
Clear the roof with a long-handled brush or snow broom, pushing snow off the sides and back, not onto the windshield you are about to clear. Then do the hood and trunk lid.
Clear every window, every mirror, the headlights, taillights and turn signals, and the license plates. Then clear the camera lenses and sensors on the bumpers if your car has them; driver-assist systems may not work with snow over them.
Last, clear any snow packed against the wheels and wipe the wiper blades free before you use them.
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Call nowIf it is too frozen to clear
Plan for the storm the night before. Keep a snow brush with a long handle and an ice scraper in the car all winter, and if you park outside, consider a windshield cover. Leaving a few minutes early on a snowy morning is easier than clearing the car in a rush. If a tall vehicle cannot be cleared from the ground, use a sturdy step stool rather than climbing on bumpers or tires, and never stand on the car.
Give the defroster more time, and use a plastic scraper and a de-icing spray rather than hot water. If the car will not start or is buried too deep to move, a jump start or winch out is one call to (908) 444-0129. More winter driving advice is collected in the driver resources.
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Call nowMore on winter
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #1: The first cold morning is when a weak battery quits
- Tip #3: In extreme cold, crank in short bursts and turn everything off first
- Tip #4: Stuck in snow, stop spinning the wheels and check the tailpipe
- Tip #6: A frozen door is usually ice in the seal, not a broken lock
- Tip #7: An iced-over car needs ten extra minutes, not a hammer
- Tip #90: Replace wiper blades before they streak, and clear the whole car of snow
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- All posts
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