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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people who don't clear the snow off their cars before driving are ignorant and lazy?

111 replies

MiddleAgedNamechanger · 20/12/2009 21:41

Quite apart from the fact that you can't see their headlights or indicators, when you follow them great lumps of snow blow off their vehicle and land on your windscreen so you can't see either.

TWATS!!

OP posts:
ChilloHippi · 21/12/2009 17:17

I don't care about snow on the roof of a car, but rear lights should be cleared so they are visible.

PlanetEarth · 22/12/2009 12:38

Yeah, cars driving past me this morning had the rear passenger windows uncleared, or the back window uncleared except for the part where the wiper goes (i.e. in many cases around 1/2 in the back window was still snow-covered). Unless they've got x-ray eyes I don't see how they can see properly.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 22/12/2009 12:48

Mmmmmm, they probably see by using their rear mirrors, the same as every van driver who doesn't have a rear window.

MumtoCharlieandLola · 22/12/2009 12:49

Im with Lindt, why people only clear a small space is beyond me - are they THICK ??

I confess however, not to clearing my roof. With a temperature of -7.5 this morning, the snow had frozen and I couldnt get it off the roof !

Bbbrrrrrrrr

PlanetEarth · 22/12/2009 13:52

Yeah, I've seen how van drivers drive...

BornAgain · 22/12/2009 14:00

YANBU:

Anyone who has lived in a place with very snowy winters knows how important it is to clean your car properly.

If you fail to clean say 25cm of snow from the roof of your car and are forced to break suddenly, you will be completely blinded by all the snow on your windscreen for some time. The windscreen wipers won´t work.

I wouildn´t want to be in this position myself.

MadameCastafiore · 22/12/2009 14:04

Oooohhh we try and get as far as we can without losing any of the snow!

Managed to take snow from Kelvedon in Essex all the way to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge on Saturday!

MollieO · 22/12/2009 14:05

I reckon I had the OP up my arse tailgating me last night in thick snow (6 inches fell in 2 hours). I had to put my hazard lights on to get them to back off.

Not sure how I am supposed to clear four inches of snow off my car roof in the station car park last night. Surprisingly I don't carry a broom in my car .

Romanarama · 22/12/2009 14:22

I used to live in Switzerland, and the police would deffo pull you over there had you not had your broom out before setting off. It falls on your windscreen when you brake so you can't see and crash. You are indeed a liability if you don't do it.

MollieO · 22/12/2009 14:36

Switzerland is a bit different though. They get a lot of snow, people have snow tyres/chains as the norm. In the Uk I doubt anyone keeps a broom in their car for the odd chance that it may snow!

Romanarama · 22/12/2009 14:40

true - I happen to have snow tyres and chains for that very reason, which is quite handy at the mo!

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 22/12/2009 14:46

what on earth do snow chains/tyres have to do with clearing snow from your roof? the quantity and regularity of snow makes no difference except that it means those countries who do have more are more aware of the dangers it represents. Thus we should listen to their rules/advice. They insist you clear your car so why should we think British snow doesn't present a danger?

The fact is that it is dangerous not to do it. If you don't do it, you are a fool.

Romanarama · 22/12/2009 15:01

That's what I meant really, Doesntchristmas. I always follow Swiss rules for wintry things, as they do of course know what they're talking about.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 22/12/2009 16:16

I will confess that I never used to do it until my brother was posted to Germany for a few years and I learned common sense from him.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 22/12/2009 16:17

Oh, Romanarama , my snowchains comment was directed at MollieO not you. I didn't see your reply when I was toning down composing mine.

Earthstar · 22/12/2009 16:19

It is hazardous to drive around with thick snow on your roof/bonnet/boot so YANBU

izzybiz · 22/12/2009 16:20

I was behind a car this morning who had not cleared the snow off their roof.

It was falling off as they drove, sliding down the back of their car. Not once did any of it "hit my windscreen" obscuring my vision!

I think OP must drive a little too close

ChilloHippi · 22/12/2009 18:33

My car has today excelled itself in the hazardous stakes: the windscreen wipers have stopped working I'll be off to the garage in the morning.

MummyDoIt · 22/12/2009 18:44

I can't believe so many people are accusing the OP of tailgating just because she makes a valid point, supported by driving agencies, police, etc! My five year old didn't find it very amusing when a pile of snow flew off a car turning a corner yesterday and hit him in the face. And, no, he wasn't tailgating the car!

Also, the extra weight of the snow will increase your fuel consumption. Maybe a financial incentive will encourage those who don't feel safety/consideration for other road users are valid reasons for making a bit of effort.

Northernlebkuchen · 22/12/2009 18:48

It's also very unpleasant and dangerous for cyclists when it flies off the car or van and lands on them.

nappyzonecantrunfortoffee · 22/12/2009 18:48

I moved of my drive today to let dh out, my car had snow piled high on the roof - it must have melted slightly as even thoug i was slow the snow slid down my front window and blocked my vision - it was so heavy that my windscreen wwipers strained to move it. I would not ever go on a jaunt in my car with snow piled up high as aside from it blowingof and twattign other cars you can get pulled for it and if i had to break quickly to pull over to wipe it im sure the outcome would not be favourable as id probably skid or have some tailgating wally whack into me.

purpleduckUnderTheMistletoe · 22/12/2009 18:52

Its not just the chunks of snow that fall off - its the blizzard efffect that follows the non-scrapers.

It is inconsiderste, and you don't have to be tailgating to get a windscreen full of snow.

Shortness is no excuse

ADealingMummy · 22/12/2009 18:57

We didn't clear the snow from our car properly , and a great big piece of snow fell onto the windscreen and broke the wiper !!

lovechoc · 22/12/2009 18:57

I think if we lived in places where there is vast amounts of snow every year, as in VERY heavy snowy winters (Canada for example) then the chances are everyone would be clearing their roof as standard. But we live in the UK so the chances of getting a lot of snow are quite slim. There's hardly any snow where I live so it's pointless scraping off a wee flurry of snow that's landed on the roof. It's hardly an avalanche and danger to the public!

I think you need to actually state HOW much snow you are talking about in inches or cms before ranting and raving at people on here OP (and others on the bandwagon). What constitutes a danger to you? How many inches of snow does it have to be on the roof?

ShellingPeas · 22/12/2009 19:00

LOL - MN is the only place the OP could be accused of causing the problem in the first place by driving too close!

Today I saw a car with about 4 inches or so of snow on their roof stop suddenly at temporary traffic lights with the resultant effect of a mini avalanche down their windscreen which couldn't be cleared by their wipers. Gentleman inside had to get out to clear it by which time he was greeted by a barrage of hoots because he was holding the traffic up. Serves him right silly bugger.

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