Snow Covered Roof!

[Muzzy]

After all the snow we've had here, which I must say is the most that I have ever seen in my 8 years of living in Vancouver (I grow up in Ontario and have had my fair share of winter) is that very few people actually clean the snow off their vehicles. They clear their windows so that they can see but that's it and then drive around with a mountain of snow on the roof. This snow on the roof can actually be a hazard to the driver and to other vehicles on the road. I mean hazard as far as visibility is concerned, which to me is one of the most important things to have in these conditions. Snow blowing off the roof as you’re driving down road making it harder for the person driving behind you. Slam on your brakes and the possibility that all that snow sliding off the roof and onto your windshield. Yes I am talking Delica drivers as well; I have seen more than a hand full cruising around downtown like this. Just take the extra 2 minutes to wipe off your roof while your vehicle is warming up, or whatever your case may be. Also on the North Shore they have pulling people over and giving them tickets for this reason, so I heard. Just take that extra little bit of time, it can’t hurt!

[delicat]

Very good point!

I've seen slab of snow detach from moving vehicle's roof, not a pretty sight. (Ususally happens as weather warms up and a thin film of water forms between the roof and the snow.

Regular house broom works great, I carry one in my van when snow is showing up.
(ok, I'm short and my van is tall... no other choice really!)

[marsgal42]

For the moment, Gumdrop is sporting a white mohawk. I'm tall, but she's taller, and I can only reach so far...

Yesterday morning the building manager was terribly impressed with me and Gumdrop. After helping push somebody out of the parking lot whose reaction to traction issues was to floor it, I hopped in Gumdrop, engaged 4L and chugged out without any drama at all.

I sometimes wish the media would give us a little airtime. The coverage of the snow always seems to feature morons spinning tires and skidding around, but rarely features people with good vehicles who know what to do with them. No drama, I suppose...

...laura

[delicat]

Laura,

Mohawks look cool but the buzzcut is much better! Try with a broom, use it to push the snow off your roof... Smiles!

[Muzzy]

For the moment, Gumdrop is sporting a white mohawk. I'm tall, but she's taller, and I can only reach so far...

Yesterday morning the building manager was terribly impressed with me and Gumdrop. After helping push somebody out of the parking lot whose reaction to traction issues was to floor it, I hopped in Gumdrop, engaged 4L and chugged out without any drama at all.

...laura

They are tall vehicles that's for sure. I'm 6'3" and still have a hard time. But I do what it takes to get the snow off, climb the ladder, climb up onto the bush bar, open the sliding door, stand on the tires, whatever I gotta do! Long lanky arms come in handy for some things. You could also go and spend $10 - $15 and get a telescopic brush or use a broom like Delicat.

Laura you are right though "No tratcion means floor it" makes me laugh.

[konadog]

Oooo this one really bugs me. I have seen numerous vehicles motoring about with nothing cleared but a little view hole just infront of the "driver's" face! Tail lamps, rear and side widows, licence plates all completely covered with snow. Saw one clown stop at an intersection and the whole big pile of snow on his roof slid down over his windshield. What a nob, out there in the middle of a busy intersection pushing the snow off his car that he should have pushed off in his driveway And have ya ever seen an icy slab of crusty hard snow lift off the roof of the car infront of you - scary business. Take the time, make the effort and clean off the vehicle before getting out on the road.

[The Pinkfingers]

Also on the North Shore they have pulling people over and giving them tickets for this reason, so I heard.

This is new news to me. Has anyone else seen this?

[TardisDeli]

A friend of my watched a RCMP officer pull over cars and proceed to hand them brushes and maded them sweep the snow off their cars in North Vancouver.

[loki]

Also on the North Shore they have pulling people over and giving them tickets for this reason, so I heard.

This is new news to me. Has anyone else seen this?

my brother is a cop and they can give you a ticket for this if they want, just depends on the cop, the conditions and the mood she/he is in.

[The Pinkfingers]

A friend of my watched a RCMP officer pull over cars and proceed to hand them brushes and maded them sweep the snow off their cars in North Vancouver.

Ooo, free brush!!

[konadog]

A brush with the law

[loki]

It is essentially an unsecured load.

[tomanique]

Their time and resources would be better spent having the 18 wheelers clean off their trailers, including the encrusted ice/rock/salt bombs that drop off on the highways then refreeze and sit there like a boulder just waiting to be hit by a vehicle not much bigger than the lump itself. Those are the amounts of snow that can really do some damage. The point is really moot though when you live a city/province that can't even keep the roads maintained properly. What difference does a personal vehicle's roofload a snow make? None. And if you're troubled by the snow coming off the car ahead of you, I'd suggest you're not maintaining a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of you, something all drivers should be doing more of in this weather.

Merry Christmas, enjoy the snow while it's here

Tom

[FalcoColumbarius]

I was driving back on the #1 to Van and got stuck behind this semi. When suddenly these 1/2" flat ice discuses were deployed from the top deck of the semi rigid hulk of a carrier. INCOMING!!! We went to evasive manoeuvres ~ then I saw it.... I tried to avoid it but it must have been a heat seeker THUD!!! Captain! We've been hit. Computer, damage report. I wanted to deploy my proton torpedoes when two things dawned on me: A/ I was too close, a manoeuvre like that could only end in tears as I would fly straight into the wreckage; B/ I was actually piloting a vessel that was in fact, not armed. I found this to be the most disappointing of all! Why wasn't my Chamonix armed with proton torpedoes, I love those things!

Falco.

[delica 304]

Ah, the joy of having a roof rack! (and ladder!) I just climbed up with a broom and swept the snow off! Right now my neighbors are envious of the Landmaster, our lane hadn't gotten cleared until today, but that hasn't stopped me! Just dropped in 4WD and trundled out to the road! (The side exhaust belching all the way!)