header
JANUARY 2011
In This Issue:

The Dangers of Snow and Ice Accumulation on
Vehicles


4 Tips to Safely Navigate Unfamiliar Roadways


How to Form a Safety Committee


Loss Prevention Director Dennis Shinault Awarded DSSA


Safety Message: Truck-Involved Fatalities Drop Significatly


Resource Library


2010 Quill Index

The Dangers of Snow and Ice
Accumulation on Vehicles

During winter months, many regions in the United States experience significant snow and ice accumulation. This accumulation is capable of causing property damage and injury to other motorists when it is dislodged from automobiles, straight trucks, intermodal containers, large trucks, trailers and buses during travel.

A handful of states have enacted laws requiring motorists to remove all ice and snow from vehicles before driving. In some states, minimal fines are incurred for failing to do so; and in others, motorists are fined up to $1,250 if snow or ice falls from their vehicle, causing injury or property damage.

The most recent survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that 35 percent of the motor carrier respondents had experienced an incident in which snow or ice falling from their vehicle caused either bodily injury or property damage to another vehicle. Insurance claims resulted from 65 percent of the reported incidents. Still, more than half of all respondents reported that they never or rarely removed accumulated snow and ice from trailer tops.

It was found that worker hazards associated with clearing snow and ice from the tops of commercial motor vehicles, the limited availability and efficacy of snow removal devices, and the lack of available vehicle-based solutions have challenged the ability to effectively address the safety concerns posed by accumulation on vehicles.

{ more }



Baldwin & Lyons, Inc.
1099 North Meridian Street, Suite 700 | Indianapolis, IN 46204
(800) 644-5501 | Fax: (317) 632-9444
www.baldwinandlyons.com