Flying ice from tops of cars pose danger on the road

Drivers in the snowy capital know all too well just how treacherous roads get after a storm,but some forget that the ice sitting on top of their cars is just as dangerous as the slippery ice below.

SusanHwang, a third-year student at the University of Ottawa, shared onFacebookThursday evening about afrightening incident during her mother's morning commute to work.

While driving eastbound on Highway 417, Hwang said hermother noticed something flying around in the air. What she first thought was a paper banner floating around turned out to be a chunk of solid ice that ripped off of a car travelling in the opposite direction.

The iceheadedstraight into her mother's windshield, completely puncturing the passenger's side of the glass.

"Luckily, my mom was left unscathed, but it's clear that anyone in the passenger seatwouldn't have been," she said in the post.

Hwang said sheusuallydrives her mother to work in the morning, but she's thankful she didn't that day.

"If it had been me [driving], my mom would have been hit with the chunk of ice and she would have been severely injured," she said.

An all-too-common scenario

Apple Auto Glass on Carling Avenue sees at least 10-15 cars a week in the winter with damaged windshields from ice flying off of cars and trucks, according to the shop's administratorAlyshaMcLean.

That accounts for about a third of all the cases they receive each week, she added.

A billthat would make it anoffence under the Highway Traffic Act to leave snow or ice on a vehicle if it poses danger to other vehicles is awaiting approval.

If passed, drivers will be fined anywhere from $50 to $500 and double for commercial truck drivers.

Asit stands, drivers can still be charged a fine for depositing snow or ice on a road without permission from the Ministry of Transportation,according to s.181 of the Highway Traffic Act.

A steep cost to pay

With no way to know whose car the ice fell from,Hwangsaid her family is left to cover almost all of the expenses to fix their car.

Preventable accidents like this come at a cost for unlucky drivers a full windshield replacement can cost anywhere from $300 to $700depending on the features of the car, according toMcLean.

Sheurges that the few minutes it takes to clear your car of ice in the morning is "very well worth it."

"I'm just thankful that my Mom's okay, but frustrated that some people don't take the time to do what they should be doing for safety," Hwang said.