If passed, newly introduced legislation would require drivers in the First State to clear their vehicle of snow and ice before getting on the road following a winter weather event.
“Anyone who drives I-95 or Route 1 during snowy weather has probably had to dodge snow or ice flying off the vehicle in front of them,” said Ken Grant, Public and Government Affairs Manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Delaware. “Driving with accumulated snow or ice on top of a vehicle is a clear danger to other roadway users.”
As proposed in Delaware:
SB-58 would place a duty on drivers to clean ice and snow off of their vehicles prior to driving.
Law enforcement would be able to stop vehicles they believe pose a threat to other roadway users with a civil penalty of not less than $25 or more than $75 for each offense
However, if dislodged snow and ice strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage, civil penalties increase to not less than $200 or more than $1,000. The penalty for commercial vehicles will not be less than $500 or more than $1,500.
Neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey have such laws on the books, said Grant.
Grant said AAA believes that SB-58 would reduce the number and seriousness of crashes caused by snow or ice becoming dislodged from motor vehicles.
Senate Bill 58 is sponsored by State Senator Laura Sturgeon and has been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee.
