Flying ice is not a phrase you hear very often, but it describes a real problem in Alaska. Flying ice is a danger to drivers, it is the ice that collects on top of vehicles and comes off when the vehicle travels down a highway or roadway. While it might not seem very serious, the truth is the ice could impact another vehicle or cause a driver to swerve, putting them and others in danger.
Flying ice has the potential to shatter windshields due to the speed it travels when falling off a vehicle. Worse yet is this ice occurs all the time; it doesn’t require a severe snowstorm to develop. When it breaks apart, it has the potential to cause serious harm on the roads.
Even a few inches of snow is enough to create an icy layer on a vehicle which turns into a dangerous sheet.
Most people assume ice is only hazardous when it’s on the ground, but imagine this scenario. A motorcyclist decides to head out on a warmer day, but a truck in front of it didn’t clear all the ice from its roof. The warmer temperatures loosen the ice and it flies off the truck. The ice strikes the motorcyclist at 60 mph. He crashes and suffers severe injuries.
It’s illegal to leave ice on the top of your vehicle when you drive in Alaska, as well as several other states. If a driver has not removed ice and you are impacted because of it, that driver could face fines, and you could have a case against the negligent driver.
For further information or to schedule a consultation please contact Merdes Law Office, P.C. at 866.452.3741 or visit www.merdes.com. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do.
Source: Today, “Flying ice isn’t just dangerous on the highway: It’s often illegal,” Jeff Rossen and Lindsey Bomnin, March 18, 2017
