A driver on U.S. Route 22 was fortunate to escape serious injury when a large piece of ice detached from a tractor-trailer and crashed through her windshield.
Despite the recent implementation of preventative measures, incidents involving falling ice continue to pose a significant threat to drivers each winter. The potential for serious harm from this hazard remains a pressing concern.
The driver of a Subaru Crosstrek was hospitalized after ice broke free from an eastbound tractor-trailer, shattering the windshield of her vehicle traveling in the westbound lanes. This scenario, unfortunately, is all too common during the colder months.
“It was kind of a little bit dangerous. I didn’t want to stay close because I was afraid it would crack my windshield,” said Drazen Cvijanovic of Westchester.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) explains that clearing ice and snow from vehicles became legally required with the passage of Christine’s Law almost four years ago. The law is named in memory of Christine Lambert of Northampton County, who tragically died on Christmas Day 2022 after being struck by falling ice from a truck.
“We really need people to clean off their cars. One, it’s a safety factor, but it’s also the law,” said Sean Brown of PennDOT.
However, adhering to this law, particularly for large commercial vehicles, presents practical challenges.
“You can’t (clear a tractor-trailer off) especially if you’re (an) independent trucker. You can’t get up there to do it. There’s no way to do it. It’s not like there is a facility I can go to to clean it off. It happens,” explained Chris, a trucker based in Philadelphia. “For me, I have no option. I’m not going to get up there and kick it off, so let the wind do its job.”
“I realize that it can be difficult for some of these truck drivers, but the onus is on them. They must clean off their trucks,” Brown emphasized.
Drivers who neglect to remove accumulated snow and ice face potential fines of up to $1,500 in the event of injuries or fatalities resulting from falling debris.
