Flying ice - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

3star · #1 02-08-2004, 04:18 PM

Driving on the highway this afternoon, I had to twice dodge chunks of ice that were coming off the roofs of 18 wheel tractor-trailers. One small chunk hit my windshield and I almost ***** my pants.
Fortunately, it didn't crack the windshield.

Why don' the owner/opeators clean the roof of their trailers....very dangerous situation.

jpb5151 · #2 02-08-2004, 07:40 PM

Just from what I gleaned from talking to various truck drivers over the years, they've barely got enough time to do the 3 S's, and lotsa times they forego the Showering just to save time. I'm guessing they just don't want to spend time climbing on the tops of their trailers and breaking off the ice.

This is something I always try to do with our car, even if it's got only a half inch of snow on it. I think it's rather rude to have stuff blowing off of my car onto other cars, possibly blocking their vision. Besides, it takes only a couple minutes to clean off.

#3 02-09-2004, 11:42 AM

I used to drive 18 wheelers, there is no provision to even get up there to "clean off the mess." Even at that, my mortal fear of heights would have kept me off of the slippery roof of the trailer.

The only drivers that don't have time to take care of themselves, aren't managing their time very well. With a few exceptions, I've never been in a true rush to get to a scheduled delivery destination on time. Most of the "constantly late driver's I've come across were typically truck stop cowboys, or spent too much time fooling around during offtime, making it necessary to be "off duty" longer than would have been normally necessary.

rickg · #4 02-09-2004, 01:48 PM

Never had to dodge ice coming off of trucks, but I have to go past a couple gravel pits everyday, and can't count the number of stupid gravel trucks that'll pull out in front of traffic, spewing sand and rocks all over the place.

Every vehicle I own has rock chips and cracks in the windshield!!

moparmike · #5 02-09-2004, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 3star
Why don' the owner/opeators clean the roof of their trailers....very dangerous situation.

Youre joking right? In the conditions that exist for snow/ice to form on the top of the trailer, it is also forming on the steps. I have been in semi's, and my stepdad has driven them for 10yrs. Even in the rain getting out is potentially hazardous. Climbing on the roof of the truck for ice is about as insane as wing-walking in a hailstorm.

3star · #6 02-10-2004, 01:10 PM

Its no laughing matter when your driving down a freeway at 70 mph, with 2 kids in the back seat, avoiding large pieces of 2" thick chuncks of ice that may land on your $40,000 car and potentially cause you to lose control or cause damage to the vehicle.

Lebenz · #7 02-10-2004, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 3star
Its no laughing matter when your driving down a freeway at 70 mph, with 2 kids in the back seat, avoiding large pieces of 2" thick chuncks of ice that may land on your $40,000 car and potentially cause you to lose control or cause damage to the vehicle.

Mebby mo distance 'tween you and the semi trailer?

moparmike · #8 02-10-2004, 01:27 PM

Good call lebenz. That is what prudence and common sense would dictate to me.

Why is it that people often demand that others fix their problems with a hazardous and logistically insane proposition when a little common sense would solve their problem?

3star · #9 02-10-2004, 02:42 PM

Actually I should just permanently move to our house in South Florida and then I won't have to deal with the snow and ice.

G-Benz · #10 02-10-2004, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lebenz
Mebby mo distance 'tween you and the semi trailer?

I would like to believe that too, but from what I've witnessed, those ice "plates" break off and become airborne!

The larger pieces sail in an erratic pattern for several yards before landing...and you can't always avoid its trajectory until the last few seconds, in which case, evasive action could be extremely dangerous!

So one landed on the hood of the ML, but fortunately, at a shallow angle so no damage was done...

Flash Gordon · #11 02-10-2004, 04:53 PM

Not too many things I am crazy about Jersey, highest property tax in the country, by far, highest auto insurance premium in the country also. That being said, Jersey does have one traffic law stating that any snow/ice thrown from your car and caused damaged to another car, the driver is liable for the damage.

Kuan · #12 02-10-2004, 07:29 PM

I hate it when people don't clear it off the roofs of their own cars. You'd expect people around here to know better. Some people leave the whole back end covered in snow so you can't even see their tailights. I don't expect semi drivers to clear it off, that's equivalent to shoveling your driveway. Just stay back a little.

kramlavud · #13 02-10-2004, 08:47 PM

Dislogded ice, another reason to get out of the truck's lane, added to poor visibility ahead, and the inevitable stone thrown up at a closing speed in excess of 100mph.

I am always looking for the opportunity to get out from behind any truck.

regards,

Mark

Chris W. · #14 02-10-2004, 09:33 PM

During a heavy duty ice storm here in MD several years ago I was driving home from my office at night on a high speed highway, when I watched a perfect, mini-pickup roof sized plate of ice, about 2' x 3' or so in one nice piece, fly off a mini pickup which was ahead of me, and up, up, up, it went, higher than the street light poles, rotating slowly.

Then it rotated down, down, and I watched, unbelieving, as it aimed for my car. It hit me right at the base of the windshield with a HUGE crash. The whole event seemed to happen in slow motion, but probably only took 2-3 seconds.

I basically was expecting it to come right through the windshield, but it didn't, and in fact, when I inspected my car closely the next morning in the light, I couldn't find any damage. Amazing. I have since seen these perfect panels of ice fly off several times over the years.

The moral is, as others have said, clean your roof! But I honestly don't expect semis to do it, again for the reasons others have said.

Rgds,
Chris W.

Palangi · #15 02-10-2004, 10:38 PM

Different forum, same story:

Windshield Intrusion E300DT 98