With winter almost upon us, Innisfail RCMP is reminding motorists to defrost their windows before hitting the roads.
Const. Rick Buisseret said if frost and ice are left on a windshield they can cause a safety hazard that could result in an accident or an injury. Buisseret said he passed a number of vehicles on his way to work last week whose windshields were partially obstructed by frost.
“People had their windshield wipers going and the washer fluid and it wasn’t doing that great of a job – it ices up right away,” he said. “I just thought this was a huge hazard, especially early in the morning when kids are going to school and there’s lots of traffic on the roads and people are in a hurry to get to work.”
Buisseret advised drivers to plan ahead and take a few minutes to scrape or defrost their windows before heading out on local streets.
“It isn’t worth damaging your vehicle or injuring someone,” he said. “You’d feel pretty bad if you didn’t take that extra minute and you got hurt or your insurance rates go up because of a collision.”
Under the Use of the Highway and Rules of the Road Regulations section of the Traffic Safety Act, a motorist could face a fine of $115 if the view through the vehicle’s windshield or windows is obscured by mud, frost, steam or anything else that could make the operation of the vehicle hazardous, or if an ornament is placed in the vehicle in such a way that it obscures the driver’s view.
