New PA BS law, snow on roof

[willyslover]

Oh Please Mr. state legislator protect me from myself ... Geeeees when will these butt heads stop

 

[Sled Puller]

Yes, Willy, I didn't notice your state legislator rush out and make a law against the loose gravel they left on high mountain roads, eh?



I guess its ok for the state to endanger us, but lets screw the evil trucker some more.

 

[Sled Puller]

SP- Would you consider an accident as a result of un- secured cargo a "freak accident"? That is what snow and ice from any vehicle is.

No, I don't. Unsecured cargo was put there by man. Ice and snow on your roof was put there by nature.

 

[DRadzierez]

aparently there is only wanna-be truck drivers on here not any real truck drivers,There is several things wrong in some of these aligations-such as tarping gravel--even pea gravel rarely blows off the truck---heck Ive got a pile in my yard that even 50 mph winds have not moved an ounce,it will not blow even on the highway @ 70 mph. If everyone new so much they would check leaking tailgates not tarp the load. Snow and ice is not cargo it is nature. I wonder if everyone complaining checked all the trucks hauling to there house while it was getting built to see if any of those trucks was leaking, no only while the neighbor was building their house.

 

[fkovalski]

... Unsecured cargo was put there by man. Ice and snow on your roof was put there by nature.

True, very true. But, my contention is that you as a vehicle operator should be responsible for any type of item on the vehicle that is unsecured regardless of how it got there.



The "I did not put it there" excuse reeks of irrisponsibility. Suppose some punk arse kid put some type of dangerous item on a vehicle as a joke that could fall off and do damage and you happen to see it prior to driving off. Would you leave it there using the same precedent as an out? Well, I did'nt put it there... ?



Now if you want to hear about a stupid law... New York City has one having to resrict wearing earphones, talking on a cell, etc... while crossing the streets. It seems that seveal folks have gotten hit by vehicles when crossing... to me, that is proof that Darwin was right..... But, I digress

 

[RustyJC]

No, I don't. Unsecured cargo was put there by man. Ice and snow on your roof was put there by nature.

I really don't see the difference in principle between this law and the law governing removal of ice and snow from sidewalks when we lived in Ohio. Yes, nature put it there, but I'm responsible for removing it before someone else is injured because ice and/or snow is on my property (or, in the case of this law, vehicle).



Rusty

 

[fkovalski]

... Snow and ice is not cargo it is nature...

So... . using your example:



Wind blows a tree limb onto your truck. You will just leave it there to fall onto another motorist because "it is nature?"

 

[Sled Puller]

A branch could fall overnight on the trailer and you would never see it.



This is the problem, you can't make a law to fix every saftey issue that confronts day to day life.

 

[fkovalski]

A branch could fall overnight on the trailer and you would never see it...

Agreed... and while alluded to by a previous replier... . I am not a tractor/ trailer driver, but is there not some pre travel check that is performed by the driver before heading out. If so, a roof check of the trailer is probably not SOP... . but the fact that a falling object off of a truck (out of sight, out of mind) does not relive the driver of operating a safe vehicle.

... . This is the problem, you can't make a law to fix every saftey issue that confronts day to day life.

Agreed. But also true is if operators were more and wholely aware of thier vehicle, no law would be required.

 

[DRadzierez]

I really don't see the difference in principle between this law and the law governing removal of ice and snow from sidewalks when we lived in Ohio. Yes, nature put it there, but I'm responsible for removing it before someone else is injured because ice and/or snow is on my property (or, in the case of this law, vehicle).



Rusty

Is your walkway 13'6" above the ground?Is nobody supposed to walk on your walkway?. If you slip and fall on your walkway while cleaning it- as dangerous as a 60 year old trucker falling off of his trailer ?Some things are just very hard to control and pinning it on the trucker is not the answer.

 

[rbattelle]

aparently there is only wanna-be truck drivers on here not any real truck drivers,

Please put me in the category of "not a real truck driver".



Ryan

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

It is not a matter of whether this is well intentioned, or a 'good law'.

Is it practical, reasonable, or even possible? what are the costs, and do they outweigh the benefits? I will bet you money that more will be hurt or killed trying

to clean off trucks with ladders than could possibly be saved from accidents.

or should truck stops all be required to spend millions to add facilities?

This is where good law and bad law seperate.

 

[DRadzierez]

Please put me in the category of "not a real truck driver".



Ryan

ok your in that category. LOL

 

[RustyJC]

Is your walkway 13'6" above the ground?Is nobody supposed to walk on your walkway?. If you slip and fall on your walkway while cleaning it- as dangerous as a 60 year old trucker falling off of his trailer ?Some things are just very hard to control and pinning it on the trucker is not the answer.

So, who is liable if a 100 lb sheet of ice comes off the roof of the trailer and sails through the windshield of the minivan behind it, taking out the soccer mom and her kids? Does the trucker have any responsibility for that at all, in your opinion?



Rusty

 

[mcoleman]

How many times is it on record of a 100 pound sheet of ice going through a windshield from the top of truck? Once or twice in 20 years isn't near enough in comparison to the millions in mis-spent tax dollars our inept government will throw at it. Trying to protect the sheeple from themselves will only put us all in the poorhouse and under the gov thumbscrews that much sooner.

 

[DRadzierez]

How many times is it on record of a 100 pound sheet of ice going through a windshield from the top of truck? Once or twice in 20 years isn't near enough in comparison to the millions in mis-spent tax dollars our inept government will throw at it. Trying to protect the sheeple from themselves will only put us all in the poorhouse and under the gov thumbscrews that much sooner.

This is exactly how I feel. The few cases that it has happened Im sure the insurance companys paid dearly. If something did come off my truck and kill or hurt somebody Id feel horrible and expect you to sue my insureance,But by this law being passed it could be pinned on the driver more than the insurance companys. In turn it means the people would most likely get less because the insurance company will say they are less liabl.

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

I didnt think trailer roofs were strong enough to support a guy walking around on it... . not to mention beating the crap out of it to get the snow off!. Its been a few years since I've maintained trailers, but the ones I remember, you had decent light inside if it was sunny out (stoughton vans).



I've seen quite a few wrecks where the trailer wound up on its side and the cargo didnt go through the front wall or the top side, but it tore through the roof like it wasnt there.



It was scary enough walking around on top of locomotives doing fan checks and general inspection and thats with grabiron access and a steel roof---fiberglass on some new passenger units. If they pass this law... they'll have to build ACCESS to the roof into the trailer. How many current design Vans do you see with a :-{} ladder to the top on it????

 

[RGardner]

Just another case of big brother knowing what is best for us! I have always said you cannot legislate common sense.

 

[MSnow]

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/08/874.asp





THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL No. 902 Session of 2005

INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, C. WILLIAMS, FONTANA, COSTA, RAFFERTY AND EARLL, OCTOBER 5, 2005



AN ACT



Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for the removal of snow and ice from certain vehicles.



The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:



§ 3720. Snow and ice removal.

(a) General rule. --Any driver of a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway of this Commonwealth shall have an affirmative duty to make all reasonable efforts to remove all accumulated ice or snow from the motor vehicle, including the hood, trunk and roof of the motor vehicle. Any driver of a motor vehicle who violates this section may be stopped on a street or highway by a law enforcement officer if the law enforcement officer believes the accumulated ice or snow may pose a threat to persons or property. Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $75 for each offense regardless of whether any snow or ice is dislodged from the vehicle.

(b) Dislodged snow and ice. --When snow or ice is dislodged from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage, the following penalties shall apply:

(1) The operator of a noncommercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.

(2) The operator of a commercial motor vehicle shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,500 for each offense.

(c) Exception. --This section shall not apply to any driver of a motor vehicle operated during a snow or ice storm that began and continued for the duration of the motor vehicle's operation or to any operator of a motor vehicle while it is parked.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.







HOW CAN A SEMI DRIVER CLEAN SNOW OFF HIS ROOF???????

Just drive as fast as you can before day light. It works for me.

 

[DRadzierez]

Just drive as fast as you can before day light. It works for me.

GIT-ER-DONE