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Don't drive with a "snow cap": why 5 minutes in the yard is more important than rushing

Rushing to work in the morning, cold and a snow-covered car is a familiar situation for every driver. The temptation to quickly scrape through just a small “window” – the so-called “tanker window” and move off is great. However, the Lithuanian police and traffic safety experts warn: such a mistake on the road can be very costly.

May your winter driving be peaceful and safe – without "snow caps"!

Today, “Man ramu” shares the most important insights into why your car’s roof, lights, and windows must be clean before you leave your place.

Why is a "snow cap" on the roof dangerous?

Many drivers think that snow on the roof doesn’t bother anyone – it doesn’t block the view, after all? Not true. Uncleared snow on the roof is a time bomb for two reasons:

  1. Danger to you (when braking): As the car warms up, the lower layer of snow on the roof melts, forming a film of water. As soon as you need to brake harder (for example, before a pedestrian crossing), the entire “snow cap” slides down directly onto your windshield due to inertia. The result is instant loss of visibility in an emergency and broken wipers that are unable to push away the heavy snow.
  2. Danger to others: When driving at higher speeds, snow and ice from your roof fly backwards, directly into the cars behind you. This is not only frightening to other drivers, but can also damage their property or cause an emergency situation when the other driver instinctively tries to avoid the “flying object.”

"Tankman Syndrome" - When You Only See What's Ahead

Road Traffic Regulations (RTR) require that before setting off, you must make sure that there are no obstacles to safe traffic, and if there are, you are prohibited from continuing to drive until the obstacles are removed. The driver must ensure that visibility through the windows is not restricted. If even a small scratch on the windshield is left while driving, your peripheral vision is severely limited. You may not notice a car approaching from the side or a person stepping into a pedestrian crossing.

What needs to be cleaned before driving?

  • All windows: Not just the front, but also the side and rear windows.
  • Mirrors: They are your eyes when repositioning.
  • Headlights: The effectiveness of snow-covered headlights is drastically reduced – other road users may not see you or your brake signals.
  • License plate: It must be legible.

Liability and fines

The Lithuanian police remind you that operating a vehicle in an untidy condition (when snow or ice obstructs visibility or poses a danger to others) is subject to administrative liability – a fine of 10 to 12 euros. You may face more serious consequences if it is determined that the vehicle’s license plate is intentionally left covered or uncleaned.

However, the fine is insignificant compared to the risk of a traffic accident. If a piece of ice falls from your car and damages another vehicle, it will be treated as a traffic accident. You will have to fill out a traffic accident declaration, and your insurance history may suffer. Even worse, if you do not notice it and drive away, it may be considered as leaving the scene of a traffic accident, for which you risk losing your driving license.

"Man ramu" advice

Winter does not forgive mistakes, so we encourage you to sacrifice those few minutes of sleep and thoroughly clean your car for the sake of overall safety. However, anything can happen on the road – even if you are careful, you can be a victim of less than responsible drivers. If your car is damaged by a block of ice or solid snow flying from another vehicle, your car’s comprehensive insurance will help solve financial losses and repair problems. To make your winter trips completely peaceful, we invite you to learn more about comprehensive insurance on the “Man ramu” insurance platform.

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