This winter, don’t forget about your car’s roof
Sometimes, it’s easy to go a little overboard with all the cold-weather driving stuff, but clearing snow and ice off your vehicle’s roof is one thing that needs constant attention and reminders. Even smaller rides can deliver a lethal projectile of ice or snow that can penetrate someone else’s windshield. We’re about to head into February, and vehicle damage reports are flying in.
Police services across the country have tools in their ticket books to deal with those putting other drivers at risk by improperly clearing their vehicles. And don’t think you can get away with snow on the roof instead of ice because snow can quickly solidify into ice from rapid temperature changes caused by heat escaping through the roof and the sun shining down.
The best tool in your snow-removal arsenal is a rectangular brush made out of foam. Once you try one, you’ll never go back to a regular brush again. These can clear snow on small vehicles in as little as five or six passes, and limit damage to paint. They can also be had with a telescopic handle, making them easy to store.
If you’re dealing with a thick sheet of ice, you’ll have to get the interior fully warmed up, which lets heat transfer through the roof and weakens the ice’s bond. But be warned, this won’t be a quick process, and roof racks and glass panels (such as a sunroof) add their own kinks to this job. Roof racks make the surface area stiffer and reduce the flex that’ll allow you to crack the ice, and even the lightest tap on a cold sunroof can lead to a shower of glass bits.
If you do have a sunroof, the only way to get the ice off safely is by melting it, either with the interior climate control on full heat for as long as it takes, or with a slow and cautious drive to a car wash. If you have to tap the ice to break it, a good rule of thumb is to avoid whacking something you don’t want dented. Be gentle. Foam snow brushes lower this risk, but they aren’t idiot-proof. Also, never set a snow brush (foam or otherwise) with the working end on the ground; they’ll pick up pieces of grit and scratch the paint.
If you opt for a car wash, don’t use an automated drive-thru.
Such systems will generate too much pressure, running the risk of propelling a shard of ice with enough force to damage something. A coin-op bay is your best bet and lets you rinse the salt off your vehicle, too.
If all this seems like too much work, just stay home. Driving with any amount of snow and ice on your roof presents a serious risk to everyone else on the road.