Is it legal to drive with snow on your car following Kansas’ winter storm? See the law
If you were planning on getting out after a weekend of staying in, you might want to reconsider.
An emergency alert sent to residents’ phones Sunday and Monday advised Kansas residents to refrain from driving on the roads after a snowstorm left the Wichita area with 3.6 inches of snow Sunday, Jan. 5.
And while it’s best to stay home to avoid dangerous roads, some Kansas residents may still find themselves behind the wheel for one reason or another. If you do need to make a trip, make sure you properly clean off your car of any ice and snow.
When snow is blocking your view, not only is it making driving more dangerous — it’s also illegal.
Kansas law reads: “No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings or side or rear windows of such vehicle which substantially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver’s clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway.”
Ice on your windshield is one of the hazards that can come with driving in snowy conditions. Be sure to also drive slowly, leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you, avoid sudden breaks and account for extra time to get where you’re going.
How to clean off ice from your windshield
AAA says the first thing to do to remove ice from your windshield is to start the engine, set the heater to defrost, turn on recirculation airflow and turn up the temperature to the highest heat setting.
Doing that will make the ice begin to melt, which can be removed with a plastic scraper. Use a brush to brush off snow from any part of your vehicle.
AAA says to not use metal scrapers (which can lead to scratched glass) or hot water (which can break the glass).
