Too many local motorists aren’t clearing all the snow off their vehicles before hitting local roadways, according to the Burnaby RCMP.
After a heavy snowfall Wednesday evening, local Mounties conducted a three-hour safety check Thursday morning, according to a police news release.
Officers pulled over more than 150 vehicles due to snow-related visibility issues, the release said.
Police gave verbal warnings to 125 drivers, telling them to get out and remove the snow from their vehicles before driving any further.
“In some cases, only small portions of windows had been cleared, leaving minimal visibility for the driver,” stated the release. “Other vehicles had several inches of snow on top that had not been cleared, creating a moving hazard on the road.”
Officers loaned many of the drivers their own snow brushes to properly clean their vehicles off, according to the release.
Some of the drivers said they had left the snow on their vehicles because they didn’t want to be late to the destinations, but Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj said that was no excuse.
“Getting to your destination late is better than not getting there at all,” he said in the release. “Not clearing your vehicle is a hazard to yourself and to others on the road.”
Some of the drivers pulled over by police got more than a verbal warning.
Sixteen got written warnings for driving while their view was obstructed.
And 11 got violation tickets: six for driving with an obstructed view, three for driving with unreadable licence plates that were covered by snow, one for excessive speeding (101 km/h in a 50 km/h zone) and one for driving without a licence.
Drivers caught driving with an obstructed view are subject to a $109 and three penalty points.
“With more snow in the forecast for the Lower Mainland, Burnaby RCMP is urging all drivers to plan accordingly and ensure their vehicle is clear from snow before they drive,” stated the release.
