Why you should clean the snow and ice off of your car before hitting the road

A chunk of ice broke free from a box truck and smashed into another vehicle while driving on Route 22 on Friday, Jan. 30.

It’s an incident that has prompted a warning from officials in Bethlehem Township: Clean off your car.

The snow left behind from the storm on Sunday, Jan. 25 has now hardened into solid ice.

While driving on Interstate 95 on Friday night, NBC10 crews saw three different vehicles with snow on their roofs as traffic moved more than 60 miles per hour.

When that frozen snow is sitting on top of a moving vehicle and breaks free it becomes like a missile that could seriously injure or kill anyone in its path.

In the state of Pennsylvania, driving with snow or ice on your vehicle is illegal.

Christine’s Law fines drivers who don’t clear snow from their cars

In 2005, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed Christine’s Law.

The law was created after ice flew off of a truck and crashed through a windshield killing 22-year-old Christine Lambert of Palmer Township.

Drivers can face a $50 fine for failing to clear snow from their cars.

That fine could reach up to $1,500 if that ice causes serious injury or a fatality.

AAA’s tips for clearing snow from your car

A spokesperson from AAA told NBC10 that before you start scraping the snow or ice off your vehicle, turn up your heater.

Make sure you use the proper kind of brush or scraper to clear all of the surfaces of your vehicle.

Never pour hot water on your windshield.