Even during warmer winter days, there is a high risk of ice appearing on the roof of a truck, warns ADAC. The German automobile club has thus published advice on how to deal with the issue.
In winter, even in the seemingly good weather, an ice sheet can form on the roof of a semi-trailer and truck cabin. A little rain or a lot of humidity during the day and frost at night are enough to cause this. In the winter season, accidents involving ice falling from trucks occur every year on European roads.
Some ways to remove snow, ice and water from a semi-trailer
Some of the parking lots for trucks have special installations to remove ice and snow from the roof of the trailer and the cabin. However, there are still not enough places like this. According to the automobile club, another way to remove ice and snow from the truck is to use a roof heater or shake it off with an air bellows installed on the roof. However, such equipment is expensive, so drivers usually have to deal with the problem differently.
Under no circumstances should drivers climb on the roof of a truck or climb a ladder without protection, warns ADAC. The ladder must be properly secured so that it cannot slip and the trucker should not climb the top three rungs.
If the trailer is empty, the tarpaulin can be raised from the inside to remove water or snow. The driver can also use the air suspension on the rear axle to position the trailer at a slight gradient so that melted snow or ice can run off. Under no circumstances should hot water be poured over ice sheets, as it freezes even faster than cold water.
Moreover, ADAC advises all road users to keep a safe distance from the truck driving in front of them. As a rule, falling ice sheets hit about 20 to 50 metres behind a truck. Therefore, if one drives too close to the truck, there is a risk that falling ice will break through the windscreen and fall into the vehicle cabin. ADAC also advises to avoid overtaking trucks wherever possible.
What penalties are there for truck drivers with ice on the roof?
In Germany, pursuant to § 23 of the StVO (Straßenverkehrsordnung, or German Road Traffic Act), every professional driver must ensure that his truck is in good condition and can be driven safely before departure.
Their duties also include removing ice and frozen snow from the truck. Failure to do so is an administrative offence, which is punishable by a fine of €80 and one penalty point. If an accident occurs due to icing of the vehicle, the driver will be fined up to €120 and one penalty point. If the accident leads to personal injury or death, the driver is liable to imprisonment.
Photo credit @ Krause