This year’s winter is battering much of North America with brutal winds, heavy snow, but most dangerous of all: ice.

Driving conditions are far worse and unpredictable with an uneven frozen ground compounding the poor visibility.

One example of how ice can throw just about everything into uncertainty played out in Trenton, Ontario.

A sheet of ice fell off a transport truck and smashed a driver’s windshield on Highway 401 even as the driver swerved out of the way.

The Ford F-150’s windshield was cracked but no glass fell into the car while the rearview mirror nearly fell off and was left dangling on the side of the vehicle.

No ticket or warning was given to the transport truck driver by the responding Ontario Provincial Police officer because damage under $2,000 is solely an insurance matter.

The damage to the F-150 totaled $1,144 and was completely compensated for by his insurer.

It’s the law in Ontario and most jurisdictions to maintain the safety of your vehicle and the trucking company involved in the incident says they require their drivers to clean their trucks of ice at specific stations.

But incidents like these are treated on a case-by-case basis and sometimes insurance policies are the only solution.


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