Submitted by Nalek t3_11athd0 in WorcesterMA

Going down 290 today I saw at least 10 cars have slabs of ice ripped off their roof, fly 20 ft into the air, and then smash into the pavement, some right in front of other drivers. This is so extremely dangerous to other vehicles on the road, if you can't properly clear off your car don't take the highway. I'm seriously surprised the state troopers don't sit out there on days like this, easy tickets.

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[deleted] t1_j9u4jq5 wrote

I was honestly blown away when I found out MA doesn’t have a specific statewide law against this. Other than the Mass Pike, the most they can get you for is a minor violation for an unsecured load, and that’s if they even feel like enforcing it. Really? Even New Hampshire has Jessica’s Law because someone literally died from an accident. Do we have to wait until someone here dies to make a law named after them? Sheesh, you’d think with all the questionable bans this state is so gung-ho about pursuing, something this basic would be one of them?

https://www.wmur.com/amp/article/jessicas-law-new-hampshire-snow-ice-111522/41967110

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/clear-snow-off-top-of-your-vehicle-or-face-fines/amp/

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Zinski t1_j9uwb9r wrote

> Jessica’s Law because someone literally died from an accident

That's the way it works. We just deal with unsafe shit we know will kill people until it effects some one in the area personally and they make a law about it.

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aKaake t1_j9vkns2 wrote

I moved to NH and lived there for almost 10 years so it's ingrained in me now to just clear it all off!

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The_Real_ZerXceS t1_j9ubxnb wrote

boston literally has roaming dirtbike gangs menacing people... I think it's just gonna happen.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_j9unft4 wrote

Traffic was stopped on Chandler the other day for 3 old people crossing the road where Irving connects. Some douche on a green dirt bike split the lanes and almost hit the group. There was a cop in an Explorer turning left onto Chandler from Irving who had to have seen it but did nothing.

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NativeSon508 t1_j9v42l3 wrote

Rules against chasing them in Worcester. Everybody blames the cops for “chasing” which winds up in a wreck. Not the loser on the stolen bike, breaking laws, uninsured and causing accidents. That’s why they’re so bad in the summer and ripping up the parks.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_j9v5ygq wrote

I get that, but I feel like they could at least sound the sirens. I don't want to get flagged for being a violent person, but sometimes I think vigilante justice should be okay.

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[deleted] t1_j9uq9yd wrote

Yeah we had them in Worcester too, although I haven’t seen as many in the last few years.

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FirstOrderRouge t1_j9v51xd wrote

$200 ticket sure doesn’t feel like a minor violation but that’s just me.

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ARoundForEveryone t1_j9ud3ia wrote

Are you suggesting new laws? We very well can't have new laws without catchy and sentimental names - come on, man!

You seen the list of laws we currently have? They're numbered and lettered - and we've used up all the numbers and letters. We're currently in the "child names" section of law names, and there are only so many catchy and sentimental names so we need to be a little stingy when it comes to new laws and regulations.

We could have an emergency Senate hearing or something that would enact the little used "fuzzy animal" clause of State Statute Eleanor 43b, from 1946, that would let us name laws after fuzzy animals instead of dead children. But that's only temporary in nature and it would expire in 12 months without overriding Senate Guideline Eleanor Gertrude Humphries. Of course, that would trigger the little used William J Eastman statue (penned in honor of little "Billy East" back in '71) so a second vote would have to be taken within 12 months. This is known both in the Senate and the House as the "Irish Twins" law. It's pretty controversial and is usually seen as a last ditch effort to preserve "God's Will" (although that can't be directly stated by politicians). Usually these types of laws do more harm than good, but it's not the law's fault - it's usually just that the enforcement agencies aren't equipped to deal with changes these significant in such a rapid-fire manner.

Anyway, what was I saying? I don't know how I got on a tangent about our official legal system.

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[deleted] t1_j9uqimz wrote

Oh well. Maybe New Hampshire will bag a few people while they’re driving up there to buy their menthols and fireworks to smuggle back into MA.

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Bootlicker222 t1_j9u71du wrote

State cops just sit on the side of the road and choke their chicken lol

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Pvt_Wierzbowski t1_j9ucadb wrote

Remember on Rocko’s Modern Life, when they renamed Chokey Chicken to Chewy Chicken?

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LowkeyPony t1_j9uhjto wrote

Couple of years ago I bought a large push broom that is used for the sole purpose of cleaning off the tops of our vehicles. Works just as well on the Dodge SUV as it does on the Subaru. People are lazy af

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IIRizzII t1_j9ybj4z wrote

What do you suggest for those lazy people that drive tiny cars? They can’t seem to reach their roof either? /s🤷🏼‍♀️

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Patient_Customer9827 t1_j9u5xqy wrote

Had a hunk fly off and smash my windshield on 95 near Kennebunk a few years ago. Almost push it right in. Some how didn’t crash and was able to navigate off to the rest stop. People think it’s nothing but you can legit kill someone.

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batteriesyum t1_j9ugz2y wrote

Witnessed the same on 290 today and it was terrifying.

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Historical_Guess5725 t1_j9u54ue wrote

On 495 south a guy with snow/ice left on his car hit my window shield it’s a 4 ft slab of ice - almost broke the window with the force/speed

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whatwhatwhat78 t1_j9wkdgz wrote

Same happened to me earlier. It was so scary. I’m glad you are ok.

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Magisterbrown t1_j9u902i wrote

It's almost like it's silly that our commute demands relying on everyone upkeeping and competently operating their personal vehicle while half caffeinated in their morning rush.

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Nalek OP t1_j9uazld wrote

I mean that's a whole other conversation entirely and I agree with you. Waiting for the time that I get to move back to somewhere with good public transit and I can just sell off my car.

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Magisterbrown t1_j9vj93a wrote

Yeah. But also never stop fighting/advocating for good public transit everywhere. IMHO at least 🤷

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riek92 t1_j9umux7 wrote

I wonder if we saw the same one! I saw a black truck going about 70 to 80 mph and a giant piece of ice flew off his car go into the air and land on the side of the road.

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Patient_Customer9827 t1_j9v1qt6 wrote

My wife actually just saw someone get their windshield smashed on route 20 smh.

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passthegwavy t1_j9y2yst wrote

Yes! It’s seriously shocking how little people care. In addition, get off your fucking phones. I swear to god everyone in this city has a death wish.

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morgelfy t1_j9v4nne wrote

Truth. Drove from Maine back home to MA .and there were so many. Tractor trailers too. I was driving to avoid any debris.

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dirtydan t1_j9vvz5f wrote

There's not a good solution for clearing the roof of a trailer. It's 13 and 1/2 feet off the ground and 8 and 1/2 feet wide and fiberglass on top so if you climbed up there you couldn't stand on it. I'm not saying there shouldn't be a way because I've seen all the snow cleared off a trailer when it went under an overpass and it's dramatic and could easily cause a multi-car crash. Just saying someone smarter than me would have to engineer a means to do it.

edit: ...smarter than me, not we. I'm sure together we're wicked smart.

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albalfa t1_j9wyvvb wrote

There absolutely IS a good solution for this.

It's been engineered, it's in use today. Selfishness and not giving a single fuck about anyone else on the road is the only reason this still happens.

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dirtydan t1_j9zo46x wrote

I'll be damned that's pretty cool. Small fleets will never see them because the owner's don't want to spend the money, not considering the liability it would save them.

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DarthMortum t1_j9v883w wrote

I guess it’s too cold out there for state troopers to work on their quota.

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IIRizzII t1_j9ybsal wrote

I’ve seen cops with snow/ice on their vehicle as well. Smh.

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Ok_Fox_1770 t1_j9x4lsd wrote

I’ve nearly avoided several tractor trailer flying plywood sized sheets of ice, the swerve fest those cause in traffic… if I can get a damn 6’ ladder to clean my milk truck style van roof off at 6 am everyone should be.

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Jfkalpha t1_j9y3dlp wrote

We don’t need a new law jus for people to have more respect for others and not be such lazy scumbags

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[deleted] t1_j9u2uwv wrote

[removed]

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WorcesterMA-ModTeam t1_j9uuktw wrote

Your comment is being removed for uncivil behavior. Our community maintains a respect level of civility in discussion regardless of the views being presented, and posts such as yours that engage in this type of discussion are not welcome here.

Please refresh yourself on our rules before continuing to participate, and show other posters the respect that all other people are owed.

If you cannot provide that, you are not welcome here.

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Bruins0615 t1_j9ukb04 wrote

it should be a felony.

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cowboyfromhell77 t1_j9v3f7r wrote

huge chunk flew in the air in front of me and landed right on the corner of my windshield on chandler , if it didn’t catch the corner i believe it would’ve smashed right threw my windshield. unfkn real

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NativeSon508 t1_j9v3qt8 wrote

Tell the cops to enforce the law! Nobody gives a shit about anyone but themselves around here so the cops gotta do it. It’s so self centered and disgusting.

Car on 146 this morning got a smashed windshield because somebody was too lazy to clean their shit off.

Car too tall? SUV so big you can’t reach the roof? Tough shit. Stay home.

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whatwhatwhat78 t1_j9wk5o7 wrote

I was on 290 earlier today and a huge piece of ice from the roof of someone’s car flew through the air and smashed my antenna. It was terrifying.

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oceanwave4444 t1_j9wud5v wrote

Hit my windshield on 290 this morning, scared the shit out of me, state trooper saw the whole thing too and didn’t do a thing

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Crooks123 t1_j9x5ll5 wrote

Just wanted to say I didn’t realize this stuff was so dangerous, I haven’t been driving the past two days so I didn’t see it but genuinely had no idea it could break a windshield 😬

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kshearules t1_j9ydqzt wrote

I counted 12 icy roof blow offs on my 290-495-pike commute yesterday. One hit my hood and windshield. No damage but Holy shit terrifying.

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mcl1977 t1_j9txisx wrote

not everyone is going to clean off their cars. sometimes you have a tall van with ladder racks. impossible to get it all off. This is the reason I dont take highways on days like this.

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Nalek OP t1_j9u0xc9 wrote

Not being able to get every nook and cranny between ladder rungs is different than sedans that have their entire roof coated in ice and snow.

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