ARLINGTON, Va. -- As far as it can tell, the safety implications of snow and ice accumulation on tractor-trailers has not been well-documented in North America, says the American Transportation Research Institute.

Asked by the American Trucking Association to study the issue of falling snow and ice from moving vehicles and related injuries, ATRI quickly found out how daunting a task it was.

Perhaps the first ever to address the issue comprehensively, the study did identify a myriad of safety, financial, technical and institutional challenges associated with effectively addressing or mitigating the safety concerns with snow and ice falling
from vehicles.

In particular, challenges for the trucking industry include the worker hazards associated with clearing snow and ice from the tops of trailers, the limited availability and efficacy of snow removal devices and the lack of available vehicle-based solutions, says ATRI.

There isn't a lot of research on issues related to
falling snow from trucks, but ATRI is trying to change that.

Last year, Connecticut and Pennsylvania legislators considered fines for drivers who cause crashes because they did not clear their vehicles' roofs of ice and snow.

Since then, the ATA has issued a "call to action" to fix the problem. ATA President and CEO Bill Graves is now urging the trucking industry to work with the American Automobile Association and other industry partners to create a plan.

Snow and ice falling from motor vehicles can be a serious problem in cold-weather regions, resulting in property damage or injury to other motorists, notes Graves.

ATRI issued a set of short and long-term solutions, including the education of operators of all types of vehicles; further studies of the feasibility of snow removal devices at weigh stations and ports of entry; and investigating vehicle-based solutions to prevent or reduce snow and ice accumulation.

Also, insurance industry efforts to track the frequency of claims due to falling snow and ice may help secure funds for such projects, ATRI noted.