A Rhode Island driver has sparked a wave of strong criticism after driving an SUV covered in snow on public roads, just hours after travel bans were lifted. This act occurred as the state of Rhode Island recovered from a historic blizzard that brought record-breaking snowfall.
Video footage captured by WPRI shows the vehicle nearly buried under a thick layer of snow, with only a small opening cleared on the windshield for visibility. The vehicle was traveling on icy and slushy roads under significantly restricted visibility conditions, posing a danger to other road users.
The blizzard, named Winter Storm Hernando, struck Rhode Island on Sunday and Monday, dumping 30 to 37 inches of snow in many areas. Governor Dan McKee had to issue a travel ban for commercial vehicles to ensure safety. TF Green International Airport in Warwick even recorded 37.9 inches of snow, breaking a 121-year record and significantly exceeding the 28.6 inches recorded during the historic 1978 storm.
WPRI posted the video of the SUV along with a stern warning, advising residents to completely clear snow and ice from their vehicles before hitting the road. The post quickly garnered nearly 5 million views and a flurry of angry comments, with many expressing concern over the danger this behavior posed to the community.
According to Rhode Island Law § 31-23-16, drivers are responsible for removing all snow and ice from their vehicles before operating them. During the storm, state police reported handling 269 disabled vehicles, 25 crashes, and issuing 40 citations for travel ban violations. Notably, nearly 300 instances of vehicles sliding off highway lanes were also recorded during the peak of the blizzard.
Authorities continue to advise the public to thoroughly clean their vehicles to ensure maximum safety for themselves and others on the road.
