Advice for Ann Arbor drivers: Clear your windshield in the winter

Seeing clearly while driving is a necessity. A clean windshield, windows and mirrors - coupled with an uncluttered dashboard area - can make anyone a much safer driver.

Keep your windshield as clean as possible both inside and out. Glare produced by a dirty windshield causes eye strain and fatigues the driver. In addition to keeping a clean windshield, keep the dashboard clear of objects - especially light-colored paper objects, which reflect up into the windshield and can limit vision.

In the winter, 5-10 minutes should be added to normal drive times to clear the windshield of frost, snow and ice. Remember to clear more than a 3-inch square near the defroster before departing. Clear the entire windshield, side windows, mirrors and rear window. Remove the snow from the hood, so it won’t blow back and frost over the windshield once you're driving.Â

Chamel Douglas, an Eastern Michigan University student from Southfield, brushes the snow off the windshield of her car in the Briarwood Mall parking lot in this 2007 file photo.

Driving with a frosty windshield is illegal. It's alsoÂ a pet peeve of most police officers. It is likely if the cops see you Â - and remember, you won’t see them because you didn’t take the time properly clear your windows - there may be a ticket issued, or at the very least you'll be clearing your windshield in traffic with a police car behind you.Â

On a bright note, you'll provide a little mirth for motorists driving by chuckling at your buffoonery and subsequent misfortune.

Avoid hanging objects like tassels, crystals or - heaven forbid - drug paraphernalia like “roach clips” from the rearview mirror. The swinging crystals can mimic an emergency vehicle’s flashing red or blue lights when they catch the sun or headlights. The drug paraphernalia blocks a driver’s view and begs an officer to search the car for drugs. Unsecured items that can slide on the dashboard should also be avoided. Â

The point here is to prevent things from sliding or swaying from side to side in the driver’s forward field of vision. Danger will be transmitted to the brain quicker should a child, pedestrian, bicycle or vehicle move into your path. Reaction time will be reduced because the brain won’t have to process whether the movement is a crystal dangling from the mirror or a child running into the street.

Sunglasses are also a necessity for driving, especially in the winter. The rising or setting sun and glare off snow or ice can be blinding. Polarized lenses are most effective for minimizing reflected glare, but any sunglasses are better than depending solely on a vehicle’s sun visors.

Lock it up, don’t leave it unattended, be aware and watch out for your neighbor (who you will be able to clearly see through your clean windshield).

Rich Kinsey is a retired Ann Arbor detective sergeant who now blogs about crime and safety for AnnArbor.com.