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Snowy hatch

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by MartyP, Dec 12, 2018.

  1. MartyP

    MartyP New Member

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    It is my first winter with a 2017 Prius Prime.
    Hatch looks like this after less than 3 miles on a small back country road.
    20181211_115301.jpg
    We have to drive this road to get to the main road. There was a little snowfall at the time (car to the right was clean 3 hours before).
    Is that "usual" or should I stop every few minutes to clean the back and plate of the car (which I don't want to do!)? It is dangerous for people behind me (who do not get to see the braking lights!) and could get fined because my license plate is no visible.
    Any solutions out there?
     
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    This is "usual" in snow country, regardless of car type. When I grew up there, I never heard of anyone getting pulled over for it. The police had no interest in virtually shutting down road transportation.

    If not too thick, all the brake lights should still be somewhat visible through it, the snow is somewhat translucent.

    On the Prime (I don't have one yet), is the high mount center brake light outside the car, or mounted beneath the hatch glass? On all my household's older cars with that center brake light, it was under hatch glass and had some window heater wires running through it's mounting area, quickly melting enough to make the light somewhat visible, more so than the other brake lights.

    Dangerous? Only when the drivers behind are winter neophytes. Experienced winter drivers expect this and adjust accordingly.
     
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  3. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Had a Gen 3 for 8 years. Despite having the rear wiper, the snow still piled up on the back window while driving, even with the rear defrost on, and I still couldn't see much out the back. Wiper did close to nothing, and it was a large-ish wiper as those go. I got used to the situation. Didn't like it, but snow is a mess anyway. I carry a squeegee with me now, along with the standard scraper and brush, and even a small shovel at times.

    Wife has a Lexus CT200h. The rear wiper (at least the car has one), is about 6 inches long, and I might be exaggerating a little. Same wiper that comes with the Prius C, if I'm guessing correctly. Again, does little.
     
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  4. m8547

    m8547 Senior Member

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    It's in the red strip on the end of the hatch. But I think only the middle part lights up, not the whole width of the red strip. The brake lights are bright enough to be seen through some light snow. In snowy conditions the back of my car is usually the least of my worries.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i have to think it's the aero shape and flat back. my gen3 doesn't do that

    maybe the work they went to, to keep the snow off the rear window because they lost the wiper

    i remember mercedes advertising years ago, claiming their aerodynamics kept the taillights clean.
    of course, they weren't concerned about cd
     
  6. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Hmmmmm....
    I remember the white stuff from my youth in my beloved home state.
    I can see your rear lights so it is very likely that your brake lights will illuminate brightly to be seen through the veneer of snow.

    As far as the legality of having the plate covered by snow - well there's at least one article in the interwebs about this:

    Ask a Trooper- discusses license plates and snow storms | Y94

    Caveat!!

    South of 49-degrees we have 49 states and each one has various jurisdictions where various interpretations of OUR laws apply.

    Mostly, when it snows enough for license plates to become quickly obscured, our constabulary are usually busy doing other things than checking to see if license plates are unobstructed.
    HOWEVER (comma!) if you engage in activities that make you an interesting object for LEOs to be curious about ....(political bumper stickers, obnoxious exhaust system, video playing on your infotainment system, etc.....) then....yeah.
    You might get pulled over for having a license plate covered up by snow......but that might not be the REAL reason you get pulled over.
    ;)
    Contrary to popular belief , LEO's generally HATE to pull people over for minor traffic and equipment infractions, so it's very likely that they will let common sense apply here.
    After all.....a dark, cold, road with blowing snow and greatly reduced visibility is exactly the place I would NOT want to stop my car to wipe snow off of my license plate.

    YMMV
     
    #6 ETC(SS), Dec 13, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2018
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Fortunately, the same snow covers any bumper stickers too.

    But the equipment and entertainment noise won't be muffled much.
    Mine does. And when mine does, virtually all non-Prii do too.

    I think you just haven't been out in the right conditions yet.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it can happen in really sticky wet swirling snow, but it is a rare occasion
     
  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Depends on where you live or drive. Where I grew up, and still visit, it is common.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    marty is in quebec. i have no idea. perhaps he sees the same thing on cars in front of him, and was expecting better from prime?