DRIVING ON ICE, BEFORE YOU CONSIDER PLEASE READ

I RESPONDED TO A THREAD WELL BELOW.
I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A GOOD READ BEFORE ONE CONSIDERS DRIVING PERSONAL MV ON ICE....
THE PICTURE AT THE BOTTOM SPEAKS FOR ITSELF ( TAKEN THIS WEEK WILLOW BEACH AREA )

ADMIN YOU DECIDE IF THIS POST SHOULD STAY.

Every winter - and into early spring in the more northern parts of Ontario - people venture forth in vehicles onto frozen bodies of water. They drive out on lakes and rivers because it’s ice fishing season, the roads are blocked, or they need a place to park.

And every winter/spring, some cars and trucks sink beneath the icy waters. Who pays for the damages (or even the entire loss of the vehicle)? Don’t assume you are covered in this instance. And, you may expect that you’re covered for damages you cause other properties - but will that be the case with the lake you’ve contaminated with leaking gasoline, oils and other toxic automotive fluids?


Whether or not you are covered for that mess will depend on the terms of your insurance policy. Some possible scenarios are:

● Comprehensive insurance may cover you if your car sinks beneath a frozen lake
● You may need to purchase a special rider on your auto policy
● A pollution exclusion clause (similar to what can exist on home insurance) might mean no auto coverage


Why a pollution clause? Because of all the gasoline, oil and other toxic, corrosive fluids that seep from your vehicle into the water when you break through the ice, thus damaging the natural environment. As one Canadian insurance blog writes, “Pollution exclusion clauses once applied mainly to damages from pollution in the industrial setting, but are now often included in residential policies... to make sure that a polluter actually pays for pollution [he] causes... insurance companies should not have to pay for breaches of environmental laws by their clients under general insurance policies.”

Even if you are one of the lucky ones and there is no pollution exclusion clause on your auto policy and your insurance covers that ice-fishing truck mishap, there are other costs you could face:


● Possible fine issued by the municipality, province or conservation authority for pollutants in the water (Environmental law is evolving at a rapid pace; your insurance broker can provide up-to-date information)
● Cost of getting your vehicle pulled out of the water - not inconsequential given the kind of equipment required so the tow truck doesn’t submerge, too


Your local insurance broker will know the specifics of your particular auto coverage, and more than likely has dealt with this driving-on-ice scenario before (especially in the more northern parts of the province). He/she will have the information you need to make a wise choice about whether to risk driving on ice next winter.

Have you ever driven a vehicle onto an ice-covered lake? Would you do it again?

No, I haven't ever driven a vehicle onto an ice-covered lake, river, sea, or ocean, and I never will.

This post is staying FrozenH20.

In fact, I recommend that we have it pinned.

If 1 newbie were to read it here and take heed, think of the lives not put in harms way, the damage to the lake and the savings for us tax payers.

Great post

Great post FrozenH20 and yes it should stay..
I will have to find a way to keep important topics in the forefront without pinning too many - since too many pins brings the new posts down and requires more scrolling.. I am struggling with this issue since space on the header is at a premium/limited.. I have an idea, but it will take some work.. i'll be testing it soon.

interesting thread,,,, I have friends and family in northern areas living on islands and have driven across the ice to visit many times (makes me nervous as heck too). People driving on ice sometimes do this as well for survival purposes, going to Dr. appointments, or getting more food and supply's,, whatever. But in all the times I have visited, when we went fishing we would either walk, take a sled or atv, the car or truck was only for somewhat emergency reasons only. I cant speak nor am I speaking for everyone in every remote village with regards to this issue, but what I had already said is my experience. With this is mind, every year someone goes through the ice and almost every year someone dies, what blows my mind is that these people have been living like this for hundreds of years and they know the ice and conditions somewhat (no one really knows it). With that being said, yes I would drive on the ice again, and I will walk, sled or atv when I fish,,, this year people driving on the east side of simcoe where they think the ice is good.......... is beyond my understanding, dont ya think the weather is a little warm and unstable??? I havent and will not be visiting or driving on any ice this year and knew that a few weeks back. As stated in another post, my insurance guy once told me, driving on water frozen or not is un-natural therefore insurance is void once you leave the land,,,, and I never questioned it again. Good post H2O !! ,, got me thinking.

good post,used to drive out when the ice was 2-3 feet thick,even then was paranoid! for the most part it is because people are generally lazy. a good walk is good exercise!

Hey guys
I moved here from Alberta where we always drive on the lake. Mind you the ice was almost 3 feet thick. Even then vehicles drop through the ice, it happened to me. We dropped onto a second level of ice in 75 feet of water.
At lake simcoe with 1 foot of ice you're playing russian roulette with your life.
When you drive on any lake, you push an underwater wave in front of you. The faster you drive , the bigger the wave you push. That's what breaks the ice in front of you, and in you go.
Walk out. We all need the exercise

Good information.
I have never taken my car on the ice.

I will be creating a section called ice safety on this site and will add this info there as well as other safety tips for ice fishing. After this years poor ice conditions I know this is on everyone's mind.

I will post here once I have the new section completed. Might be about a week..

Have to admit, I've driven on Lake Simcoe ice back in the days when I was young and invincible. (maybe not invincible but stupid) Never again with a car or truck. I still what to be around to fish another day.

it well written it should be left there every winter posted for everyone to see and think about ...

How many of you remember the house that was being moved across Lake Simcoe from near Willow Beach?
It was quite a few years back and it was being pulled by a bulldozer.
Something caused the house to drop off the beams or whatever was under it. They had to hurry with demolishing the house and removing what they could. The rest was burned on the ice.
They had to wait until March to start hauling it across the lake due to deep snow, but there was still about four (4) feet of solid ice.

Bump.

Great post only if most people would take the advice i have had assholes drive by our hut so fast the wave it creates under the ice shot up our holes about 2 feet . ok now i'm ###### if i could of got near him god help him cause he would be lucky to make it home . my promise. second of all you drive on the ice and as soon as you leave land your best insurance is now null and void so enjoy the bills out of pocket sry no coverage. wait no i'm not sry you deserve it. we were born with a natural sense and gut feelings pay attention to your own feelings . if in doubt don't drive out.it's like duck dynasty your either a good outdoorsman who respects our outdoor environment or a yuppy who thinks your invincable .

I drive on the ice and would do it again. that said I always make sure that there's at LEAST 12"of hard blue ice out there, I know the area well so that there aren't any currents on it and I also mark sure I'm not the first one out lol.

I never go out just because it's winter and I want to ice fish. I love ice fishing but it has to be a COLD winter for me to jeopardize my life, Mr car, and the lake.

I haven't been out driving in probably 4 years because I haven't trusted our winters. but one more month straight of this temp and I'll be out fishing and doing doughnuts in no time.