In some parts of the country, where snow and sub-zero temperatures prevail all winter, driving a vehicle can be a really scary task.
Not only do motorists have to worry about slippery road conditions, they also have to pay attention to the other drivers and everything else that is going on around them.
If they're not careful enough, it doesn't take much for the commute to take a dangerous turn. Michigan resident Kevin Hoffer can attest to that.
Hoffer recently had a very close when snow falling shattered his windshield.
He told NBC that he did see the snowplow clearing the overpass as he merged onto the northbound US-131 earlier this week, but was not expecting the pile of ice to inflict damage onto his car.
"I didn't expect [the snow] to hit," Hoffer explained to 24 Hour News 8. "I expected to actually get past it or for it to come down before it got to me."
Hoffer initially "thought nothing" of the falling snow, and continued to cruise down the highway towards the overpass. But a video captured by his dash cam shows just how serious the situation turned out to be.
Luckily, the glass didn't cave in so Hoffer was not harmed at all. A state trooper arrived shortly after he pulled over and offered him assistance.
"Sat there for a few minutes trying to figure out what I was going to do, "˜cause the windshield was damaged enough that I wasn't sure I really wanted to drive it," he said.
The Michigan Department of Transportation usually replaces property, like mailboxes, that have been damaged by plows. However, Hoffer's case is anything but usual, so it's unclear if he will be reimbursed by the department.
"My guess is not, but we will see," he wrote on Facebook. "They sent me a claim from their insurance."
The Kalamazoo native's windshield was replaced later that day, and he will definitely be filing the insurance claim.
Hoffer's video, which has since gone viral, is a reminder for drivers to always be aware of their surroundings while on the road, and not to take chances because they don't expect something to happen. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
