"Whiteouts," which occur on snowstorms, completely block visibility and are especially dangerous when they occur while driving. A video of a whiteout recently posted to social media has been viewed about 200,000 times, vividly depicting the dangerous conditions of "zero visibility."

The video shows a dangerous situation where the visibility is completely white due to the snowstorm, making it impossible to even distinguish the boundaries of the road. Just when it seems like visibility has recovered, the video shows a car that has fallen onto the shoulder of the road, and it was recorded that other cars were in danger of falling into the same situation.

Users have expressed concern about the situation, saying things like, "It's really dangerous in winter" and "Don't push yourself," as well as comments like, "You can't understand the horror of a whiteout unless you experience it."

There was also a scene where a car had fallen onto the side of the road.

This video was posted in December 2024, when the poster, Sapporo Sparrowman, encountered this scene while traveling from Sapporo to Shinshinotsu Village. The video was taken on the way back after deciding that he "couldn't get back." Later, he posted a detailed video of the incident on YouTube, which also attracted attention with about 180,000 views.

What is a whiteout? What are the dangers while driving?

Image for illustrative purposes only

The commonly known winter phenomenon of "whiteout" refers to a complete blockage of visibility during a blizzard or snowstorm. Everything appears completely white, making it easy to lose your sense of distance and direction. This phenomenon occurs frequently in winter, particularly in Hokkaido, where blizzards are intense, and can lead to serious accidents while driving.

If you encounter a whiteout while driving, it is important to slow down and turn on your headlights and hazard lights to let others know of your vehicle's presence. It is dangerous to make a sudden stop in a panic, as cars behind cannot see the car in front of you. If you are unable to move, please apply for rescue from the police from a safe location.

Check the weather in advance in Hokkaido in winter! Don't push yourself on bad weather days.

Image for illustrative purposes only

Hokkaido's winter roads can sometimes be so harsh that they pose a risk to life. Sapporo Sparrowman continues to spread awareness of these dangerous road conditions, and has alerted many people to the dangers of winter roads. When driving in Hokkaido in winter, be sure to check the latest information, take care not to push yourself too hard, and make careful decisions.