Defrosting car windscreen: These simple mistakes could see you land you £60 fines
DRIVERS in the UK defrosting their windscreen are making a number of mistakes which could lead to fines and penalty points.
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With a dramatic plunge in temperatures across the country, drivers are being warned to make sure they are properly prepared before hitting the road.
New research has revealed, however, that drivers are incorrectly preparing to deal with the colder weather.
One of the main areas that drivers are taking a lack of care is when defrosting the windscreen - despite the risk of fines.
A third (31 per cent) of motorists admitted to not taking the time to completely de-ice their windscreen using a scraper and de-icer, reveals uSwitch.
Failing to fully remove all the ice from your windscreen can land you with a fine of £60 and three penalty points.
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Alarmingly over half of drivers also admitted to using an inappropriate objects to scrape the ice.
Almost half have used their credit or debit car, a third have used their hands while 13 have used a CD to scrape the ice away.
One in ten also use hot water to temple the ice, which is dangerous because it could cause the glass to crack.
In addition to this a quarter of drovers admit to leaving the engine running unattended with keys in the ignition to warm up their car while they return into the house.
Motorists are at risk of having their car stolen and most insurers will not cover their car stolen if it has been stolen while running unattended.
Severe winter weather can come out of the blue and motorists are often caught out in these arctic blasts
Sabrina Webb, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, said: “UK drivers need to take note of Met Office warnings – snow, hail and ice make for treacherous and unpredictable driving conditions.
“Severe winter weather can come out of the blue and motorists are often caught out in these arctic blasts.
“Worryingly, last year over seven million road users said they didn’t change their driving habits in adverse weather conditions.
“This year we urge motorists to make sure they take every step necessary to keep themselves and other road users safe this winter.”
Drivers are also being encouraged to dress appropriately because over a quarter say winter clothes can be harder to drive in and become distracting.
The research also highlights that a quarter (26 per cent) of motorists said they don’t always lower their average speed on icy roads and another 23 per cent do not increase the distance between them and the vehicle in front.
Keeping a distance and reducing speed is important as icy conditions impair breaking performance and cause wheels to slip.
