If you have a damaged windscreen, you may not be keen on getting it fixed any time soon. After all, you may figure that it isn’t too bad, doesn’t really distract you while driving and you would rather not spend the money on a windscreen replacement, especially with Christmas on the horizon.

However, the truth is that this approach poses all kinds of problems. Partly it is because the crack could easily widen in cold weather and break the windscreen altogether, but also because it is unsafe – and the latter factor is one reason why you could get pulled over by the police for having an unsafe vehicle.

A motorist who could be facing some severe penalties for this very reason was stopped recently on the A303 in Wiltshire. The vehicle in question was an HGV and the window was shattered, having clearly suffered a major impact.

Having pulled over the driver, a member of the Wiltshire Police force posted on X: “Prohibition issued and driver reported for vehicle in dangerous condition.”

The consequences could be very severe – and not just because the driver will not have reached his destination and may have some serious explaining to do to his employers. The RAC notes that driving with a damaged windscreen could be deemed dangerous if it is likely your view will be obstructed, as was obviously the case with the Wiltshire HGV.

A driver pulled over in such circumstances faces three penalty points on their licence and a fine.

Worse still, if you have an accident in such a vehicle, you could face a much more serious charge, while any damage caused to your vehicle could invalidate your insurance.

Some people responded with amusement to the police post on X, with one asking if the Terminator was driving. But if you have an accident with a broken windscreen, nobody will be joking and you might be saying “hasta la vista” to your licence, a lot of money or even your freedom.

Quite simply, if you have a damaged windscreen, you should get it seen to as an urgent priority.