Winter is certainly here, and with it comes the weather when we all want to be inside and warm and cosy. While many people will still be working from home and not up at the crack of dawn for the daily commute, it’s the time of year to find your car caked in frost and ice in the mornings.
However much you plan to drive your car this winter, it’s important to ensure you have an emergency kit of essential items for if you find yourself stranded in your car in the freezing weather, and to always make sure you can see through your windscreen clearly.
Driving with limited vision, such as ice or condensation on your windscreen, could land you with a £60 fine and three points on your licence, as well as being very unsafe for you and other road users. But if you find you’re out of de-icer when you need it, then we have a handy trick for getting your windscreen free of frost and ice.
Rather than trying to scrape stubborn ice off your windscreen on a frosty morning, all you need is a sandwich bag and some warm water. Fill the sandwich bag from your hot tap, and then drag it across the glass. It will clear the ice almost instantly, and keep your hands warm!
The AA has also revealed some tips to help get a head start on cold mornings. They say, to begin with, make sure that wipers are switched off before any de-icing, as the wiper motor may get damaged and the rubber could tear off after being frozen to the car overnight.
Drivers should ensure the aircon is also on, as it draws out any moisture from inside the car to prevent it from misting up and blocking your view from inside the car as well as the outside.
The AA also warned drivers to stay with their vehicles while it is being de-iced, as thieves will take advantage of motorists who leave their engines running while clearing the windscreen. According to research from Admiral, 59 per cent of motorists are unaware that idling your car to allow it to warm up is also illegal, reports MyLondon.
The AA also advised against using boiling water for de-icing, as the sudden expansion and contraction of the glass may cause it to crack, meaning you will need UK windscreen replacement services.
The final, and most important point is that drivers should not set off without fully clearing their windscreens, as driving with obstructed vision is very dangerous and could potentially land motorists with a fine and points on their licence.
Admiral also has a guide for driving in cold, wintery weather, as the researched showed that one in ten drivers are more nervous about driving in the dark and cold as a result of the lockdown, with many drivers admitting to pulling over and stopping their car in poor weather, from heavy rain to heavy snow.
Make sure you keep safe on your car journeys this winter, and if you need windscreen replacement services, get in touch!
