The wintry weather doesn’t appear to be easing, with temperatures having dropped yet again this week in many areas of the UK. Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear drivers are getting fed up of standing outside in the cold every morning defrosting their windscreens. 

According to the Met Office, frost, snow and ice is set to continue this week, and lows of -4C have been experienced in some parts of the country, shocking commuters when they woke up. 

Caught unawares, they are likely to have wanted to rush de-icing their car, but this is one of the biggest mistakes to make. Drivers should set aside around ten to 15 minutes to fully defrost their vehicle, as anything less than this could damage the car, cause unsafe driving, or affect visibility. 

Another big no when it comes to de-icing is using hot, or even warm, water on the windscreen. Although this will effectively melt the ice and clear the screen, it can result in lots of damage to the glass. 

Due to the huge temperature change, the glass can crack or even smash. This is called thermal shock, and would certainly cause a disruption to your morning routine if you had to sort out windscreen replacement services before your journey to work. 

It is also not wise to only clear part of your windscreen, assuming you have removed enough ice to see well enough. You need to be able to see through all the windows, so you can spot cars to the side, behind and in front of you at all times. 

Failing to do this would not only put yourself and passengers at risk, it could result in damage to your car if you had a collision, put other drivers or pedestrians in danger and cost you points on your licence and a £60 fine.