Drivers are being warned about an often-broken motoring law which could see them fined thousands of pounds as more snow and freezing weather is forecast to sweep the UK on Thursday (March 9).
Snow and sleet already began falling in some parts of the country on Wednesday (March 8), with more wintry weather on the way. The unusual conditions have been attributed to an Arctic blast and a number of national severe weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued by the Met Office.
Research has found that most motorists have admitted to committing an offence during cold weather called portholing. It is where drivers do not fully clear ice, frost or snow from the windows of their vehicle, but in some cases leave a small 'porthole' to see out of.
READ MORE: Met Office issues amber heavy snow warning for parts of Greater Manchester
More than half of UK motorists admit they have done this, reports WalesOnline, risking a fine of £60. But this could rise to £2,500 if their vehicle is deemed dangerous – and three points on their licence.
While the research - from Halfords - suggests motorists are taking a lax attitude towards this, multiple reports of police fining drivers for this offence during the December cold snap suggests some forces across the country could be cracking down on the issue.
Most motorists are not naïve to the law, with 82% saying they are aware that driving without clearing all the ice and snow from their windows could land them with a fine and points on their licence. Many also understand the dangers but flout them anyway - with one in six admitting they have driven with so much ice or snow covering their windscreen that they ‘knew it was dangerous’.
Despite this, 12% simply say they don’t think they need to clear it all off to drive. Among those who say they’ve previously not properly cleared their windows, ten per cent say it was because they ‘couldn’t be bothered’, and a similar number say they didn’t want to get their hands cold.
However, if the shoe was on the other foot, 58% say they would be angry if someone who drove into them hadn’t properly cleared their windscreen. And furthermore, three per cent of motorists – equating to roughly a million drivers – admit they have been in an accident because they’d not properly cleared their windows.
Among drivers who admit they are guilty of driving without properly clearing their windows, few appear to have a good excuse. The most common reasons include being late for work (41%), being late for a meeting/appointment (17%), and being late to get the kids to school (14%). Over a quarter (27%) say that they assumed the ice or snow would simply melt and fall off once they started driving – perhaps optimistic in the sub-zero temperatures the UK has experienced this winter.
Many don’t appear to understand the dos and do nots of clearing their windscreen. Amongst the 22% who say they’ve poured boiling water over it to clear it of ice, around one in six (16%) say that the windscreen cracked. Meanwhile, one in 20 (5%) say they’ve scratched their windscreen using something other than an ice scraper – such as a kitchen utensil – to de-ice it. And 28 of the respondents in the 2,000-person survey admit to taking a rather extreme approach and using a flame-thrower (either a professional one or a lighter and aerosol can) or a blow torch to de-ice their car.
Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton called on motorists to make sure they properly clear their windscreens during cold weather. He said: “Most motorists know that driving with ice or snow on their windows is illegal and dangerous, so I really don’t understand why so many are needlessly putting themselves at risk.
“Whilst officers may exercise some discretion, the letter of the law states that all windows, including those on the sides and at the rear, must be completely free of snow or ice. But anyone driving with just a small part of their windscreen cleared is at risk of being stopped.
“I’d also add that motorists should clear any snow from their roof. When braking, this could be propelled forward and entirely cover the windscreen – not something anyone would want to experience whilst driving, especially at faster speeds such as on a motorway.”
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