As Brits gear up for Christmas, motorists still need to be on their guard against common winter driving habits that could result in fines and points.
We are passing on this timely motoring advice here at Driving Experience HQ and reminding drivers to follow some simple common-sense steps.
This includes clearing entire windscreens and windows from frost and not just part of them, moving snow off the car before it moves, and not warming up an unattended vehicle with an idling engine on a public road.
While it seems obvious to remove all the ice from a windscreen before driving, some motorists might be tempted to only clear a part of it directly in front of them, most likely due to being in a rush.
However, drivers need a full view of the road and failure to demist all of the windscreen can result in a £60 fine and three penalty points, rising to a whopping £2,500 fine if it results in dangerous driving.
Dan Jones, operations manager at DrivingExperience.com, says: "When the weather's awful, it's dark outside and people are in a rush, it can be easy to forget some simple steps to keep to the right side of the law when behind the wheel."
"Ignoring rules including defrosting windscreens and windows, and clearing snow off the bonnet and roof, could mean a miserable start to the New Year for some motorists."
If it's been snowing, then drivers need to remove snow off the vehicle before driving. While there isn't a specific law requiring motorists to remove snow, the issue is if it falls off when driving.
This can be classed as 'driving without due consideration' or 'using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition' if the snow hits someone else, plus failure to remove snow from all windows is again a visibility issue and contravenes section 41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Meanwhile, while it might be tempting to warm up the interior of a vehicle before setting off, motorists need to remember it's also a no-no to leave an unattended vehicle with an idling engine on a public road under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which punishes noise and air pollution.
Dan adds: "January can be a miserable month for many. The long Christmas holidays are over, and festive memories are quickly fading, plus there's the Christmas bills to pay. Why make it even worse by failing to follow some simple driving laws that are in place to protect all motorists and pedestrians."
Don't forget to explore our Skid Pan Control Experiences and Driving Lessons packages, including our Safer Driving Course, which can help equip you to drive in challenging wintry conditions.
