Snowy motorists risk prosecution

Snowy motorists risk prosecution

In the recent arctic conditions to hit the UK, it is not unlikely to see cars covered in snow. However, did you know that if a motorist does not clear away all the snow from the roof of their car before commencing their journey, they are at risk of being prosecuted for careless driving?

Recent research released by the Halfords press office goes to show that up to 6 million drivers in the UK don't clear the snow from their vehicle before sitting down behind the wheel. Although the majority will remove the snow from the windows and windscreen, any snow on the roof is often not touched. This can result in a number of feasible dangerous situations. Firstly, the snow sitting on the car's roof can slip or fall forwards onto the windscreen, covering the driver's view. Secondly, the same snow can slip backwards onto a car following on behind, obscuring the view for another driver.

Snow on a vehicle's roof can also have a dramatic effect on it's fuel efficiency. With an overnight snowfall of around 4 inches failing to be removed, this can add up to 35kg of weight to a car, which could cut the fuel efficiency by up to 2%. It is thought that up to £110,000 could be squandered throughout the UK by motorists using additional fuel every snowfall.

Additionally, drivers travelling with a roof covered with snow risk three points on their licence and a £60 fine if caught by the police. So, we at WMCW recommend you take just a few minutes to clear your vehicle before setting off on a journey, as the benefits outweigh the time taken to do so.

Alan Rennie, a winter motoring expert for Halfords, commented: "Driving with snow on your car roof could land you with a £60 fine and three points on your licence... Our research should give all drivers that extra incentive to remove the snow from most parts of their car, not just the windows, before they set off. It's very simple to use a snow brush and clear the roof."

---

---