Drivers threat £80 fantastic in the event that they deice their automotive this fashion – this is the way it must be finished
With snow sweeping across the UK this week, experts have spoken out about the best way to prep your car for frosty mornings. One common mistake can leave several drivers out of pocket, with an £80 fine on the cards.
With busy school runs and work traffic, many motorists will turn their engine over and leave it running while they are getting stuff ready in their homes. By the time they get back and the heating has worked, your car should be fully ready. However, this is against regulations. According to Highway Code rule 123, it is against regulations to keep your car running while you are not in it. Drivers are forced to revert to the traditional methods to get their cars ready during cold mornings.
(Image: Getty Images)
The rule states: “Drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running, or leave the engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road.” While it is mostly okay for drivers to do this on their own driveways, if your car is running on a public road, you could be dealt a nasty fine.
“Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution,” it continues.
“However, it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.”
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Besides the risk of theft, it could cause noise for neighbours as well as emissions. There is plenty of advice on how to deice your car, but some methods are quicker than others, reports Independent.
The AA advise that drivers should firstly sweep the snow off their cars with a soft brush. This should particularly be done on the front grille, or the engine could overheat.
After this, an ice scraper should be used against your windows. Some people advise to sweep a carrier bag with warm water inside across the windscreen, but this can cause chipping and cracking.
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