Is It Legal to Drive with an Icy Windscreen?

When learning to drive, you quickly realise one of the most important aspects of driving is to keep your eyes on the road at all times, with an unobstructed view. However, we’ve all been there – trying to rush to work when you discover your windscreen is covered in ice. But don’t worry! In this article, we’ll explore why it’s unsafe to drive with an icy windscreen, and will cover the best ways to de-ice your windscreen. 

Consequences of driving with an icy windscreen

Not only can driving with an icy windscreen bring about fines of £60 and up to three points on your licence, but it also puts other drivers and pedestrians at risk, as you cannot see all of your surroundings. 

How to de-ice your car

Before we explain what you need to do to get rid of ice on your windscreen – we must first tell you what you absolutely must not do! 

DO NOT POUR HOT OR WARM WATER ONTO YOUR ICY WINDSCREEN!

By doing this, you can potentially shatter your windscreen. The glass will expand in the heat and then contract quickly in the cold – it’s this sudden change in temperature that can cause chips and cracks. 

A common method of de-icing your car is leaving the engine running whilst you get ready for work – but this is environmentally unfriendly and is also illegal. Rule 123 of The Highway Code clearly states ‘You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running’, so to be safe and avoid an £1000 fine, it’s best to carry out different ways of de-icing your car. 

Don’t worry, we have some tips for you to use so you can de-ice your car in no time and get on your way!

• Ice scraper
  Use an ice scraper to get rid of the majority of the ice, and you can keep this in your car for easy access. Remember to scrape the entire windscreen and not just your side of the windscreen – or you could end up being fined.
  
• De-icing liquid
  Spray your windscreen, windows, mirror and back windows with a de-icer and use your ice scraper to help dislodge the remaining ice.
  
• Use a sandwich bag
  If you’ve run out of de-icing spray, fill a sandwich bag with warm water and drag this across your windscreen and other windows. As you do this, wipe the now melted water away with a towel so it doesn’t re-freeze. This trick will help you quickly and effectively remove the ice so you can get back on the road faster. 

If you’re in need of a windscreen repair or replacement, don’t put off getting it fixed. Windscreen chips only get worse over time, and our state-of-the-art technology means chips can be fixed without replacing the entire windscreen. At The Windscreen Company, we have a specialist team of engineers operating 24/7 to help get you back on the road quickly. For more information on our services, please get in touch.

The Windscreen Company

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The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.

The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.

• How to Drive Safely in Winter
• Does Rubbing a Potato on Your Windscreen Actually Work?
• How to Keep Your Car Warm in Winter
• How to Properly De-ice Your Windscreen