Drivers risk £100 on-the-spot fines for common mistake this winter – ‘Stay vigilant’
Drivers have been slapped with nearly £400million worth of fines for a common mistake which is only set to get worse as the weather gets colder.
Research has found that motorists were charged £375million last year for windscreen wiper mistakes which tend to peak during the colder months.
It comes after many drivers resort to a simple hack to help prevent wipers from freezing in the winter, they lift them up to avoid the cold, but this can cause them to not work effectively and ultimately break down.
Driving with faulty windscreen wipers is considered illegal and could see motorists penalised with an on-the-spot fine of £100, which could rise to as much as £1,000 if the case goes to court, Kwik Fit warned.
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According to recent data, over 150,000 MOT failures last year were due to visibility defects, including damaged windscreen wipers.
Ben Pitcher from DPF Experts said: “This highlights the need for drivers to take their vehicle’s condition seriously. With fines potentially reaching £375million annually, it’s a financial burden that drivers can easily avoid with proper care.
“While lifting windshield wipers may seem like a good way to prevent them from freezing and can help reduce damage to the rubber, there’s still a risk of wear to the spring and arm mechanism over time which can cause problems further down the line.”
He added that strong winds can damage the wiper arms due to the plastic components not being built to “withstand that kind of strain”.
The warning comes as the UK enters the cold season with the Met Office issuing yellow weather alerts due to snow and sleet impacting road conditions and vehicles.
To prevent being impacted, drivers are encouraged to consider covering the windshield or using a defroster to avoid unnecessary wear on the wipers, rather than lifting them up.
Kwik Fit explained that if a driver is involved in an accident and the “insurers find out that you were knowingly driving with faulty windscreen wipers, it’s unlikely that they will pay out”.
Unfortunately, despite these risks, many drivers aren’t aware of the warning signs that their wiper blades need to be replaced, experts claimed. Windscreen wipers should last between six months and a year, but colder weather could decrease the time frame.
Experts indicated that signs like streaking, skipping, or squeaking on the windscreen shouldn’t be ignored, as it could mean the wiper blades are no longer operating effectively and need replacing.
“Instead of staying vigilant, they simply wait until they take their cars in for a service or MOT to be told there is a problem with this piece of kit – meaning they could be driving around for many months with faulty wipers,” Pitcher warned.
Other signs of damage included cracks in the rubber, bent blades, or poor cleaning performance. Drivers have been urged to stay vigilant for these signs which could help prevent MOT failures and potential fines.
The expert added: “Making sure your car has visibility is especially important during the winter months, with issues like heavy snow, ice build-up, and misted windscreens testing their durability and affecting your ability to see the road clearly.”
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Offering motorists a quick fix, Pitcher explained that sorting the problem out at home could only cost £2 rather than going to a garage which could see costs reach £50 since most modern wiper blades are designed for easy installation.