As Edinburgh prepares to be hit with icy this week and snow falls across Scotland, drivers have been warned that they could face fines for using their car engine to defrost their windscreen.
And although it can be tempting to speed up your windscreen defrosting by leaving your engine on, it could come with a price tag.
Drivers caught with their engine idling in order to defrost their cars may be hit with a £20 fixed penalty notice, experts have warned.
And the penalty could rise to £40 if the charge is not paid within a specific time frame.
The Highway Code also clearly states drivers should never leave their engines on for no reason as rule 123 states: “You must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road."
Andrew Marshall, marketing and partnerships manager at CarMoney, warned drivers were likely to idle their cars while defrosting their vehicle.
He has urged road users to “cover” their windscreen overnight or use a “can of de-icer and a manual scraper” instead of turning on their engines.
He said: “Now more than ever it is important to be aware of our impact on the environment.
“By minimising car idling on our daily commutes, school drop-offs and simply waiting in traffic, we can contribute less CO2 emissions.
Aside from switching to electric vehicles or hybrid car models, motorists can be more mindful of their idling habits by switching off their engine if waiting for long periods of time.
“As winter approaches, lessen the need for idling whilst waiting for the windows to defrost by covering your windscreen overnight, or using a can of de-icer and a manual scraper to clear the windscreen.”
However, experts at Confused.com warns the rules only apply on “public roads only”.
This means motorists can legally idle their engine on their driveway without facing any punishment.
