Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Rachel Pugh & Hannah Mackenzie Wood

Drivers warned over simple mistake that could land them with instant £60 fine

Scottish drivers could face an instant fine for a simple mistake that they might not even realise they're making when hitting the road.

As the cold weather rolls in, motorists are more likely to be caught out by unpredictable conditions, such as snow and ice.

In a survey of 2,000 drivers, Halfords discovered what most of us are likely to get into hot water for when behind the wheel, as Manchester Evening News reports.

More than a third of participants (35 per cent) confessed to getting in the driver's seat with the windscreen still misty or covered in ice over the last year - an offence that can land you with a £60 fine and three penalty points.

One quarter put their car at high risk of theft by leaving the engine running and popping back inside while the windscreen clears.

A fifth have reversed their car despite having zero rear visibility, while 14 per cent have risked mechanical damage by over-revving a cold engine.

It also emerged more than a fifth have risked cracking the windscreen by de-icing it with hot water, while a quarter have driven with snow on the roof, which could potentially cover the windscreen after braking.

With the cold weather coming in, drivers are more likely to be caught off-guard by the unpredictable conditions. (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

The survey of 2,000 motorists was carried out by Halfords Autocentres as Britain’s unpredictable weather continues to cause issues on the roads.

Temperatures are set to fall, with the Met Office predicting some parts of the UK will be hit by snow and ice.

But more than a quarter of the motorists polled have not carried out basic checks on their car over the past month because of the bad weather.

Worryingly, 55 per cent haven't looked at their tyre tread over the past month while half haven't checked the tyre’s inflation.

This is despite tyres making up 58 per cent of all ‘dangerous defects’ recorded in the latest MOT results from the DVSA.

It has also emerged that one in 10 motorists aren't confident in their ability to drive in wet or icy conditions.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.