Can you leave your car engine running to defrost your windscreen?
THE UK is hit with some severe cold temperatures during winter, causing things such as windscreens to get covered with ice and creating another struggle for drivers.
Some decide to leave their engine running to get rid of the frost, however, once you read what we have to say, you might rethink this solution.
Is it illegal to leave your car engine running to defrost your windscreen?
If you leave your engine running while your motor is stationary on the road, it could land you in hot water.
"Stationary idling" is an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which means leaving the car running is off-limits.
The Act enforces rule 123 of the Highway Code which states: "You must not leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road."
So, defrosting your windscreen by leaving the engine and heating on is actually against the law.
However, this law doesn't mean you have to turn your engine off at every red light, as it is simply aimed at unnecessarily idling vehicles to help reduce noise and air pollution.
There is also no need to switch off your engine every time you are stuck in a traffic jam.
Know your road laws
With newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles, leaving your engine idling for a short period while sitting in traffic will actually use less fuel than if you were to continually switch off and start up your engine.
What is the penalty for leaving your car with its engine running?
If you are caught by the police while using this method, you will be slammed with an £80 fine - £40 if paid within 14 days from the date of issue.
But never mind the police, leaving the engine going to warm it up or defrost your windscreen while you pop back inside makes your vehicle the ideal target for opportunistic thieves.
Should your car be stolen in this way, it is more than likely your insurance company will refuse to pay out on your loss, as you have invalidated your insurance by acting in a way which significantly increased the risk of your car being stolen.
Instead, try other ways of defrosting your windscreen, such as poring a solution of water with a teaspoon of salt over any icy areas.
The best way to de-ice your windscreen
- Mix up a solution of water with a teaspoon of salt and pour it over icy areas
- A mixture of three parts of vinegar to one part of water will also do the trick
- DON'T pour boiling water onto frozen car windows
- DON'T use anything other than a car-specific scraper to remove the frost
- Prevent windscreen frost by soaking an old towel in a solution made up of water and table salt, or a mix of one part of water and two parts of alcohol, then place it over your car windows the night before