Drivers who leave their engines running while parked can be hit with costly fines. That’s because unnecessarily leaving the engine running on a vehicle parked on the public road is an offence under regulations 98 and 107 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, which reinforces rule 123 of the Highway Code.
Read on to learn more about de-icing your car with the engine on, why it may be harmful and the law.
Can I be fined for defrosting or de-icing my car windscreen?
Yes, you can be fined for leaving your engine on to melt ice, frost or snow from your car's windscreen. If you fail to turn off your engine when instructed, you may receive a fixed penalty notice of £20, which will increase to £40 if unpaid within a specific timeframe - although given it's usually necessary to have the engine running for a short to de-mist a windscreen drivers are very unlikely to be caught out.
This fine can also be increased to £1000 if you are repeatedly caught doing it.
Do note, the crucial element of the wording is the reference to 'public road', which means it is not an offence to leave your engine running on private land, such as a driveway.
However, that is not to say that allowing an engine to idle is a good idea.
Why shouldn't you leave your car running unattended?
Whether you are on a public road or on your driveway if you need to de-ice your car, leaving it running with the engine on is never a good option.
Car theft
Over the years, there have been many news reports about vehicles being stolen after they had been left running with the keys in the ignition.
In the majority of cases, the owner of the vehicle was inside the house while they left the car to warm up.
A police spokesperson said: "It's an open invitation to opportunist thieves and they're gone in seconds.
"Exclusion clauses in many insurance policies may also mean that insurance is invalidated and it could turn out to be a very expensive demisting.
"That said, be patient and don't be tempted to drive without making sure that you have cleared windows and mirrors to ensure that your journey will be safe for you – and safe for other road users."
Theft is not the only concern, because running your engine unnecessarily while your car is stationary pollutes the environment.
The environment
An idling engine can produce up to twice as many emissions as an engine in motion, impacting the surrounding the area and the air that we breathe.
The Royal College of Physicians estimate 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this.
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Can you get fined if you don't de-ice your car?
This is something that may actially land you with a fine.
Failure to properly clear the windscreen of snow or ice could result in the driver receiving a fixed penalty notice under the CU20 penalty code.
Using a vehicle with parts or accessories in a "dangerous condition" could result in a fine of £60 and three penalty points.
Simply removing the ice from the driver’s side of the windscreen is not enough – you must de-ice the entire area, using the wipers when the ice has melted.
The driver must by law have a full view of the road and traffic ahead of the motor vehicle, so it is well worth taking the extra time to fully clear your windscreen and your mirrors too.
How to de-ice your car (legally and safely)
Thoroughly clearing the windscreen of ice is not the work of a moment.
It could take around 10 minutes, not least because you'll also need to de-ice the side windows, mirrors and lights too.
Using a dedicated ice-scraper and de-icer will speed things up.
Don't wait until the first frost before discovering you have run out of de-icer: plan ahead.
Squirt the de-icer over the windscreen, before clearing the ice with a scraper.
It’s also worth lifting up your wipers by hand to check they are not frozen to the windscreen.
If they are, switching them on could potentially burn out the motor – again, an expensive fix. It could also tear the wiper blades.
If you do not have any de-icer, there are other common household solutions you can use instead.
You can use a basic solution of water with an added teaspoon of salt to pour over any affected areas.
Another homemade remedy is adding the solution of three parts vinegar to one part water to a spray bottle as a homemade de-icer.
Remember, if you’re heading out for the day, be sure to keep a spare de-icer and scraper in the car.
Temperatures can quickly drop in the evening, meaning you might need to repeat the process before leaving work.
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How not to de-ice your car
Don't be tempted to use a credit card and NEVER pour boiling water over the windows.
When the boiling water comes into contact with your freezing cold car windows it could at the very least weaken the glass and at the very worst cause it to crack.
Also try to avoid using a credit card or CD case to scrape the ice and frost off your windows.
As well as potentially snapping your card, this method could also scratch your windscreen.
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