CAR CARE - WASHING YOUR CAR

If You're One Of Those People Who Don't Bother Much About Washing Your Car, You Need To Think Again

Mucky motorists who rarely clean their cars could be putting themselves at risk of a serious accident or falling foul of the law. In a survey it has been found that the traditional Sunday wash and wax is now declining as shopping takes over as the most popular weekend activity.

Many motorists don't clean their cars regularly and others only clean the windscreen when visibility becomes dangerously obscured. Some motorists claimed to never clean their car at all.

While dirty windows can compromise road safety and constitute an offence when they become obscured, the legal implications of having mucky number plates have also become more significant as speed enforcement devices, number plate recognition and congestion charging systems all need to view a number plate clearly.

Vehicle construction regulations state that motorists must ensure that they have full visibility through their windscreen and that their number plate must be clear. Whilst motorists will usually be encouraged to clean their vehicle if stopped by the police they can, in the worst-case scenario, be issued with a fixed penalty notice and fined if their vehicle is filthy.

The combination of dirty windows with low morning and evening sun in the autumn-time can completely obscure a driver's view and frequently causes accidents. Moreover, in times of more uncertain weather, vehicles will become dirty and dusty very quickly. When asked how often they clean their vehi...