Overview
- Highway Code Rule 229 requires drivers to clear ice and snow from all windows and mirrors and to fully demist before setting off.
- Leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running is an offence under Rule 123 and the Road Vehicles Regulations, with outlets reporting differing fixed penalties up to £40 or up to £80.
- Insurers commonly exclude thefts when keys are left in a running car, and police say thieves can take unattended warming vehicles in seconds.
- Motoring experts advise using the car’s heater and air conditioning, de‑icer and a plastic scraper, and caution against using wipers on frozen glass or metal tools.
- Hot or even lukewarm water on a frozen windscreen risks cracking or shattering the glass, potentially leading to costly replacements, while obstructed‑view offences are typically cited as £60 and three points with severe cases reported up to several hundred pounds.