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Brits warned about huge risk if driving to work with snow on top of their car

Home> News> UK News> Weather

Updated 07:46 19 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 07:35 19 Nov 2024 GMT

Brits warned about huge risk if driving to work with snow on top of their car

If there's snow atop your car, you shouldn't drive very far

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

Depending on where you live in the UK, it actually snowed and the snow stuck, leaving you with a picturesque dusting of arctic weather atop your surroundings.

This is only really for the north of England and above as the Met Office told people that colder weather would open the way for a splash of winter weather in some parts of the UK, whereas other parts haven't been so afflicted.

As lovely as a dusting of snow might look on the landscape, it does pose some health risks, and not just because of the cold temperatures needed to sustain it.

Of course, it's going to make the roads more slippery, meaning anyone getting behind the wheel of a car as they commute to work is going to need to be more careful as they make their way.

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However, there's another risk posed by the snow which isn't about the stuff that's stuck to the roads.

You're going to want to brush that snow right off. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
You're going to want to brush that snow right off. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

If the snow is sticking on the roads then it's likely also sticking to the roof of your car and that's uno big problemo, as the Spanish would say if they ever had snow on top of their cars.

In the UK, it's not illegal to drive with snow on top of your car, but depending on how that winter weather feature falls off it could end up landing you in trouble.

First off, if snow falls off the roof and onto your car windows it's going to block your view, which is exceedingly dangerous, and secondly, that could land you in legal trouble.

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Here's the technical stuff, the Highway Code says that if you are driving in adverse weather conditions you must be able to see out of every glass panel in your vehicle - and that is by law.

Section 41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988 supports this meaning it is a legal requirement to have a clear view of the road before you set off.

Even if there's only a little bit of snow you'll want to get rid of it, or you could get points on your licence. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Even if there's only a little bit of snow you'll want to get rid of it, or you could get points on your licence. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Rule 228 of The Highway Code adds that you must 'remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users'.

Failure to abide by this rule could land motorists a £60 fine and three penalty points.

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The RAC advise motorists to de-ice their windscreen on the outside and thoroughly de-misted on the inside before setting off.

Even if it's just a short drive, you've still got to make sure there's no snow blocking up any of your windows. A safe way to guard against that is to clear it away and scrape any snow that might fall off the top of your car out of the equation.

Drive safe.

Additional words by Anish Vij.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: UK News, Weather, Cars

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

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@MrJoeHarker

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