When you get into your car in the morning, it's likely you'll be wearing cosy items such as a hat or scarf to protect yourself against the icy temperatures.
And when your car has sufficiently warmed up, you might think nothing of throwing them on to the dashboard before setting off.
But as well as the actual snow or ice on the windscreen that can obstruct your view, the same goes for anything that's lying on the dashboard. If you're caught, you could be deemed to be driving dangerously - and could be hit with a fine.
The Liverpool Echo reports that by not putting away these items properly, you could face fines of up to £2,500. It's worth taking a couple of minutes to safely store them so they aren't blocking your view, and to minimise the risk of them falling and obstructing the gear stick or pedals.
This is according to a recent study by Comparethemarket, and although there's no law that specifically states this is illegal, the Highway Code states that your view must be free of obstructions.
If it's not, drivers could be fined up to £2,500, face three penalty points or even lose their licence altogether if caught driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition in relation to visibility.
Some other examples of this reduced safety include having smudges or marks on your windscreen, rubbish gathering inside the car that could become wedged in the pedals, or clutter on the dashboard.
Julie Daniels from the car insurance team at Comparethemarket said: "It's important to regularly clean the inside of your vehicle and remove any potential dangers or distractions that could impact the ability to drive safely. Under the Highway Code, failing to do this would be considered dangerous driving, and could land drivers with an unlimited fine or three to eleven penalty points on their licence.
"The fact that 47% of Brits are unaware they could be fined or given penalty points for a dirty interior windscreen is concerning and the importance of removing hazards and distractions from the inside of a vehicle should be taken seriously, to ensure the safety of themselves, and other road users.”
Dangerous driving acts to be aware of
- Items on the dashboard blocking the windscreen - Place your winter wear somewhere out of the way whilst you drive.
Items moving in the car that cause the driver to be distracted - Don't have winter supplies sliding around your car.
Messy footwells that may lead to the pedals being obstructed - make sure you properly store winter boots.
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