Motorists are being warned not to drive off without properly defrosting their windscreens during winter as doing so could result in a run in with the police.
Any driver caught with just a small hole in the windscreen to see through, known as "portholing", could be subject to harsh penalties from cops.
Halfords has warned that 53 per cent of drivers have admitted to potholing, despite it being against the law.
While findings suggests motorists are taking a lax attitude towards portholing, multiple reports of police fining drivers for this suggests some forces across the country could be cracking down on the issue.
It comes after Police Scotland were forced to stop a driver back in February 2021 who had cleared a small patch of snow from the windshield, while leaving the rest of the vehicle entirely covered in the white stuff.
In the same month, a separate Scots driver was charged with dangerous driving after being spotted travelling around with a windshield covered in ice.
While it may be a timesaver for motorists in a hurry, potholing poses serious safety risks and those who break this law risk a fine of £60-£2,500 if their vehicle is deemed dangerous – and three penalty points.
Following the results of the 2,000 person survey, Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton is calling on motorists to make sure they properly clear their windscreens during the current cold snap.
He said: “Most motorists know that driving with ice or snow on their windows is illegal and dangerous, so I really don’t understand why so many are needlessly putting themselves at risk.
“Whilst officers may exercise some discretion, the letter of the law states that all windows, including those on the sides and at the rear, must be completely free of snow or ice. But anyone driving with just a small part of their windscreen cleared is at risk of being stopped.
“I’d also add that motorists should clear any snow from their roof. When braking, this could be propelled forward and entirely cover the windscreen – not something anyone would want to experience whilst driving, especially at faster speeds such as on a motorway.”
Most motorists are not naïve to the law, with 82 per cent saying they are aware that driving without clearing all the ice and snow from their windows could land them with a fine and points on their licence.
Many also understand the dangers but flout them anyway - with one in six, or 17 per cent, admitting they have driven with so much ice or snow covering their windscreen that they "knew it was dangerous".
Despite this, 12 per cent simply say they don’t think they need to clear it all off to drive. Amongst those who say they’ve previously not properly cleared their windows, 10 per cent say it was because they "couldn’t be bothered", and a similar number 9 per cent say they didn’t want to get their hands cold.
However, if the shoe was on the other foot, 58 per cent say they would be angry if someone who drove into them hadn’t properly cleared their windscreen.. Furthermore, three per cent of motorists – equating to roughly a million drivers – admit they have been in an accident because they’d not properly cleared their windows.
Amongst drivers who admit they are guilty of driving without properly clearing their windows, some of the most common excuses were fairly weak.
While 41 per cent say its due to being late for work - 17 per cent said say it's down to being late for a meeting or appointment - while 14 percent skip safely clearing the windscreen as they are late to get the kids to school.
Over a quarter of drivers - 27 per cent - say that they assumed the ice or snow would simply melt and fall off once they started driving – perhaps optimistic in the sub-zero temperatures the UK has experienced this winter.
Many don’t appear to understand the dos and do nots of clearing their windscreen. Amongst the 22 per cent who say they’ve poured boiling water over it to clear it of ice, around one in six, or 16 per cent, say this cracked the windscreen.
Meanwhile, five per cent say they’ve scratched their windscreen using something other than an ice scraper – such as a kitchen utensil – to de-ice their car.
What's more concerning is 28 of the 2,000 respondents admit to taking a rather extreme approach and using a flame-thrower - either a professional one or a lighter and aerosol can - or a blow torch to banish vehicle ice.
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