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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Zahna Eklund

Driving expert shares little-known car feature that can help motorists avoid £1k fine

If you drive a car, chances are you've experienced driving in all the bizarre weather conditions that the UK has to offer - including days when it's bright sunshine one minute, and pouring it down with rain the next.

And with rain often coming when we least expect it, it can sometimes be tough to know when you need to put your windscreen wipers on to continually keep the view from the driver's seat unobstructed.

But one motoring expert has said there's actually a little-known feature in most modern cars that takes the guesswork out of when to put your wipers on - and can even help you avoid a fine of up to £1,000.

Your windscreen wipers can be set to come on automatically (stock photo) (Getty Images)

Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, explained that one of the "best advancements in motoring over the past 20 years" is in car windscreens, which now come with sensors.

The sensors can detect moisture on the windscreen and can turn on your wipers automatically to get rid of it, meaning you never have to manually turn them on.

He told The Sun: "That means you can put them on low sensitivity, which will start the wipers when there is a lot of water on the windscreen or a high sensitivity which will kick in more frequently.

"Using this feature will ensure you always have a good view out of the windscreen, whatever the elements throw at you."

The feature is helpful for motorists as it takes away one extra worry, as driving with rain on your windscreen can be dangerous to yourself and those around you.

And motorists who fail to clear their windscreen could be hit with up to £1,000 in fines if police officers deem their driving to be dangerous, as well as having points issued to their licence.

What's more, you could even find yourself paying more for your insurance, as firms could issue a crash as being your fault for failing to clear a window properly in conditions leading to poor visibility.

Meanwhile, there are other fines attached to windscreen wipers too, as driving with faulty ones can cause you to fail your MOT and could earn you an on-the-spot fine of £250 if you're found to have broken wiper arms or worn blades that smear the glass.

And Graham advised that if you find your blades are smearing the glass, get a new set as soon as possible. The blades should only cost you around £20 and are easy to fit yourself, as they just require slotting into the arms.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@trinitymirror.com.

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