Motorists have been warned that driving with a seriously chipped or cracked windscreen could land them with a £2,500 fine.
The warning comes as research by the breakdown provider Green Flag found that almost four out of five drivers were unaware that this was the case.
A damaged windscreen is a common occurrence, with over a third of drivers reporting a chipped or cracked windscreen within the past two years.
Green Flag says this rises to half of all drivers in London.
As the cost to repair a windscreen chip averaging at £40 to £118, and a full windscreen replacement going as high as £1,650 - one in ten drivers admitted to waiting for the chip to get worse before getting it repaired.
Over a quarter of drivers said they would only get the issue repaired if it stopped them from seeing.
However, cars which are found to be driving with a seriously chipped or cracked windscreen could lead to three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500
Alongside the safety implications, Green Flag also flagged that a chipped windscreen could make your car fail its MOT.
If there is a 10mm windscreen chip in the driver’s field of vision then the car will not pass.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) 405,595 cars had visibility issues when checked during an MOT between October and December last year.
Green Flag advises drivers to address windscreen chips as soon as possible.
Katie Lomas, head of Green Flag Breakdown, said: “Windscreen chips should be repaired almost as soon as they appear to prevent further damage spreading as these can easily turn into a crack and a much larger and more expensive problem.
“Seven in 10 drivers said chips were caused by stones and debris flying up from the road.
"To put this into perspective, on a 30-mile-per-hour road, a small stone could have an impact speed with the glass at the equivalent of 40 to 50 miles per hour.
"It’s not surprising that there’s a chance it’ll take a toll on your windscreen if it hits."
To avoid windscreen chips, the breakdown providers urges drivers to "drive carefully" and leave a "greater distance" between themselves, and the vehicle in front on busy roads.
Katie added: Repairing early on is a straightforward process that improves vehicle safety, visibility, and saves money in the long run.”
