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Drivers are being urged to avoid using a common method to clear their windscreen this winter or they could face a hefty fine.
Millions of drivers around the country could be heading back to their jobs today following the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
With winter in full swing, motorists waking up to get ready for work may be met with poor weather, a frosted car and icy roads.
The Met Office has issued a number of winter weather warnings in recent days, with much of the UK being battered by strong winds, heavy rain and even snow in some areas. With the cold temperatures expected to stay, drivers may wake up to their car covered in frost, ice and potentially even snow.
When clearing their windscreen and windows of frost and condensation, some people may leave their engines running while their heater gets rid of the obstruction.
Drivers could be hit with a fine for using this method to clear their vision given that the engine is running. This releases emissions from the tailpipe and can cause environmental damage, which could see drivers hit with £80 for idling. Motorists can be issued with a fixed penalty notice if they refuse to switch their engines off by authorised personnel, with an initial £20 fine, which can rise to £40 if not paid and finally £80.
Research from Skoda found that more than half of Britons are unaware that clearing frost using the heater could cost them on a public road.
According to the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), warming up cars in the colder months has a higher carbon impact per year than the population of Cardiff flying to Egypt. The data suggests that drivers leave their cars running for 244 minutes every winter, creating over 107,000 tonnes of CO2 annually in the process.
Read HERE
Millions of drivers around the country could be heading back to their jobs today following the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
With winter in full swing, motorists waking up to get ready for work may be met with poor weather, a frosted car and icy roads.
The Met Office has issued a number of winter weather warnings in recent days, with much of the UK being battered by strong winds, heavy rain and even snow in some areas. With the cold temperatures expected to stay, drivers may wake up to their car covered in frost, ice and potentially even snow.
When clearing their windscreen and windows of frost and condensation, some people may leave their engines running while their heater gets rid of the obstruction.
Drivers could be hit with a fine for using this method to clear their vision given that the engine is running. This releases emissions from the tailpipe and can cause environmental damage, which could see drivers hit with £80 for idling. Motorists can be issued with a fixed penalty notice if they refuse to switch their engines off by authorised personnel, with an initial £20 fine, which can rise to £40 if not paid and finally £80.
Research from Skoda found that more than half of Britons are unaware that clearing frost using the heater could cost them on a public road.
According to the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), warming up cars in the colder months has a higher carbon impact per year than the population of Cardiff flying to Egypt. The data suggests that drivers leave their cars running for 244 minutes every winter, creating over 107,000 tonnes of CO2 annually in the process.
Read HERE
