As winter approaches the nightmare of dealing with frozen windscreens is back for another year. An increase in frost also comes with an increase in the number of motorists risking a fine by using a common technique to de-ice their cars.
Leaving your engine running while your car is stationary could see you slapped with a fixed £20 fine – or £40 if not paid within a given time frame.
Stationary idling is an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which means leaving the car running with the heater on the windscreen is off-limits.
The Act enforces rule 123 of the Highway Code which states: “You must not leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.”
If a fine isn’t enough to deter you though, there’s an even better reason not to leave your engine running – it also makes your car the perfect target for opportunistic thieves.
If your vehicle is stolen in this way, it is more than likely your insurance company will refuse to pay out on your loss, as you have invalidated your insurance by acting in a way which significantly increased the risk of your car being stolen.
section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 can’t enforce rule 123 of the Highway Code, because the Highway Code isn’t law! So this is a nonsense article.