As the UK prepares for the arrival of Storm Goretti, people have been warned to expect dipping temperatures, and potentially more snow and ice on the ground. A common hindrance many drivers face in the morning is their cars covered in frost, including on their windscreens.
There are a number of Yellow weather warnings in place, as reported by the Met Office, in certain parts of the UK for snow and ice. If you’re considering heading outside and using your car, a car insurance brand has warned drivers of a simple task that could see them breaking the law, and face fines. If your car needs to be defrosted before you head on your journey, Rooster Car Insurance have warned how this could be illegal.
In a TikTok video, Rooster explained that leaving your car engine on to defrost the windscreen could result in a fine of up to £80. This may seem odd, but this action could be illegal, if your car is left running on a public road.
Rooster said: “In the UK, engine idling is illegal. This is when you leave a vehicle’s engine running while stationary on a public road.
“Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 prohibits leaving your engine on when it is not needed. Two of the most common reasons for engine idling are parents waiting to pick up their children from school or drivers warming up their vehicles to defrost their windscreen in colder months.
“This law only applies to public roads, meaning you can legally leave your car engine on if parked on a private driveway or a supermarket car park, for instance.”
The insurance experts explained that engine idling is considered bad due to the fumes emitted from the stationary cars, and can pose health risks. Fumes from cars could lead to lung and respiratory problems.
Rooster continued: “This is especially important for cars idling outside of schools.”
Rule 123 of the Highway Code reads: “The driver and the environment. You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution.
“However it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.”
The Met Office has also shared some advice for anyone dealing with adverse effects of the storm. If you’re facing power cuts, the Met Office urged households to stock up on essentials:
candles and matches or lighterstorches and batteriesa mobile phone power pack
