Here’s How You Could Be Breaking The Law By Driving In The Snow

We bet you didn't know that it was possible for you to break the law while driving in the snow. 

While it's not ideal to be slowly gliding on the road in this weather, for some people, they don't have a choice. 

However, The Irish Mirror is saying that there is four ways that Irish people could be breaking the law while its snowing and it involves the appearance of your car. 

Defrosting the wrong way. 

It's not good enough to switch your engine on and leave it running. Not only are you breaking the terms and conditions of your insurance, you're also leaving it open for thieves to steal. This is how you defrost the car properly. 

"The AA advises you cover the car windscreen with an old blanket or cardboard to help prevent frost settling and to clear frosted windows with proprietary de-icer and a scraper instead.

“I would not advise pouring warm water over your glass. If there is already a chip, the temperature change shock could lead to a crack developing," said John Snowling from the AA.

"What’s more, warm water evaporates more quickly in the cold and can leave a residue of solid ice on your windscreen which is even more difficult to remove with a scraper, while the water that runs on to the drive will quickly turn into an icy slip hazard."

You can't drive with snow on the roof. 

Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act, part one of which warns that "a person who drives a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while there is a defect affecting the vehicle which he knows of or could have discovered by the exercise of ordinary care and which is such that the vehicle is, when in motion, a danger to the public shall be guilty of an offence".

You could get a fine of up to €5,000 or up to three months in jail for this. 

Every window needs to be fully cleaned. 

Under the same section of the Road Traffic Act, part two warns: "Where a mechanically propelled vehicle is driven in a public place while there is a defect affecting the vehicle which the owner thereof knows of or could have discovered by the exercise of ordinary care and which is such that the vehicle is, when in motion, a danger to the public, such owner shall be guilty of an offence."

Gardaí can pull you over and make you clean your windows fully before they allow you to take off again as you must be able to see every glass panel in your vehicle in adverse weather conditions. 

Numbers plates and lights need to be clearly visible too. 

It's easy for them to get dirty especially in this type of weather but it could also get you in trouble with the Gardaí.

Something to be wary of if you're setting out on the road.

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