Drivers could be fined £2,500 for a seemingly harmless issue with their car
A seemingly innocuous issue with your vehicle could result in a substantial fine.
Driving with defective windscreen wipers may not seem like a serious offence, but it could actually lead to a hefty £2,500 fine and three points on your licence if your visibility is 'significantly' impaired. This includes 'wipers that automatically stop in a position obscuring the view'.
The alert follows recent findings that approximately 150,000 drivers had visibility problems during their MOT. Consequently, specialists from Windscreen Wipers have provided advice on how to identify signs of wear and tear, and how to avoid being slapped with a costly penalty.
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"If your windscreen wipers are skipping, streaking, squeaking, or splitting - then it's likely time for a new one," the experts stated in a message sent to The Mirror. "However, if you want to double check, then you should inspect the rubber blades. Here, you are looking for signs of cracks, bends, or other signs of damage on the blades. If you spot any, you should replace them as soon as possible."
To remove the old blades, lift the wiper arm away from the windscreen until it locks in a vertical position, reports the Mirror.
Ensure the wiper is secure - otherwise it could 'snap back and damage the glass'.
The specialists shared, "Once secure, remove the old wiper blade by locating and pressing the small tab where the blade connects with the arm," and continued with the guidance, "Then carefully slide it off without bending the arm."
They advised that when fitting the new wiper blade, most of them should simply slide into place and 'click' when secured. To ensure they are firmly in place, they recommend to 'gently' tug them.
The final step would be to gently lower the wipers back onto the windscreen.
Windscreen Wipers gave further instructions: "After attaching the new wiper blades, it's important to test them to ensure they are functioning properly," and added, "To do this, spray washer fluid onto the windscreen and turn on the wipers. If they don't streak, squeak or skip, then they have been fitted correctly. ".