The motoring experts at Dick Lovett have issued a warning to drivers over ‘falling firework residue’ that could reduce windscreen visibility on Bonfire Night (5th Nov), and even lead to fines and points on their licence.
While it might be common knowledge that general driving visibility can be significantly reduced when driving close to a fireworks display, with previous studies showing that certain areas in the UK have seen visibility reduced by as much as 64%, Dick Lovett wants to draw drivers’ attention to another issue: firework residue.
With Met Office weather warnings for wind and rain cropping up every week, it’s clear to see that the British autumn is in full swing. However, windy, damp weather poses a significant risk to drivers, especially when there are fireworks displays on.
Official government ‘Fireworks: Be Safe, Not Sorry’ advice notes that parking for drivers at professional displays should be “well away from the display area and dropping zone”. The current advice for dropping zones from spent fireworks is a minimum of 100m x 50m.
More importantly, parking should be “upwind of the display”, which is where the risk of the ever-changing weather comes in.
If the wind changes to a downwind during the display, drivers could be at risk of debris landing on their vehicles, even if they’re within the safe upwind distance.
However, with previous reports showing that around3.3 MILLION* British adults (7%) host private firework displays, drivers keeping their cars at home won’t be able to benefit from having distance from any displays.
If drivers aren’t able to keep their cars completely covered in a secure garage, Dick Lovett recommends that drivers cover their cars on Bonfire Night to keep the windows and paintwork as safe as possible from the embers.
If drivers don’t have a full car cover, they should consider at least covering the windscreen with a windscreen cover or a damp bath towel to protect it from being covered by ash.
When ash mixes with water – or rain – it becomes a paste-like substance, which can further impact visibility, not to mention making it trickier to remove from your glass.
For those who have already fallen victim to fireworks or bonfire ash falling on their car windscreen, Dick Lovett recommends thoroughly cleaning their windscreen before setting off again.
Drivers should ensure that they’ve also thoroughly cleaned other parts of the windscreen, like the wipers, as any trapped debris could spread across your screen once they’re turned on.
If drivers are caught at the roadside with a dirty windscreen, they could be landed with a £1,000 fine, points on their licence, or even a driving ban.
If their case went to court, then drivers could see their fine increase to £5,000 and receive up to 9 penalty points, as under Regulation 30 of The Road Vehicles Regulations 1986, drivers are warned they must keep all glass clear of obstruction.
Similarly, the Highway Code states that ‘windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision’.
Alex Hynes, Service Manager at Dick Lovett comments: “It’s vital that drivers take extra precaution to protect their windscreens from debris this Bonfire Night – especially after such a year of continuously unpredictable weather.
“While drivers might not feel responsible for reduced visibility from Bonfire Night debris, especially if they’re not actually attending a display, drivers have a legal responsibility to ensure their vehicle is always in a roadworthy condition.
“It might feel inconvenient, but not checking your windscreen for debris in the days leading up to and after Bonfire Night will only put yourself and other motorists at risk.”
