Can You See The Road Ahead?

Half of Britain’s 28m motorists are potentially driving un-roadworthy* cars this summer by failing to top up their screenwash to keep their windscreens "bug-free", according to research** by car care people Comma (www.commaoil.com).

Under British motoring law, a car is un-roadworthy if the driver is unable to clear day-to-day grime from the windscreen. This becomes even more of a problem in the summer months when, on average, unfortunate bugs hit windscreens at a rate of one every five miles***.

Every year traffic police perform thousands of random roadside checks, with more than one in ten vehicles found to be un-roadworthy ****. Police are empowered to hand out Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme tickets, which require motorists to rectify the defect and report to a police station within seven days.

Alternatively, authorities can hand out fines for around £40 - £60, however should the case go to court, motorists are commonly charged the equivalent of one week’s wages, a penalty that is capped at a maximum £1,000.

The severity of fines reflects the fact that drivers unable to see through the windscreen are just as dangerous as drivers with excessively worn brakes.

"If we wear glasses, we’re always cleaning the lenses, so why don’t we pay more attention to our windscreens. It is a legal obligation to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy for every journey you take," said Comma spokesperson Mike Bewsey, "which is why checking you have enough screenwash should be part of every motorists routine, not just re-filling when it’s empty."

The best way to keep your windscreen clean and clear is to add a specially prepared solution to your reservoir, such as Comma’s Summer Screenwash. The mixture quickly and efficiently works by breaking down the grease deposited when bugs hit the windscreen.

Formulated to effectively remove the grease and grime of summer driving, Comma’s Summer Screenwash is infinitely more effective than using water alone. The non-smearing Comma screenwash is safe on paintwork and also adds a fresh fragrance to your car.

* The MOT Inspection manual, 10th January 2005. A car is will fail an MOT when ‘the windscreen washers do not provide enough liquid to clear the windscreen in conjunction with the wiper(s)’.

**Research carried out at Dover Port 27-29 May 2005. Sample size 702.

***Statistic from RSPB 2004.

**** Based on figures provided by Dorset Police.