Drivers urged to keep one essential item in their car at night or face £1,000 fine

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

A small, inexpensive material could significantly improve night-time driving visibility and help road users avoid receiving points on their licence and hefty fines
Experts have warned Brit motorists to take one simple safety step to protect against penalties, as well as preventing potentially precarious predicaments on the road.
‌
Road safety experts have stressed that a small, inexpensive item could significantly improve night-time driving visibility and help road users avoid fines of up to £1,000 and three penalty points, never mind the risk of a serious accident. The item in question — a clean microfibre cloth.
‌
‌
Mindless yobs damage 41 cars in vandalism rampage through sleepy market town
While it may seem like a minor detail, this practical item can be the difference between arriving safely at your destination and being involved in an accident due to poor visibility. Also, many motorists are unaware that something as seemingly trivial as a misted or dirty windscreen can result in legal trouble.
UK law requires all drivers to maintain a completely unobstructed view. If your view is compromised, you could face fines and prosecution — regardless of whether this leads to a collision. The dangers increase dramatically during hours of darkness, as dirt, grease and smears that hardly appear during daylight become far more obstructive under glare from headlights.
Government statistics reveal that hundreds of accidents every year are linked to glare. Department for Transport (DfT) data and research from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) show that between 280 and 300 collisions per year in the UK involve dazzling headlights or glare as a contributing factor. Of these glare-related impacts, an average of six involve fatal injuries annually.
The human eye can take up to nine seconds to recover from dazzling light. However, that seemingly short timeframe is more than enough for a serious collision to occur.
Despite most drivers experiencing glare from oncoming traffic, many overlook basic measures to reduce the effect, such as ensuring windscreens are completely clean and free of smears. A common misconception is that windscreen condensation is a problem confined to the colder winter months.
‌
In reality, the combination of a sharp temperature drop after sunset and higher humidity can cause misting to appear instantly — and at any time of year. Even in summer, this sudden obstruction can drastically reduce visibility, making it hard to see other vehicles, road hazards and pedestrians.
The law is straightforward — windscreens and windows must be kept clean and clear of anything that could obstruct the driver's vision. Police do not need to prove that reduced visibility directly led to an accident, as the mere presence of an obstruction is enough to issue a penalty. As part of broader efforts to improve road safety, police forces are taking cases of impaired visibility increasingly seriously.
‌
Microfibre cloths are widely recommended because they are highly absorbent, do not leave streaks and can rapidly remove both dirt and condensation. Drivers experiencing sudden misting should use their vehicle's demister, starting with the coldest heater setting, switching on air conditioning and turning off air recirculation to draw in dry outside air, before gradually increasing the temperature.
Expert Tom added: "A decent microfibre cloth costs less than £5, but keeping one within arm's reach could save you thousands in fines, insurance claims, and potentially your life. It's the cheapest safety upgrade you'll ever make."
With all the modern features available in cars, experts say that keeping a clean microfibre cloth in your glovebox or door pocket remains one of the most effective, affordable and immediate ways to improve road safety.