Safe winter driving - avoid fines

Hi Resident,

I don't know about you but 2025 flew by for me! I trust you had a relaxing festive period and raring to go for 2026!

We are expecting colder weather over the next several weeks so if you own a vehicle (or you don't but know a family/friend that does) please share the following safety and legal requirements.

You may be surprised to read some of the below fines, and legalities, but it is for your safety, other road users and pedestrians. Drivers are responsible for making sure the vehicle they are driving is safe and legal regardless of the weather, it's not just a case of driving without checking your vehicle is road legal - policing teams have heard all the excuses and this doesn't stop a driver being fined and/or prosecuted.

Please take the time to read this email as the fines can be in the £1000's + if you are involved in a collision the prosecution and insurance consequences can be severe!

The below may sound common sense but how many times have you seen a vehicle, or been a passenger in a vehicle, with at least one of the following?
Right here we go……….

FACT - ROAD POLICING TEAMS DO PULL OVER VEHICLES TO CHECK THE BELOW AND FINE DRIVERS

Winter Visibility Laws – Frosted, Misty or Snow-Covered Windows

Maximum Fine: Up to £1,000

Driving with restricted visibility is one of the most common winter offences and all it takes a little bit of a rush to break the rules. A small window in the frost isn’t enough, and neither is clearing only the front screen. The law requires you to have full visibility, meaning:

Tyre Laws – Tread Depth, Pressure & Cold-Weather Safety

Maximum Fine: Up to £10,000 (£2,500 per tyre) and 3-points on your license.

Cars tyres suffer most in winter. Cold weather naturally reduces tyre pressure, which affects grip – especially on wet or icy roads. Many drivers only realise their tread has dropped below the legal 1.6mm minimum once they’ve been pulled over.

During Winter anything weak, worn or underinflated will show itself quickly.

Winter Tip: Check your tyres regularly. Cold air reduces pressure by 1–2 psi every few degrees, so keeping them topped up is essential. Look for cuts or bulges and consider all-season or winter tyres.

Faulty Lights & Incorrect Fog Light Use 

Maximum Fine: Up to £4,000 (£1,000 per faulty light) 

Winter means more darkness, more rain, more spray and more chances to be caught out by a blown bulb. One headlight out is still illegal, even if the other one is working. Brake lights often fail without the driver realising, and police checks increase significantly in winter months. 

Fog lights cause issues too. They should only be used when visibility drops below 100 metres not just because it “looks gloomy” outside. When misused, they can dazzle other drivers and lead to a fine.  

Winter tip: Check your lights once a week by parking near a wall or reflective surface. If any bulb flickers, looks dim or fails completely, replace it immediately. It’s cheaper than a fine and far safer. 

Morning-After Driving – Being Over the Limit Without Realising 

Penalties: Up to £2,500, a driving ban, or prison 

December and January have the highest rates of morning-after drink-driving arrests. Alcohol stays in your system far longer than people expect, you can easily wake up feeling normal but still be legally over the limit. 

A late night, strong drinks, and little sleep make it even worse. Coffee, showers or food don’t speed up alcohol removal. 

Winter tip: If you had a lot of alcohol the night before, assume you’re NOT safe to drive. Leave the car overnight or delay your journey. 

Idling to Defrost – Illegal When You Leave the Car Running 

Maximum Fine: Up to £80 

Letting the car idle on a cold morning while you pop inside to finish getting ready is incredibly common - but it’s illegal on public roads. Anti-idling laws prohibit leaving a vehicle running unnecessarily and winter is when local councils issue the most fines. 

There’s also a major theft risk. Cars left idling outside homes are easy targets, and insurers may refuse to pay out if the vehicle was stolen while running unattended - I'VE KNOWN THIS TO HAPPEN TO A CAR WORTH £40000!

Winter tip: Always stay with the vehicle. Use proper de-icer, scrape the window and don’t rely solely on the heater to defrost the windscreen. 

Worn or Ineffective Wipers – The Hidden Winter Offence 

Maximum Fine: Up to £1,000 

If your wipers smear, streak or skip across the glass, they’re no longer fit for purpose - and driving with poor visibility is an offence. Winter is brutal on wipers: frost damages rubber, cold temperatures make blades brittle and salted road spray wears them out quickly. 

Lots of drivers switch on the wipers while the screen is still frozen, which tears the rubber and makes them ineffective for the rest of the season. 

Winter tip: Replace wipers at the first sign of streaking. Use winter-grade washer fluid to stop the jets freezing on icy mornings. 

Dirty Number Plates – The Easiest Winter Fine to Avoid 

Maximum Fine: Up to £1,000 

Few winter problems appear as quickly as a dirty number plate. Slush, mud and grit from wet roads can completely coat your plate after a single journey. If the police or ANPR cameras can’t read it clearly, you can be fined. 

Drivers often don’t notice because the rest of the car still looks clean — but number plates catch the worst of winter spray. 

Winter tip: Wipe your number plates every few days, especially after motorway trips. It takes seconds and can save you £1,000. 

Safe travels. 

(source information - motoreasy)