Motorists have been advised to spend 15 minutes with a bucket of soapy water in a bid to reduce the risk of serious accidents and eye-watering fines this November.
With the end of autumn getting closer, the cold and wet weather conditions are leading to many roads getting covered in dirt that can easily splash onto vehicles.
However, a spokesperson for the vehicle cleaning product company LiquidTech highlighted that drivers should not let the weather conditions put them off regularly washing their car.
They advised: “Despite the risks, there are thousands of drivers out there who are oblivious to the hot water they could find themselves in if they let their car get too dirty.
“Drivers might be shocked to receive a £1,000 fine if the letters and numbers of a number plate can’t be read clearly. While a windscreen that is significantly obscured by dirt could see someone pulled over by the police.”
In particular, Liquid Tech advised drivers to keep all of the windows of their vehicle clean in order to ensure good visibility of their surroundings, giving motorists a better opportunity to quickly react to sudden scenarios on the road.
Drivers should also spend a few moments washing both number plates on the vehicle to make sure they are easily legible by other drivers and ANPR cameras.
In both cases, leaving dirt to build up can result in serious consequences, including fines of up to £1,000 and three penalty points, causing the cost of car insurance to rise and possibly leading to a driving ban.
Liquid Tech also recommended that drivers thoroughly clean other external items to keep them safe behind the wheel, such as the door mirrors and lights.
They added: “As well as the number plate and windscreen, we recommend keeping head and rear lights clean along with mirrors inside and out.
“And don’t forget the interior too, as not only does having a clean car inside and out feel great, but it also means there will be no loose items that can hamper you while driving.”