Drivers warned over 'porthole' defrosting mistake that could get you stopped by police

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Motorists are being warned not to drive off without properly defrosting their windscreens during winter as doing so could result in a run in with the police.Any driver caught with just a small hole in the windscreen to see through, known as "portholing", could be subject to harsh penalties from cops.Halfords has warned that 53 per cent of drivers have admitted to potholing, despite it being against the law.While findings suggests motorists are taking a lax attitude towards portholing, multiple reports of police fining drivers for this suggests some forces across the country could be cracking down on the issue.It comes after Police Scotland were forced to stop a driver back in February 2021 who had cleared a small patch of snow from the windshield, while leaving the rest of the vehicle entirely covered in the white stuff.In the same month, a separate Scots driver was charged with dangerous driving after being spotted travelling around with a windshield covered in ice.While it may be a timesaver for motorists in a hurry, potholing poses serious safety risks and those who break this law risk a fine of £60-£2,500 if their vehicle is deemed dangerous – and three penalty points.Following the results of the 2,000 person survey, Halfords CEO Graham Stapleton is calling on motorists to make sure they properly clear their windscreens during the current cold snap.He said: “Most motorists know that driving with ice or snow on their windows is illegal and dangerous, so I really don’t understand why so many are needlessly putting themselves at risk.“Whilst officers may exercise some discretion, the letter of the law states that all windows, including those on the sides and at the rear, must be completely free of snow or ice.