Cold winter nights can result in unexpected physical exercise, particularly for those who have no choice but to leave their car out in the open. Many people are forced to scrape their windscreens and, depending on the weather, sometimes even rid their cars of snow in the morning. Our colleagues from RTL.lu asked Tim Wagner from the “Wallheimer” driving school what motorists should keep in mind on those sometimes frustrating winter mornings.
Even if temperatures do not drop below zero during the night, car windows are often covered in ice in the morning. If you do not have the luxury of auxiliary heating or a garage, you will have to scrape the ice off your windows by hand, usually with an ice scraper. Many people are in a hurry in the morning and decide to scrape off only a part of the ice or do not remove any snow.
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According to Tim Wagner, this is quite dangerous: “Your windows should always be clean, no matter if it’s summer or winter.” It is not enough to just scrape free a small hole for you to see through, Wagner stresses, explaining that " all car windows should be clean, only clean windows allow us to see and notice hazards on the road, which in turn allows us to prevent accidents.” If it snowed during the night, drivers should thoroughly clean their car, including the body, windows, lights, number plates, and side mirrors. “If we don’t do that, snow may fall on the road while we’re driving, which potentially endangers other drivers.”
What should you look out for to avoid damaging your car while removing ice?
According to Frank Maas from the Luxembourg Motoring Association (ACL), drivers should carefully detach the wiper blades from the windscreen without damaging the rubber part of the wiper. The ice scraper should ideally be made of plastic, since metal might leave scratch marks on the glass. Maas also advises drivers to be careful not to damage the seals around the front window. Generally speaking, you should adjust your schedule in the morning so that you have enough time to remove the ice from all of your windows.
What shouldn’t you do while de-icing?
“First of all, you’re not allowed to keep your engine running while cleaning your windows. This is illegal and also counterproductive,” Maas explains. Not only does the engine not heat up quickly enough while stationary, but it also consumes “extremely high” amounts of fuel. According to Maas, it is also not a good idea to dump hot water on your windscreen. For one, the abrupt shift in temperature may cause your window to break, and even if it does not, the water still cools down too quickly, causing your windows to become frozen once more.
To avoid a total breakdown in the morning, Maas recommends planning ahead of time, investing in proper tools such as an ice scraper, windscreen spray, and a broom to remove snow from the car, and considering protecting your windscreen with a cover.
Wearing a warm hat and gloves can also help make your early-morning de-icing sessions a little bit more bearable.
