Legal rules on driving with a cracked windscreen – and what happens if you're caught

Detailed summary

Driving with a cracked windscreen could land you in trouble — here's what the Highway Code and the police say, and the fines you could face

Regardless of how skilled a driver you are, certain problems are simply unavoidable. And one issue you really don't want to encounter while out on the road is a crack appearing in your windscreen.

Drive over one too many bumps and that crack could worsen considerably, potentially making it far more difficult and costly to repair. But if you need to get somewhere, can the police legally pull you over for driving with a cracked windscreen? And at what point does it actually become a genuine problem?

It isn't always straightforward to determine whether driving with a cracked windscreen is illegal, as it largely depends on where the crack is situated. Under UK law, including the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, drivers are required to have a clear, unobstructed view of the road ahead.

Driving with damage that compromises vision or weakens the glass can be classed as operating a vehicle in a 'dangerous condition'.

The Highway Code also says that drivers should have a full and clear view of the road at all times, and that glass should be kept in good condition. Given that a cracked windscreen affects both of these requirements, it could land you in serious trouble if you're pulled over by the police or involved in a road accident.

According to experts at Kwik Fit, if the police consider your windscreen damage to make your vehicle unsafe, you could be stopped and face penalties.

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Once more, it depends on the location of the crack. Damage on the passenger side may be less likely to impair your direct line of sight, but it can still fall within the area covered by the wipers, it can still spread further, and it can still produce glare or distortion.

If the crack is substantial or is distracting, it needs addressing straight away…

Opening of the article, excerpted from Daily Mirror. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.