Professional Auto Repair in Rainham

Ask our mechanic: Can I keep my engine running to de-icing my windscreen? While not quite a mechanical question we do get asked this a lot during the winter months. If you leave the engine running while you get out to scrape your windscreen, you could be penalised for not being in control of your vehicle, and where you could receive 3 penalty points and a £100 fine if dealt with by way of a fixed penalty, or you may be fined for breaching rule 123 of the Highway Code which states 'The Driver and the Environment. You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults. If you’re caught idling you could be hit with a £20 fixed-penalty fine under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) Regulations 2002, rising to £40 if unpaid within the required time frame. Fines can be as high as £80 in certain areas of London where there are additional measures to cut emissions.