Why don't people clean their number plates

Barrawarra · 19/01/2022 00:10

I don’t clean my car because

Cars are not important to me, just a means of travel and not an image thing
It rains

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plate so dirty the license couldn’t be read.

MrsGinnyM · 19/01/2022 00:13

To avoid being picked up on speed cameras and ANPR?

sillysmiles · 19/01/2022 00:13

I don't clean my car. I live in a rural area, drive alot and the roads are filthy. I frequently am driving behind trucks. At this time of year cleaning the car is a pointless exercise.
If I'm in an accident and can't talk, just ring an ambulance- the reg plate is irrelevant.
That said. Once my reg plate gets to the point where it can't be read, I'll give that a wipe.

sillysmiles · 19/01/2022 00:15

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plate so dirty the license couldn’t be read.

Mine has been! A motorcyclist tapped on my window when stopped at lights to let me know! I wiped it then when i got to my destination.

Original poster

Sportslady44 · 19/01/2022 00:15

I meant if they cause an accident and say drove off you wouldn't get the plate.

OP posts:

FinallyFluid · 19/01/2022 00:16

@MrsGinnyM

To avoid being picked up on speed cameras and ANPR?

This

bloodywhitecat · 19/01/2022 00:17

I don't clean my car because I don't have time. My am caring for my terminally ill husband and 2 babies under 2. I don't use the car much, I live rurally and as soon as it is clean it is dirty again and, right now, I have bigger fish to fry. I do wipe the plates if they are not visible though.

DiddyHeck · 19/01/2022 00:17

I've known people to purposely muddy up their plates to avoid cameras/fines.

MrsGinnyM · 19/01/2022 00:19

@Sportslady44

I meant if they cause an accident and say drove off you wouldn't get the plate.

If they are the sort of person to drive off after an accident, then they are unlikely to be bothered that their registration plate is too dirty to read - probably very pleased in fact.

MrsGinnyM · 19/01/2022 00:23

@bloodywhitecat

I don't clean my car because I don't have time. My am caring for my terminally ill husband and 2 babies under 2. I don't use the car much, I live rurally and as soon as it is clean it is dirty again and, right now, I have bigger fish to fry. I do wipe the plates if they are not visible though.

And this is the innocent and understandable explanation.

KloppsTeeth · 19/01/2022 00:23

I have seen quite a few recently that are completely obscured. I think it is down to not wanting to be picked up by ANPR etc.

I also live rurally and rarely clean my car as it just gets dirty again very quickly. I do however give my headlights and rear lights and number plates a quick wash. The difference having clean headlights makes on dark rural roads is amazing.

MsAgnesDiPesto · 19/01/2022 00:27

@Sportslady44

Saw a disgusting car yesterday. The number plate was thick with black dirt and you couldn't read the back number plate.

Surely they realise. Why don't they clean the car? What happens if they are in an accident and you can't read the plate?

It’s actually an offence not to display your plates. The police can and will book you for it. If they can’t be read it’s the same as not having them at all.

etulosba · 19/01/2022 00:39

Where I live there is so much mud on the roads in that it only takes a couple of days for the car, particularly the back, to be completely covered in cack.

I can’t be arsed to wash it every other day. I do make a point of wiping the number plates though. Not everybody does.

HeddaGarbled · 19/01/2022 00:43

I avoid cleaning my car as it’s a horrible job and I don’t actually care if my car is clean or dirty. If I promise to stop and exchange details in the event of an accident, please may I be excused?

Scarby9 · 19/01/2022 01:03

I drove 80 miles on Monday evening, mostly rural.

I washed my headlights in the afternoon before I set off, but visibility on dipped lights was so bad by about 40 miles that I had to stop and use a bottle of water and a cloth to clear them. I made it safely to my destination mainly because there were street lights on the last few miles, but when I looked at first light this morning, the lights were again caked with dirt.

At this time of year, the roads are FILTHY round here - mud, salt and grit thrown up constantly and it is an ongoing battle to retain visibility. My number plates come lower on the priority list.

AffIt · 19/01/2022 02:38

Is it not technically an offence in the UK to have certain parts of your car obscured (registration, lights etc)?

StrangerThanSpring · 19/01/2022 03:39

I would assume that either they are trying to hide their number plate or that they are too busy to wash their car. I wash my car most weekends but it still gets really dirty between washes especially depending on the weather.

OnceUponAMidnightBeery · 19/01/2022 03:43

Work in a petrol station, there’s usually a reason. To the extent that if we have enough staff one will go out and helpfully let them know while they’re filling up... we get a lot less drive offs these days, especially if spare staff member is male.

DaisyTheUnicorn · 19/01/2022 03:45

I dont wash my car (rain does it here. Seems to manage even after a muddy National Trust day.)

I will check the lights and number plate this morning though....

housemdwaswrong · 19/01/2022 03:46

I have never, ever cleaned my number plate alone. Could be because I live in Wales and we have loads of rain, but I never have done. My car is permanently stinking atm. I drive 45mins to work each way, and the salt and spray on the roads makes it a thankless task trying to keep the car clean. No way am I standing in this weather for ages freezing, to make my car clean. Not worth it when it will be stinking after I've been in the car 5 minutes.

LadyPropane · 19/01/2022 03:47

@Sportslady44

I meant if they cause an accident and say drove off you wouldn't get the plate.

Well yeah. They don't want anyone to be able to read their plate. You've answered your own question.

MintJulia · 19/01/2022 03:56

In a day, I do all the normal school run stuff, work full time, coax ds into doing school work, shop, wash, clean, iron, organise, cook, get to/from hobbies.

This week I have also GCSE choices evening and someone replacing a hot water tank.

How high up my priority list do you imagine a clean number plate is? Really???

ElftonWednesday · 19/01/2022 04:10

If it's filthy and can't be read, it should be fairly high up the priority list, as being stopped by the police and fined £1000 would not be something I'd like to add to my week, or to do list.

Having a safe, legal vehicle is always high in my priorities. Too much risk to life, limb and pocket to do otherwise.

MintJulia · 19/01/2022 04:23

@ElftonWednesday

If it's filthy and can't be read, it should be fairly high up the priority list, as being stopped by the police and fined £1000 would not be something I'd like to add to my week, or to do list.

Having a safe, legal vehicle is always high in my priorities. Too much risk to life, limb and pocket to do otherwise.

You sound like class blackboard monitor,

I was stopped once for having a dirty number plate when ds was 2. Nice pc explained through window, when ds announced 'mummy, I just did a huge poo.' The smell was appalling. Nice pc retreated to a safe distance and cleaned the plate for me.

I'll be sure to check it this morning.

ElftonWednesday · 19/01/2022 05:03

Whatever. It takes minutes to check your car is safe and legal before you set off. If you are too immature to be arsed wth that then you shouldn't be driving, and certainly not with your child in the car. Everyone is fucking busy, you aren't a special snowflake who is busier than everyone else. I read your list and thought "So fucking what?" Grow up and take some responsibility for basic life skills.