Defrosting the car

[DustyLee123]

It really winds me up when people leave the engine running for ages, and windscreen wipers going full pelt, instead of just defrosting the car with water/scraper and going.

One of my thicky neigbours pours water over his windscreen to defrost it. Then the stream of water freezes over the footpath and communal car park.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 regulation 107(2) sets out the circumstances in which a vehicle can be left unattended with the engine running on a public road.

I think anyone actually thinking it’s an issue is very much clutching at straws.

No wonder the elderly infirm and disabled get fucked over daily with that level of empathy

Not according to CormorantStrikesBack

I just pour over the water from the night before’s hot water bottle. It takes 30 seconds and no mist on the inside. I pour all round- the water if the perfect temperature to defrost instantly, not refreeze and no mist. Job done.

And for the worriers, the water just trickles down through the car and drain- not onto the path. You don’t need much.

If there's enough water to refreeze on the pavement and make it slippy for pedestrians then that is down to the amount of warm water used. If you use just enough then it sits in the car gutter. Any water I leave behind is from my wipers which is negligible. If it comes off the drive and onto the pavement it sounds like he's using enough to wash the whole car.

Like I’ve repeatedly said I don’t use enough water for it to land on the floor. So don’t go quoting one sentence out of context.

How is in no way shape or form not causing an issue for disabled people (of which I am one) lacking in empathy?

Exactly. You only need to use a very small amount.

blimey you get bollocked on here by some for not using water and taking too long.

then others whinge at you for trying to be quicker.

cant do right for doing wrong 😂

think some people are just looking for an argument.

Funnily enough I never said anything about that poster’s neighbour. Can you please point out where you think I did? 🤔

I can’t be responsible for other people doing it incorrectly. It’s perfectly possible to do it without a problem

I’m currently defrosting our campervan, as I left a cup of water in here the windows are all frozen on the inside.

Reposting because I forgot to quote or tag first time...

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 regulation 107(2) sets out the circumstances in which a vehicle can be left unattended with the engine running on a public road.

Tell me how to de-mist the windows of my 13 year old car faster. Takes ages for the air to even warm up 🥹

I have an airbond dehumidifier in the car and still no luck 😞

I actually came to this thread looking for tips. My organisation in the morning leaves me no time for demisting so I'm always in a rush!

I'm trying a couple of those bags next, see if that helps it along, ugh

Same 😂 I just have streaky misty screens instead

Yes that is an issue too, although my car is on a drive at the end of a cul de sac, so nobody really walking by, but I have thought about the postie when I've done it. Another downside to using water!

Deicing is not the problem. The ice takes way less time than the bloody mist to deal with. Demisting is an utter pain, only solution is the EV preconditioning...

Funnily enough seeing is non-optional, especially as I have to drive due East after coming out of my driveway...

How clever, will be trying that tomorrow

@Hardtime Make the water as hot as you can, I boil the kettle, and make sure the bottles don't actually touch the windowscreen ( crack risk) while placing them as close as possible.
Any plastic bottle will do, but make sure the lid is screwed on tight and if using a round bottle, place a piece of kitchen roll between the bottles and the windowscreen in case the bottles roll against the glass.
Do that around 20 mins before you go to use the car.

See my last 🙂

Just so you know, it's not a 10 minute window. We live opposite a school and they start arriving for breakfast club around 7am, slamming doors and screaming. Unbelievably fucking annoying when you'd just like to sleep until 7.30.
Spewing out exhaust fumes for 10 minutes on cold mornings is payback.

Fuzzadora, yeah fuck them young lungs

I found it, and it's quite clear, you can't leave a car on the public highway, with the engine running to defrost the windows.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/107/madeLeaving motor vehicles unattended 107.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall leave, or cause or permit to be left, on a road a motor vehicle which is not attended by a person licensed to drive it unless the engine is stopped and any parking brake with which the vehicle is required to be equipped is effectively set. (2) The requirement specified in paragraph (1) as to the stopping of the engine shall not apply in respect of a vehicle—
(a)being used for ambulance, fire brigade or police purposes; or

(b)in such a position and condition as not to be likely to endanger any person or property and engaged in an operation which requires its engine to be used to—

(i)drive machinery forming part of, or mounted on, the vehicle and used for purposes other than driving the vehicle; or

(ii)maintain the electrical power of the batteries of the vehicle at a level required for driving that machinery or apparatus.
(3) In this regulation “parking brake” means a brake fitted to a vehicle in accordance with requirement 16 or 18 in Schedule 3.

@Dbank - the aircon is "machinery forming part of the vehicle and used for purposes other than driving the vehicle". Also, whilst demisting the car, you need the engine on to keep the batteries charged. So, contrary to what you say, I would argue that it is quite clear that you can leave a car unattended on the public highway with the engine running to defrost the windows.

If you stay with the car a different regulation applies. This also allows you to keep the engine running to drive machinery forming part of the vehicle and used for purposes other than driving the vehicle.

I do this - mine defrosts super quick when I press a special button inside (dunno the proper names I know fuck all about cars 🤣). Water is risky - too hot and the windscreen might crack. Too cool and it’s counterproductive. Scraping the windscreen to full effect (so I can actually see!) takes way longer than whatever the special button does. Last year I drove past some prick who’d only scraped about 8 in x 8 inch square, just enough to peep out his windscreen - fucking idiot.