Motorists told to cover cars with damp towel by Thursday or risk £1,000 fine

Motorists told to cover cars with damp towel by Thursday or risk £1,000 fine Motoring experts warn about driving dangers and say you should act before Thursday, November 5 UK motorists are being urged to throw a towel over their cars ahead of Thursday. It comes as one particular annual event taking place this week could spell trouble for drivers, potentially landing them with a hefty fine if they're not careful. Motoring experts at Dick Lovett have issued a stark warning to drivers about 'falling firework residue' in the run-up to Bonfire Night this Thursday, November 5. Motorists are cautioned that it could seriously hamper windscreen visibility during peak firework display season, and may even result in fines and penalty points on their licence. While most drivers are aware that visibility can be dramatically reduced when travelling near a fireworks display - with previous studies revealing that certain parts of the UK have seen visibility slashed by as much as 64% - Dick Lovett is keen to highlight another concern: firework residue. Official government guidance states that parking at professional displays should be "well away from the display area and dropping zone". The current recommended distance for dropping zones from spent fireworks stands at a minimum of 100m x 50m. Crucially, vehicles should be parked "upwind of the display" - and this is where unpredictable weather conditions pose a real risk. Should the wind shift to downwind mid-display, drivers could find debris raining down on their vehicles, even if they're parked within the supposedly safe upwind distance, reports the Express. Despite previous reports suggesting that around 20 million people take part in private firework displays each year, drivers keeping their cars at home won't be able to benefit from any distance from such displays. For those who are unable to keep their vehicles fully protected in a secure garage, Dick Lovett recommends covering their cars on Bonfire Night to help shield the windows and paintwork from stray embers. For drivers without a full car cover, the advice is to at least cover the windscreen with a windscreen cover or a damp bath towel to protect it from ash. When ash combines with water - or rainfall - it forms a paste-like substance, which can further hamper visibility, not to mention making it considerably harder to remove from your glass. For those whose car windscreen has already been affected by fireworks or bonfire ash, Dick Lovett strongly advises giving it a thorough clean before setting off. Drivers should also make sure they've carefully cleaned other parts of the windscreen, such as the wipers, as any trapped debris could be smeared across the screen once they're switched on. Should drivers be pulled over at the roadside with a dirty windscreen, they could face a £1,000 fine, penalty points on their licence, or even a driving ban. If the matter were to go to court, drivers could be hit with a fine of up to £5,000 and receive as many as nine penalty points. Under Regulation 30 of The Road Vehicles Regulations 1986, motorists are cautioned that they must ensure all glass remains free from obstruction. Likewise, the Highway Code stipulates that 'windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision'. Alex Hynes, Service Manager at Dick Lovett said: "It's vital that drivers take extra precaution to protect their windscreens from debris during firework season - especially after such a year of unpredictable weather. "While drivers might not feel responsible for reduced visibility from debris, especially if they're not actually attending a display, drivers have a legal responsibility to ensure their vehicle is always in a roadworthy condition. It might feel inconvenient, but not checking your windscreen for debris in the days leading up to and after Halloween and Bonfire Night will only put yourself and other motorists at risk."