The Highway Code - Rule 229

Although I am not a driver, I have just been reading Rule 229 of the Highway Code, which applies to driving in adverse weather conditions (snow and ice).

In my area of the UK there had been snow this morning. Although the snow was too wet to stick to the road outside my home, it had been sticking to my neighbours' cars. A short while ago, I witnessed one of the neighbours returning home in their car after briefly popping out.

I noticed that although the neighbour's car windows were clear of snow, there was still some snow on the roof of it. This bugged me. Why? Because I felt absolutely certain that in addition to ensuring the windows of a vehicle must be cleared of snow or ice, any snow that might fall off and into the path of other road users must also be cleared. It seems I was right about that.

As the neighbour in question passed their driving test less than two years ago, I feel the Highway Code should still be relatively fresh in their memory. However, after almost half a century on this planet, I am aware that there are many motorists who seem to be blissfully unaware of Rule 229, and the fact that they could be fined for ignoring it.

  • It is truly frightening that some people drive when you see them do things like that. I witnessed that myself several times today, I also saw some who had left snow on the passenger side of the windscreen, meaning their view was extremely reduced. I sometimes wonder if half these people have actually passed their test or they just decided to go out and drive.

    About two years ago, after heavy snow fall, my mum had a car who hadn’t got the snow off his roof and she braked and the car behind had to brake suddenly and the snow on his roof fell covering most of his windscreen and bonnet. My mum got out to check he was ok and expected him to be a young driver but it was a man older than her.

    This morning clearing the snow off the car was the first thing I did when I went outside. I would say though I saw more cars covered in snow than those who had cleared the snow off. It’s scary stuff.