Road incident.

paleoperson

Usually how I deal with frost is a large hot saucepan clearing it all. Today I went out at 7pm, I don't usually go out this time and I didn't think there could be frost there. Or just a very thin layer that would come off easily. On turning on the engine I thought it was just a bit of fog. You know how you wipe the fog and it just looks a bit wet that the internal heating removes quickly? I thought that's what it was.

When I came on the rural road I could see very little. I drove about 2mph. A mature-looking gentleman passed me looking at me very strangely (the passenger and drivers' window was fine, part of why I thought the windscreen couldn't be too bad). I kept moving in part just to let him know I didn't have a breakdown.

As I went on I noticed that he pulled in and put his hazard lights on, which was a bit alarming to me. I didn't know what to make of it except he thought I was in trouble, so I kept along at the same pace. After a while the frost cleared and I was able to drive normally.

I realize it was a mistake to continue driving, I should have just put my hazard lights on and stopped the car. I will never again drive until I'm sure the visibility is almost perfect. It's a lesson learned for me. You don't think there'll be any follow up to this do you?

dudara

Moved to the Motors forum

dudara

James Bond Junior

paleoperson wrote: »

Usually how I deal with frost is a large hot saucepan clearing it all. Today I went out at 7pm, I don't usually go out this time and I didn't think there could be frost there. Or just a very thin layer that would come off easily. On turning on the engine I thought it was just a bit of fog. You know how you wipe the fog and it just looks a bit wet that the internal heating removes quickly? I thought that's what it was.

When I came on the rural road I could see very little. I drove about 2mph. A mature-looking gentleman passed me looking at me very strangely (the passenger and drivers' window was fine, part of why I thought the windscreen couldn't be too bad). I kept moving in part just to let him know I didn't have a breakdown.

As I went on I noticed that he pulled in and put his hazard lights on, which was a bit alarming to me. I didn't know what to make of it except he thought I was in trouble, so I kept along at the same pace. After a while the frost cleared and I was able to drive normally.

I realize it was a mistake to continue driving, I should have just put my hazard lights on and stopped the car. I will never again drive until I'm sure the visibility is almost perfect. It's a lesson learned for me. You don't think there'll be any follow up to this do you?

You'll be fine. He probably stopped to answer a phone or something and it was just a coincidence.

Joeseph Balls

What? No. Next time make sure you can see clearly when your driving. If you can't see fully don't drive.

The Backwards Man

He was probably warning other motorists that there was some eejit driving down the road that couldn't see where they were going!

Miike

He was alerting other motorists there is some clown driving at a snails pace so they don't plow into you

the_syco

paleoperson wrote: »

When I came on the rural road I could see very little. I drove about 2mph.

If you can't see, don't drive. Simple as. Wait until the engine heats up, and the window becomes clear. It wouldn't be a bad idea to clean the inside of the windscreen either.

As for driving so slow; you'll cause an accident if a car comes around a corner and see you too late. At that speed, you may as well be stopped. If I saw someone crawling along at that speed, I'd probably pull in and call the cops!

Atlantic Dawn

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

hannible the cannible

On another note there's no need to put hot water on a freezing windscreen unless you want to crack it , normal water out of the cold tap will do the same job as it'll be a good few degrees warmer anyway and less likely to crack the windscreen

Isambard

maybe he saw a large saucepan on your roof?

Armchair Andy

Isambard wrote:

maybe he saw a large saucepan on your roof?

We've all done it!

seamus

Hot water won't cause a modern windscreen to crack. That said, I wouldn't want to put a freshly-boiled kettle on it to try it out. All you need to do is put the kettle on for long enough that the water is warm. Anything over 20 degrees C will quickly melt a thin layer of ice/frost.

Anyway, it realistically takes about five minutes for the heater to kick in and defrost/defog the glass. You'd end up being much faster waiting and then being able to drive at full pelt.

johndaman66

hannible the cannible wrote: »

On another note there's no need to put hot water on a freezing windscreen unless you want to crack it , normal water out of the cold tap will do the same job as it'll be a good few degrees warmer anyway and less likely to crack the windscreen

Water out of the cold tap has never being effective for me. Mildly luke warm water has always done the trick for me the finest though. Boiling water or hot water are a definitely a no no.

Fieldsman

Yes lukewarm water not too hot and make sure to pour it along the door jamb otherwise you risk damaging the door rubbers.

goz83

What a totally misleading title. Could you not SEE that people would think you had an accident?

Eamondomc

Armchair Andy wrote: »

We've all done it!

No we haven't, that's an excuse idiots always use.

XsApollo

2 Euro ice scraper from Halfords or anywhere, even a cd case does it.
Windows cleared in under 30 seconds and off you go.

hannible the cannible

johndaman66 wrote: »

Water out of the cold tap has never being effective for me. Mildly luke warm water has always done the trick for me the finest though. Boiling water or hot water are a definitely a no no.

I find it effective for me though , go me

_Kaiser_

I'm confused... OP drove off without being able to see properly out the windscreen and wonders why people were looking at them strangely?

Is that it?

Very simple here... it's winter! It's cold... frost/ice can form at any time of the day lately. Don't go anywhere until you can clearly see out of all windows and mirrors.

Or am I missing something??

bear1

paleoperson wrote: »

Usually how I deal with frost is a large hot saucepan clearing it all. Today I went out at 7pm, I don't usually go out this time and I didn't think there could be frost there. Or just a very thin layer that would come off easily. On turning on the engine I thought it was just a bit of fog. You know how you wipe the fog and it just looks a bit wet that the internal heating removes quickly? I thought that's what it was.

When I came on the rural road I could see very little. I drove about 2mph. A mature-looking gentleman passed me looking at me very strangely (the passenger and drivers' window was fine, part of why I thought the windscreen couldn't be too bad). I kept moving in part just to let him know I didn't have a breakdown.

As I went on I noticed that he pulled in and put his hazard lights on, which was a bit alarming to me. I didn't know what to make of it except he thought I was in trouble, so I kept along at the same pace. After a while the frost cleared and I was able to drive normally.

I realize it was a mistake to continue driving, I should have just put my hazard lights on and stopped the car. I will never again drive until I'm sure the visibility is almost perfect. It's a lesson learned for me. You don't think there'll be any follow up to this do you?

The only alarming thing here is that you actually went and drove when you couldn't see where you were going and then to drive at 2?
Just why the fook wouldn't you wait to 2/3 minutes for it to clear.
Shouldn't really be a lesson you need to learn.
It's common bloody sense.