Car theft warning.

When I had to leave early I would put couple of newspapers over front windscreen at night tucked under wipers. Just took them off in morning and windcreen clear. Luckily we don't get frost down here in Cornwall.

ChrisCross I too have a Ford Fiesta, 1st new car almost 8 years ago & this one going on 5 years old. Heated windscreen as well as rear window is brilliant, if it's really frosty I start engine, turn on heated screens & heater at full blast. By the time I've cleaned lights & rear side windows I'm ready to go. Front side windows clear with blowers from heater aimed at them.

I live on a Private Estate but would still not leave my car unlocked, these days not having to leave for work, I often wait until the sun has done the work for me.

Anya that was funny!
Mmm, maybe I will try the h.w.b in future and just put up with the cold for 5 mins. I always feel (just a bit) guilty.

This is covered by rule 123 of the Highway code.

www.highwaycode.info/rule/123

But this only applies to public roads, not your driveway. Otherwise how would garages etc be able to run engines to diagnose or repair.

lefthanded that post was very timely as OH and I were about to have a fightdisagreement about the legality of it when he leaves it running in our driveway. Saved me from having him say 'told you so'

To clarify "Quitting" a vehicle is an offence under the Road Traffic Act. The important thing to remember is that the RTA is only relevant when the vehicle is on a public road. Leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine running on your own property (i.e. on your drive) is not an offence. Unwise, perhaps. Anti-social, maybe. But not an offence under any U.K. legislation.

Well you are called sweetpee!

I have just taken delivery of a new Fiesta Chriscross, the front heated windscreen is brilliant but I am now aware of the element lines in the windscreen which I found very off-putting. Getting used to it, gradually.

Re heated seats, have to say I am NOT a fan, I feel as though I am having a wee when they are first turned on!

I am another one who pops out and leaves a hot water bottle on the dashboard. Works well.

I used to have an old Ford Focus which had a heated front(and rear)screen. When I came to replace it I anguished over various other options as I wanted a smaller car. I admit the heated windscreen was a major factor - so I ended up with the Ford Fiesta - with the heated windscreen. Magic.It defrosts the screen in a couple of minutes and keeps it warm so it doesn't freeze up again. I think its a Ford exclusive. A friend of mine threw warm water over her windscreen and it split - think it might have been more than warm.

I do not leave my car engine running to defrost the windows but I would be delighted if somebody stole my Skoda as I hate it passionately. I bought it because somebody of my age owned it and the mileage was silly, about 1800 miles for just under 2 years. Basic is the way I would describe it, having an engine, 4 wheels and a driving wheel and not much else. Even the T is displayed in Fahrenheit.

Yes it is illegal
Its called 'quitting a vehicle'
Leaving an internal combustion engine running whilst unattended

Something that works well is to place a hot water bottle on the dashboard for a few minutes, gets the windscreen de-iced quickly! Heated rear window switched on, only need to scrape the side windows.

That's true Pamish heard that before. We live in a very quiet cul-de-sac but our neighbour had his name plates stolen from his car and you have to inform the police and then had to go and order some more, being an elderly gent, he was a bit stressed about it. Then the other night or early hours a car alarm went off outside my h checked in case it was his car but it was'nt and next morning when we went out there was nameplates of another neighbours car on the ground.

It's now illegal to have an engine running for more than one minute while stationary.

Just sayin'.

I'd like to have instant arrest powers for the selfish sods who sit outside schools waiting for their darlings, pumping out pollution, 'keeping the car warm'. Put a coat on.

I guess it's a pollution issue Nina. I do it though not often. I live in a quiet backwater and don't have a grand car. I do it mainly because I don't like sitting in a cold car. Lazy, selfish and a lawbreaker.

EEjit even on your own drive ?

Any idiot that does this truly gets what they deserve.

I never understand why anybody would do this. I sit in the car (on my drive) with the engine running for the 2-3 minutes it takes to clear the windscreen. Nobody is going to try to steal the car when I am sat in it. I am never in so much of a hurry that I need to leave it defrosting while I go back inside the house.

tanith I suppose it depends how desperate they are for money and how much a 'newish' skoda (they're so much better nowadays, aren't they?) might fetch...

It's also illegal.

Unfortunately blinko in most cases it's nothing to do with street cred, it's mostly just to sell on for drugs...

OH just bought a newish Skoda Blinko d'ya think it would work?

A good strategy to discourage this is to have a low profile car..... so not a nice jag, more like an old skoda... Your average car thieves are not interested. Doesn't look good for their street cred and they can't get much for the risks they take. Saves you the worry, and it's cheaper. Win, win!

An alternative is to throw warm water over the windscreen, just before you leave. With the wipers going - stand back!