A motoring expert has urged all drivers to make sure that they regularly check one part of their car in order to avoid putting themselves at a higher risk of accidents. Whilst the UK is beginning to move away from winter weather, drivers should always make sure that their car is properly prepared for a sudden downpour.
Abir Twari, UK Director of Commercial Operations, Parts and Accessories at eBay, noted that one way drivers can stay prepared and safe behind the wheel in wet weather is by checking the wiper blades of their car. She explained: “A car’s windscreen wipers are critical when it comes to maintaining visibility in wet weather, yet the condition of wiper blades often goes under the radar as a potential MOT failure item. It’s important for drivers to understand what to look for when they become damaged or worn so they can replace them cost-effectively, rather than face the inconvenience of a failed MOT.”
According to a study conducted by eBay, 23 percent of motorists only check the condition of their windscreen wiper blades before their vehicle’s MOT or service, with a staggering 20 percent unaware that worn-out blades can cause a car to fail its inspection.
Younger motorists are the most likely not to check their windscreen wipers for signs of wear, with 45 percent of those aged between 18 and 24 unaware that MOT testers will check the blades.
Nevertheless, driving with a set of worn wiper blades can be dangerous, with motorists having no effective way of clearing water from their windscreen – resulting in a higher risk of accidents and a fixed penalty of £100.
Whilst windscreen wiper blades should be changed every six to twelve months, depending on the amount of time the driver spends behind the wheel, one of the easiest ways to tell if the rubber blades are worn is by the noise they make.
Worn wiper blades will typically squeak or judder as they move across the surface of the windscreen while also leaving streaks of water where it has failed to make sufficient contact with the glass.