A road safety campaigner has accused police of letting off lightly a motorist caught driving with just a peep-hole in a snow-covered windscreen.
Pictures of a car - almost entirely covered in cold, thick, white blanket - lit up social media this week as Scotland was hit by a big freeze.
Police Scotland said it had issued the driver - who was spotted on the A9 in Thurso - with a fixed penalty notice.
However, Margaret Dekker of Scotland’s Campaign against Irresponsible Drivers or SCID said the motorist “should be prosecuted for dangerous driving”.
She added: “The driver had no clear vision and yet made the decision to drive. It beggars belief that this driver is driving a car with literary no visibility. It is a miracle that no innocent road user was killed or injured by this driver’s laziness to take a few minutes to clear the snow off their car.
“To any law abiding road user it is obvious that to drive a car in this condition is dangerous and should be seen and prosecuted as such.”
Police Scotland has moved away from fining drivers who commit minor infringements - never mind report them to prosecutors - and is much keener to spread safety messages. A dangerous driving conviction comes with very serious consequences, including up to two years in jail and limitless fines.
Road Policing Inspector Neil Lumsden said: “Every incident is treated on its own merits and individual circumstances. In this instance a Conditional offer of Fixed Penalty was made and was considered the most appropriate action.”
Police, he said, are working under an operation called Cedar - (Challenge, Educate, Detect and Reduce). This has seen law enforcement work closely with other partners with a priority of highlighting thoughtless behaviour. The Thurso case, police think, has helped spread a message.
Motoring expert Neil Greig thought the highlighted case was “truly shocking”. However, he added: “It is unlikely that heaver fines will affect this sort of selfish behaviour but drivers need to be aware that if they did crash and hurt someone a court would take their lack of care into consideration when the case comes up and give a higher fine or sentence.
“Insurance companies might also be unwilling to pay a claim in full if they became aware that the driver was ‘impaired’ by not clearing their windscreen.”
A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: “Your motor insurance will not be invalid if you drive in the bad weather, such as snow. But use common sense - drive to reflect the road conditions, follow general advice from motoring organisations, and ask yourself is my journey really necessary.”
Road Policing Inspector Neil Lumsden said: “Every incident is treated on its own merits and individual circumstances. In this instance a Conditional offer of Fixed Penalty was made and was considered the most appropriate action.
“We are committed to improving road safety and in the Highlands this is carried out under Operation CEDAR (Challenge, Educate, Detect and Reduce).
“In addition to proactive enforcement activity on the roads, this also involves work aimed at working in partnership with a variety of agencies to educate drivers and improve behaviour behind the wheel.
“Road safety issues are also regularly highlighted using a vareity of media aimed at challenging drivers and making a positive difference to how people act on the roads.
“We all have a part to play in keeping our roads safe and we believe that Operation CEDAR as a collaborative approach between agencies and the public can contribute to preventing and reducing serious incidents.”
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