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[Lesopc]

I have worked out that to fit a sunstrip along the top of my windscreen and keep it MOT legal i need to slightly reduce the sweep area and therefore the length of the wiper blades. Is this wise and would there be any problems in shorter blades as i can't seem to see any???
I am NOT thinking of one too deep just a regular sort of size and NOT too lairy.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

This Gov. site gives the basic information on windscreen safety / law:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069871

In particular note should be taken of the statement:

"windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision"

In other words unless the windscreen is kept to factory condition i.e. with the pre-set tint band, plus the tax disc, anything else could be considered an obstruction.  This would especially apply in the case of an accident, after which you could be liable for prosecution if the accident investigation officers deem your vision was obstructed by a non-standard widscreen attachment.

Personally I always keep my windscreen absolutely clear, with the tax disc right in the bottom nearside corner to satisfy, without doubt, the law.

The penalties for not doing so are:

"The *law dictates that ‘windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision'. Failing to clear windows properly could lead to a fixed penalty fine of up to £2,500, three penalty points or even disqualification if the offence is committed within three years of a previous conviction for the same offence. Even worse, causing a fatal smash as a result of driving with dirty glass could result in a 14 year prison sentence and an unlimited fine."

[steve_daly]

That's why most MOT stations will remove any danglies from the rear view mirror.

[CaptainZok]

That's why most MOT stations will remove any danglies from the rear view mirror.

Like air fresheners you mean.

[dbug]

That's why most MOT stations will remove any danglies from the rear view mirror.

Like air fresheners you mean.

Or not in some cases 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Be careful, you may upset someone!

[Marks DTM Calib]

I interpret the law a little differently.

If fitting a sun strip, loosing 20-30mm off the cleared area on an Omega screen is going to have little impact and if the screen does not enter the swept area then it should be fine.

A loop hole if you like

[Mr Skrunts]

and I see it as a rule for one and not the others, the quote that Lizzie posted, in short means no phones, PDA's or Sat Nav's attached to the window.

Yet police vehicles have so much equipment in some of them it's a wonder they see a thing.  Not disputing they need and are not trained properly, kust annother case of I feel that if it's a rule or a law then we should all abide by it, and the police for example, should lead by example.  (Moan over)

[aaronjb]

Ahh one of my pet peeves.. I saw a car in front of me yesterday where the driver had a satnav stuck to the windscreen absolutely smack bang in front of his face. I mean, literally, right in front of his face.

Then again, a learner under instruction sailed out from the side of a roundabout this morning without so much as a glance out of the side window to see me hitting the brakes to avoid going into the drivers door, so apparently people are taught they don't need to look or be able to see where they're going anymore - cars must drive themselves or something! 

</grumpy old man mode: off>

On sunstrips, mind.. the screen on the Omega is so huge what would you be obscuring - a view of passing aircraft, perhaps?

As for shortening the wipers - that's precisely what my VXR220 owning friend did, and it passed the MOT no problems (after failing on an obscured swept area previously)..

[Lizzie_Zoom]

and I see it as a rule for one and not the others, the quote that Lizzie posted, in short means no phones, PDA's or Sat Nav's attached to the window.

Yet police vehicles have so much equipment in some of them it's a wonder they see a thing.  Not disputing they need and are not trained properly, kust annother case of I feel that if it's a rule or a law then we should all abide by it, and the police for example, should lead by example.  (Moan over)

As far as I am aware Skruntie the area patrol cars have all their equipment below the dashboard level with nothing 'in the windscreen', whilst the traffic cars have this but also with cameras which are sighted out of the drivers and co-drivers line of vision.  In the 'traffic Cops' type programmes there may be miniature cameras in the corners of the windscreen looking back at the two police officers, but that, to my knowledge, is not standard equipment - well at least in Kent!

At no stage, like any other motorist, can they be seen to be breaking the law, apart from during the obvious '999' response procedures if the police driver is qualified that is and therefore is not breaking the law!

[Lesopc]

The way i myself interpret the law is that shorter wiper blades will shrink the all important sweep area leaving more mm's depth to apply a strip but obviously not even 1/4 depth of whole screen. I am thinking of just like my profile pic sunstrip (Goodyear). I also assume that one across the top of rear screen (Opel i Line in similar depth) has no major rules as such.

[Mr Skrunts]

I know where you are coming from lizzie, but I make these comments after seeing road wars etc, they have stuff on the passenger visor and have to pull it down to use it and have seen rhings attached to the screen arround the rear view mirror as well as other items on the screen, allthough the are traffic cars generally with 2 sets of eyes at work.

I cant help but comment on "they should lead by example" for the use of lights, parking, double yellows, the list goes on.

But I do have major respect for them and the job they do, just not when they break the rules.  especially when I see them going for world record air time results over sleeping policemen, just for fun when they think no one is looking. (wreckless drivng if they caught me doing it)

[Mr Skrunts]

The way i myself interpret the law is that shorter wiper blades will shrink the all important sweep area leaving more mm's depth to apply a strip but obviously not even 1/4 depth of whole screen.

Would rather keep the standard wiper blades than fit shoter ones to miss a sun strip.  You need to move as much rain as possible when it's howling it down.

[Marks DTM Calib]

The way i myself interpret the law is that shorter wiper blades will shrink the all important sweep area leaving more mm's depth to apply a strip but obviously not even 1/4 depth of whole screen. I am thinking of just like my profile pic sunstrip (Goodyear). I also assume that one across the top of rear screen (Opel i Line in similar depth) has no major rules as such.

Yep...hence an MOT pass....dont go to small though as it will affect field of view.

I suspect you only need 20-30mm to fit a sun strip though

[Lesopc]

The way i myself interpret the law is that shorter wiper blades will shrink the all important sweep area leaving more mm's depth to apply a strip but obviously not even 1/4 depth of whole screen.

Would rather keep the standard wiper blades than fit shoter ones to miss a sun strip.  You need to move as much rain as possible when it's howling it down.

Surely still clears water from in your face though, wouldn't think that makes a great deal of difference, being shorter???