1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 
Windscreen wipers and washers
Page 94
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE PRESENT SITUATION is that unless an adequate view to the front can be obtained by opening the windscreen or by some other means, all motor vehicles must be fitted with one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers and these must be maintained in good and efficient working order. Washers are not obligatory.
The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1968 introduced more stringent regulations concerning this subject but these regulations do not come into force for existing vehicles until October 1, 1972, and for new vehicles until October 1, 1969.
This new law requires that the windscreen wipers shall be capable of clearing the windscreen so that the driver has an adequate view of the road in front of the near and offsides of the vehicle as well as a view directly in front of the vehicle. In addition, windscreen washers must be fitted and these must be capable, in conjunction with the wipers, of clearing the area of the windscreen swept by the wipers of mud or other similar deposits. Win.dscreen washers will not be required on land tractors, vehicles incapable of exceeding 20 mph on the level under their own power or on stage carriages.
It is obvious that to obtain a view to the front nearside, a wiper must be fitted to the nearside of the windscreen, so at least two wipers will be necessary with washers to match.
On a recent report of a test of a vehicle by CM it was noticeable that triple wipers were fitted. One wonders if this will be the future trend in view of the legislation under discussion.
Regulation 79 of the C and U Regulations requires that every windscreen wiper, required by the Regulations to be fitted, must be maintained in good and efficient working order and properly adjusted. There is no stipulation that this is necessary only when it is raining. On a dry day, with the windscreen perfectly clean so that it does not obscure the driver's vision, the offence is just as complete as if it was pelting with rain and the driver had great difficulty in seeing the road ahead.