Warning to all UK drivers over ‘frost-jacking’ | Tech News

Temperatures have plummeted throughout the UK this week with frost and ice hitting a quantity of areas. Many people would have woken up to the sight of a frosted car windscreen earlier than setting off to work within the morning.

While some drivers could decide to scrape the ice off themselves, others could select to go away their car working earlier than their journey so as to defrost it. However, specialists have issued a warning to vehicle house owners on cold winter mornings. They defined that leaving your car unattended to defrost may increase the risk of it being stolen.

There has been a rise in “frost-jacking” in latest instances. The trend sees a vehicle being stolen after it has been left unattended with the engine on.

Statistics show that 47% of British motorists go away their engine working unattended on frosty mornings. While it could be tempting to go away your vehicle to heat up whilst you keep inside, this presents the proper alternative for thieves to strike.

Tom Banks, Go.Compare Car Insurance skilled, mentioned: “It’s important to thoroughly de-ice your car before driving to make sure you have adequate visibility, and this process can take a while.

“But whereas it’s tempting to simply flip your car on, blast the followers, and go about your business, leaving your car unattended for any size of time is a enormous security risk.”

Tom is urging Brits not to take the risk this winter. He instead advises using a de-icer spray and a high-quality ice scraper to remove the frost.

Research shows that only 26% of drivers keep an ice scraper in their vehicle. Meanwhile, just 20% have switched to a windscreen wash that won’t freeze.

Leaving your car running while unattended on a public road is also illegal in the UK. The offence, which falls under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and enforces Rule 123 of the Highway Code, can land motorists with fines ranging from £20 to £80.

Tom said: “It solely takes moments for somebody to hop within the car seat and drive away – and opportunistic thieves shall be looking out for automobiles left unattended on frosty mornings.

“Additionally, leaving a running car unattended is a legal offence – and you could potentially face a hefty fine if you’re caught doing this. So, don’t take the risk. Instead, we recommend taking a more hands-on approach: use a good quality ice scraper, and apply de-icer to speed the process up.”

He added: “Now that the frost and snow has started to arrive, we would urge drivers to think more about winter car maintenance and have these things at-hand.”