Guidance

View to the front and windscreen obscuration

Published 1 May 2010

© Crown copyright 2010

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/stickers-or-other-items-in-front-and-rear-windscreens/view-to-the-front-and-windscreen-obscuration

General requirements

Regulation 30 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078 as amended) requires that:

(1) Every motor vehicle shall be so designed and constructed that the driver thereof while controlling the vehicle can at all times have a full view of the road and traffic ahead of the motor vehicle.
(2) Instead of complying with the requirement of paragraph (1) a vehicle may comply with Community Directive 77/649, 81/643, 88/366, 90/630 or, in the case of an agricultural motor vehicle, 79/1073.
(3) All glass or other transparent material fitted to a motor vehicle shall be maintained in such condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven on a road.

In practice, the annual test will check that items placed in or stuck to the windscreen or surface damage, cracks or discolouration in the windscreen do not seriously obscure the vision of the driver. In order to better define what maybe permissible the windscreen is divided into zones:

  • Zone A is a vertical area 290mm wide, centred on the steering wheel and contained within the swept area of the windscreen (this area is 350mm wide on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes);
  • Zone B is the remainder of the swept area of the windscreen

For simplicity, surface damage, cracks or discolouration, are simply referred to as damage.

In Zone A, a single damaged area shall be contained within a 10mm diameter circle. A combination of minor damage areas shall not seriously restrict the drivers view. Windscreen stickers, or other obstructions, shall not encroach more than 10mm.

In Zone B, a single damaged area shall be contained within a 40mm diameter circle. Windscreen stickers, or other obstructions, shall not encroach more than 40mm.

Windscreen repairs shall be assessed the same as unrepaired damage and shall not restrict the driver’s vision.

Cracks passing through the swept area of the windscreen and reaching two points at the edge shall be deemed to render the windscreen insecure.

Items placed in, or stuck to, the windscreen could be stickers, pennants, satellite navigation monitors or decorations.

Original vehicle design features and drivers aids, such as sun visors, are allowed.

Vehicles that do not comply with the above could be construed to be in contravention of the legislation.

Additionally, Regulation 100 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078 as amended) requires:

  • a motor vehicle, and all its parts and accessories;
  • the number of passengers carried, and the manner in which any passengers are carried in or on a vehicle; and
  • the weight, distribution, packing and adjustment of the load of a vehicle

to be at all times such that no danger is caused, or is likely to be caused, to any person in or on a vehicle or on a road.

Further to this, Section 40a of The Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended by Section 8 of the Road Traffic Act 1991)Part II, Using a Vehicle in a Dangerous Condition, states that:

A person is guilty of an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another to use, a motor vehicle or trailer on the road when:

(a) the condition of the motor vehicle or trailer, or of its accessories or equipment, or
(b) the purpose for which it is used, or
(c) the number of passengers carried by it, or the manner in which they are carried, or
(d) the weight, position or distribution of its load, or the manner in which it is secured, is such that the use of the motor vehicle or trailer involves a danger of injury to any person.

Consolidated versions of national regulations can be found in Sweet and Maxwell’s ‘Encyclopaedia of road traffic law and practice (construction and use)’ which should be available at most main reference libraries.

Copies of national regulations can also be purchased from:

TSO Orders/Post Cash Department
PO Box 29
Norwich
NR3 1GN

Telephone: 0870 600 5522
Fax: 0870 600 5533
Email: customer.services@tso.co.uk
Website: www.tso.co.uk

This guidance is covered by the terms and conditions that apply to all GOV.UK content.

Back to top