Can you drive in the rain with broken windshield wipers?

By Ané Theron 

Do you remember when you did your pre-trip inspection before doing your yard test? We’re referring to that day you went to the Driving License Testing Centre, to obtain your driver’s license. You had to walk around your car and check that everything was in full working order, including your windscreen wipers.

Having broken windscreen wipers makes your car unroadworthy. As per Arrive Alive, our National Road Traffic Act requires the following, as per Regulation 2013:

“No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle with a windscreen which is not fitted with at least one windscreen wiper which shall be capable of operation by other than manual means and shall, when in operation, wipe the outside of the windscreen directly in front of the driver, continuously, evenly and adequately: Provided that the provisions of this regulation shall not apply to a motorcycle, a motor tricycle or a motor quadricycle without a fixed hood.”

In short: If you can’t see where you’re going, you shouldn’t be driving.

How to maintain healthy windshield wipers

There are many things that make your wiper blades deteriorate, such as dust, abrasives, road grime, bug juice, sunlight, dirt, salt water, acid rain and extreme temperatures. Over time, the rubber deteriorates, the wiper blades become less flexible and the end result is wipers that can’t do their job properly.

You may not realize your wipers aren’t working efficiently until it’s too late. Check them regularly so that you’re always assured of having the best possible visibility if a sudden downpour strikes.  Don’t forget to check the health of your car’s rear wiper either. Also check the washer pump, hoses and fluid.

Always try and park in a garage, or underneath some sort of cover to protect your wipers (and your car!) from the elements - but avoid trees. Bird droppings and/or resin is harmful. Don’t use your wiper to clear mud or soil from the windscreen either.

Regularly wipe the rubber squeegees with a soft cloth to remove grime. Should your windshield be covered in ice or frost, rather use an ice scraper instead of your wipers. A good precaution is to lift them away from the windshield when you park your car for the night.

What about water repellents?

Having some sort of water repellant applied to your windscreen serves as a backup in case your neglected wipers don’t operate as they should.

There are many products on the market such as CTHRU from Wynn’s, Kleen Shield http://www.klingshield.co.za/Rain_Repellent_Kleen_Shield , Rain-X, and Permanon that cause droplets to simply roll down so you can see more clearly. Can’t afford a store-bought repellant? Click here for a recipe to make your own.