Windscreens, wipers and washers:

This covers windscreens, wipers and washers. The tester will need to be satisfied that an adequate view exists to the front, left and right from the drivers seat.  The wipers need not be the original size providing the swept section satisfies the view to front, nearside and offside. The washers need only supply sufficient fluid to enable the view to front requirement to be satisfied.  It follows then that all the washer jets need not be working providing those that are, do the job.

Obstructions forward of the windscreen, such as a supercharger intake stack or bonnet mounted spare wheels, are not included in view to the front. Items inside the car e.g things hanging from the interior mirror or dashboard mounted clocks etc must not impede the view through the swept area of the screen. Additional rear view mirrors (and of course the rear view mirror itself) are however acceptable.

Additional opaque films, whether fitted to the inside or outside of the screen that encroach into the swept area by more than 40mm or into zone "A" by more than 10mm are not acceptable and should fail.

Opaque edging on certain vehicles as part of their original design, usually at the lower edge of the screen, is not regarded as part of the windscreen and therefore not testable.

Official stickers e.g licences, disabled badges, Police enforcement stickers, may intrude into the swept area of the screen. If these "official" stickers have been put in a silly position that seriously restricts the view to front then they will fail. Other stickers etc may encroach for 10mm in zone "A" and 40mm in the remainder of the swept area.

The sunvisor on the drivers side must be able to be stowed in the "off screen" position. If it doesn't then it must not obstruct the view through the swept area of the windscreen.

Windscreens which open do not need wipers or washers but must meet the condition requirements for the glazed area.

Conventional windscreens are divided into two areas:

1. Zone "A" which is 290mm wide, centered on the steering wheel for the depth of the area swept by the wipers.

2. The remainder of the swept area, which usually includes parts of the screen each side of zone "A".

Any damage in zone "A" must be contained within a 10mm circle. Damage in the remainder of the swept area must be contained within a 40mm circle.

Even if the damage cannot be seen from the drivers seat, if its in the swept area and its size exceeds the above criteria, it will fail.