When it's raining on my car's windshield I can see reasonably well through the drops. If I turn on the windshield wipers though, it just smears the water around and makes it harder to see. So I usually drive in the rain without turning on my windshield wipers. Am I breaking the law?
2007-01-07 11:42:14 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
I know in California, it is the law that you have working windshield wipers. I believe the law to require windshield wipers though is state dependent, so I wouldn't know if you were breaking the law unless I knew the laws of your specific state.
California's specific vehicle code found here:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26706.htm
(Again this is a state dependent law)
2007-01-07 11:50:59 · answer #1 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
All US states require working windshield wipers. Not having them on could constitute negligent driving, but only in the event of an accident - proving it would be difficult.
By the way, most states are now requiring that the driver turn on their headlights if their wipers are on.
2007-01-07 14:56:12 · answer #2 · answered by Rickydotcom 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not only are you breaking the law you are being foolish. If you are in an accident in the rain, you will be charged. If you can only see reasonably well, you can't see. If you can see better with no wipers than with, you have old worn-out wipers on your car, which is also against the law. For ten bucks or so, you can see again, fool. Don't they teach you anything basic in driver's ed? I'll bet you think as long as your tires hold air and you haven't slid off the road yet, they are still good even if they are bald, too.
2007-01-07 13:44:42 · answer #3 · answered by Fred C 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Get some new wiper blades.
Driving through rain without using wipers is against the law in some states, and in some country.
2007-01-07 13:04:18 · answer #4 · answered by Sentrist Starleaf 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If your wipers are smearing the rain over the windshield, you need new wipers. You should replace them once a year. Most, if not all, states have a law the prohibits operating a motor vehicle with any substance on the windshield that obstructs the driver's view. And most, if not all, states require motor vehicles with windshields to have operational wipers.
2007-01-07 14:51:33 · answer #5 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What's reasonable to you may not be to me, especially if you hit me. Working wipers are mandatory. Key word here is "working"!
Wipers are the easiest and cheapest part to replace on any car.
2007-01-08 14:48:47 · answer #6 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your wiper blades are worn down and not working like they should. Try replacing them. Or as someone else said use some rainx.
2007-01-07 14:22:35 · answer #7 · answered by Bryan M 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Go to your local parts store and pickup a product called rainx. You apply it to the windshield and it beads the water, and it wipes off with no smear. It's truly amazing. Or you can get rainx windshield fluid and it does the same thing.
2007-01-07 11:53:57 · answer #8 · answered by Jake 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Or better yet, go buy some new wiper blades before you hurt somebody.
2007-01-07 12:19:23 · answer #9 · answered by TonynNC 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋
get new wipers , if your present ones smear you are negligent in maintaining your cars safety devices and will make the nice policeman very unhappy. it will not pass inspection like this
2007-01-07 13:35:14 · answer #10 · answered by sterling m 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋