Windscreen washers at traffic lights

If you’ve ever been startled by a squeegee-wielding windscreen washer at traffic lights, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that what they’re doing is not only unsafe but also unlawful.

What may surprise you is the fact that it can be unlawful for both parties involved.

If you pay someone on the road to wash your windscreen, you are actually breaking the law and could be up for a fine if caught, as could the person washing your windscreen.

The Road Traffic Code 2000 (WA) states that a driver or passenger in a vehicle is not permitted to buy ‘an article or any service from a person who is on a carriageway’.

Windscreen washers, who put themselves in danger and create a hazard on our roads, should be discouraged, and the best way to do this is to refuse the service and not pay for it - even if someone goes ahead and washes your vehicle’s windscreen without your consent.

While it is important to keep your windscreen clean to maintain a clear view of the road, having it done while you are on the road is not the right time or place.