Driving in the snow is legal – but you could get pulled up over this simple mistake

Many of us are itching to get out of the house after what feels like weeks indoors.

The Status Red weather warning remains in place for Dublin, Kildare, Wexford, Wicklow and Meath until 9am Saturday morning. Motorists there are asked not to take to the roads unless absolutely necessary until after the status has been downgraded but if you are somewhere where it's safe to drive, make sure you're on the right side of the law when you do so. Driving with snow on the roof of your car could nullify your insurance and could also land you in legal trouble. This is because the snow could slide on to your windscreen or fly back onto another car if you accelerate or break suddenly. "Not clearing the snow off the roof of your car could invalidate your (insurance) policy, as it could be a potential hazard if it falls off," Martyn John of GoCompare told the Mirror. Under Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act, drivers who know of a defect that could make their vehicle "a danger to the public" could face a fine of up to €5,000 or up to three months in prison. Under this act, you also need to make sure every window on your car, as well as your license plates and your lights, are defrosted too before you take off. Check out further guidelines on driving in the snow here.