uk Transport & mobility emergencies

What to do if…
your windshield wipers are damaged or stop working in bad weather

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 26 July 2026 Last reviewed: 16 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Check your mirrors, ease off the accelerator and move smoothly towards a place of relative safety. If you are stranded in moving traffic on a motorway or other high-speed road, or there is another immediate danger and you cannot reach or leave relative safety safely, keep your seat belt and hazard warning lights on and call 999.

Do not do these things

Do not continue towards home, a garage or your destination when rain, snow or spray is obscuring your view.
Do not brake sharply, swerve or change lanes suddenly unless needed to avoid an immediate collision.
Do not lean out of a window or try to wipe the windscreen by hand while moving.
Do not keep operating a loose blade or an exposed wiper arm that may scrape the glass.
Do not use a phone while you are still driving.
Do not attempt repairs beside moving traffic.
Do not place a warning triangle on a motorway.
Do not leave the vehicle through a door exposed to traffic.

What to do now

Keep control of the vehicle. Check your mirrors, ease off the accelerator, slow down gradually and increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead.
Use headlights if visibility is seriously reduced. Keep the demister running if it helps prevent the inside of the windscreen from misting.
Signal early and move towards a place of relative safety. On a motorway or other high-speed road, try to reach a service area or the next exit. If that is not possible, move left into an emergency area or onto a hard shoulder where available. On other roads, use a parking place or lay-by if you can reach one safely.
Stop as far from moving traffic as possible. Switch on hazard warning lights if the vehicle is causing an obstruction, and keep sidelights on if it is dark or visibility is poor.
On a motorway, leave through the side furthest from traffic only when it is safe to do so. Move well away from the vehicle and traffic, behind a safety barrier where one is available. Do not return to the vehicle while waiting for help.
On a motorway or other high-speed road, if you cannot reach the left lane or another place of relative safety, or cannot get out safely, stay in the vehicle with your seat belt and hazard warning lights on. Call 999 immediately and ask for the police. Give your location using a mapping app, marker post, driver location sign or the vehicle’s SOS system if available.
Inspect the wipers only when parked somewhere safely away from traffic. Check for a torn, detached or folded blade and any obvious object trapping the mechanism. Do not force the wiper arms or touch moving parts.
Stop testing the wipers if an exposed arm touches the glass, the mechanism jams or the blades cannot clear the driver’s view. Contact a breakdown service or garage and explain whether the blade, arm or whole mechanism appears to have failed.
Do not resume driving in bad weather until the required wipers are working efficiently and the windscreen can be kept clear. If you stopped in a motorway emergency area, use the emergency telephone and follow the operator’s instructions before rejoining the carriageway.

What can wait

You do not need to identify the exact electrical or mechanical fault, compare replacement parts, choose a repairer, contact your insurer or plan the rest of the journey now. First reach a safer position and arrange help.

Important reassurance

Sudden loss of visibility can feel alarming. Slowing gradually and leaving the traffic flow is a sensible response, even when stopping causes delay or disrupts your plans.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety and stabilisation only. Diagnosis, repairs, replacement parts and later travel arrangements may require a mechanic or breakdown provider.

Important note

This is general road-safety information, not legal or mechanical advice. Conditions and vehicle systems vary, so follow instructions from the emergency services, traffic officers, recovery operators and your vehicle manufacturer.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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