AS temperatures drop and snow hits, drivers must clear their car of snow or risk a fine.

Whether there is snow on your bonnet or on your roof if you are caught driving with snow on your care and a police officer sees it fall on the road, you can land a £60 fine and three points.

While there is no road law that specifically says it is illegal to drive with snow on your car, it cannot obstruct your vision or impact others on the road.

The fine falls under Section 229 of the Highway Code, which outlines guidelines for driving in adverse weather conditions.

It says you must be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all windows and that before you set off you must remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users.

The Highway Code says that if driving in adverse weather conditions you must, by law, be able to see out of every glass panel in your vehicle.

This is supported by the section 41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988, meaning it is a legal requirement to have a clear view of the road ahead before you set off.

Failure to do so could result in a fine - and put you and others in danger. 

This means you should also ensure your windscreen is de-iced on the outside and demisted inside.

You could face harsher penalties if snow falls from your car onto another vehicle, which police could consider as 'driving without reasonable consideration to other road users'.

England is currently under lockdown restrictions as it deals with the coronavirus pandemic, non-essential car journeys are currently banned.

However, as temperatures continue to fall and people use cars less due to restrictions, important car maintenance can fall through the net.

Drivers making essential journeys can take precautions when travelling in wintry weather - check your vehicle including oil, water and lights, pack a winter kit in case of an emergency and check traffic conditions. 

Here are some tips for driving in snow according to AA:

Be gentle on the throttle, avoiding any harsh acceleration which is likely to cause wheel spin.

Pull away in second gear, easing your foot off the clutch gently to avoid wheel spin.

To slow down, use engine braking through the gears – just touch the brake pedal lightly to show brake lights to others behind.

If you're approaching a hill, drop well back or wait until it’s clear of traffic so you won’t have to stop part way up. Keep a constant speed and try to avoid changing gear on the hill.

Use a low gear and try to avoid braking. Leave as much room as you can to the car in front.

If you drive an automatic car, check your manual to see if your car has a setting for icy conditions.

Use your headlights in heavy snow. Daytime running lights won't be enough, and there’ll be no lighting at the back of your car. You’ll need to make sure you can see ahead and cars behind you know you’re there.

Think about your current driving environment. Just because the conditions might have improved on main roads, country roads or bridges might still be hazardous due to less traffic or because they've not been gritted. When you're driving in icy conditions or snow, you should always be more cautious for at least a few days after.