If you have had enough of dragging ice scrapers over frozen windscreens, a new windscreen treatment called Duxback could be the answer to your winter prayers.
Developed for the airline industry, Duxback causes water to ‘bead’ on glass, improving visibility in the rain… but it also claims to prevent frost from sticking to your windscreen.
“In wintertime,” claim the manufacturers, “ice will either not stick to the glass or will be much easier to remove.”
Such a product is nothing new. Rain-X has been making raindrops fly off windscreens for 40 years. But while you can use Rain-X at home, Duxback must be professionaly applied, at a branch of Halfords.
It costs £25, whereas Halfords is selling a 500ml bottle of Rain-X 2-in-1 glass cleaner and water repellent for £5. So is it worth the extra £20?
We can’t say, because we haven’t tried it, but tests have shown that Duxback improves driving visibility by 35 percent in rainy weather. It also improves a driver’s ability to identity small objects in wet conditions by 25 percent.
We’ve used Rain-X in the past and the results have been good. Our only criticism would be that it’s not long before it needs to be re-applied.
In the case of Duxback, the treatment lasts six months, which makes the original £25 seem like better value.
Winter is here
Aaron Edwards from Halfords Autocentres said: “Cold weather can play havoc with our cars. Our research shows that motorists are taking potentially dangerous short-cuts to keep their windscreens clear.”
Indeed, a recent Halfords survey of 1,600 motorists found that 50 percent admitted to using a kettle of hot water to defrost their car. Thirty-five percent have used a bank card without realising it can scratch the glass.
Rule 229 of the Highway Code states the following under the heading of ‘Icy and snowy weather’:
Before you set off
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you MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows
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you MUST ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible
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make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are demisted thoroughly
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remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users
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check your planned route is clear of delays and that no further snowfalls or severe weather are predicted.
If you do nothing else today, check the condition of your windscreen wipers, make sure you know where your ice scraper is located, and possibly order some de-icer to put in the cupboard.
Also, check out this de-icing hack.