POLICE are investigating after a motorist tweeted a picture of her filthy windscreen with the words: “Had to drive home like this.”
Hope Alexander’s tweet, which showed dazzling sunshine through a dirt-streaked windscreen, revealed she had kept driving after running out of screenwash.
But the post backfired after it was spotted by a road safety campaigner and drawn to the attention of Police Scotland’s road traffic department.
Hope, an 18-year-old student from Kilmarnock, tweeted: “NEVER again am I driving without screen wash. Had to drive home from Glasgow like this”.
The 18 year-olds post was followed by two laughing emoji faces.
The accompanying pictures, which appear to have been taken from behind the wheel, show low winter sun adding to the very limited visibility.
Another photo appears to show engine revs on the dashboards, suggesting the car is in motion on what seems to be a dual carriageway.
The tweet was spotted by campaign group Scotland’s Worst Drivers who themselves tweeted it at Police Scotland, and another road safety group called Brake.
They added: “Please don’t ever use your phone again to take photos while driving either.”
A spokesman for the AA criticised the “irresponsible” motorist, saying the photo was “extraordinary”.
The spokesman said: “First of all it’s against the law to drive without screenwash, you would be immediately pulled over for that. An MOT centre could fail you for that.
“And the fact that she appears to be using a hand held device to take the photograph is incredibly dangerous and distracting.
“We have just launched a campaign today to tackle drivers who use their phones behind the wheel.”
“It’s such a stupid and irresponsible thing to do in the first place, but to then post it on social media with a laughing face [emoji].
“It’s just extraordinary. If the car infront were also blinded by the sun and braked suddenly she might end up going in to the back of the car infront.
“The damage she could cause someone could be terrible and she would have to live with that.
“We just can’t understand why you wouldn’t pull in and top up you screenwash.”
The AA added that the driver would likely lose her licence with the multiple driving offences she appears to be committing.
He continued: “It’s a ‘double bubble’, she’s committing multiple offences, using a hand held device and the dirty windscreen. She could actually be convicted of dangerous driving.
“She’s clearly doing around 60-70mph as you can see from the high revs on the dash and the fact she appears to be on a dual carriageway.”
Mike Bristow, spokesman for Brake, said: “Any unnecessary distraction whist driving, is cause for concern.
“Driver distraction is thought to be one of the biggest contributory factors in devastating serious crashes on our roads.
“That’s why all drivers need to keep their minds completely focused on the road at all times and not attempt to multi-task – any distraction could be fatal.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said the matter had passed over to road policing officers to look at.
