Leading auto accessories supplier, Simply Brands, is advising workshops and factors to encourage drivers to check their windscreen wiper blades in light of new MOT inspection manual updates. Effective from 29 November 2024, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has changed the rules for windscreen wipers, making their automatic operation a specific pass or fail criterion.
The new guideline, “Wipers must operate automatically when you switch them on,” supersedes previous, less prescriptive rules that focused on obvious damage or if the wiper was missing. This change underscores the DVLA’s increased focus on wiper effectiveness as a safety-critical component.
To help drivers understand when their wiper blades need replacing, Simply Brands suggests looking for key signs of wear:
- Streaking: The blade leaves streaks of water or debris on the windscreen.
- Chattering: The blade does not move smoothly, jumping across the glass.
- Smearing: Water or debris is smeared rather than cleared, obscuring the driver’s vision.
Simply Brands offers a competitively priced range of multi-fit flat blades and traditional conventional blades to cover the majority of the UK car parc. The multi-fit flat blades cover 98% of the car parc with 15 SKUs and eight original equipment (OE) fit adaptors, including a retro-fit option to upgrade older vehicles. All blades are supplied in environmentally friendly carton packaging that includes a QR code linking to a wiper blade finder and installation instructions.
Sam Robinson, Simply Brands’ Business Development Manager, commented, “The new changes to the MOT should prompt drivers to take their wiper blades more seriously. They’re a safety-critical component, and their condition has always been part of the MOT test.”
Simply Brands products are distributed exclusively through JRP Distribution in the UK and Ireland.