Police catch motorist driving ‘Ace Ventura-style’ because of snow on windscreen

A motorist has been caught driving with their head out of the window “Ace Ventura-style” because the car’s windscreen was blocked by snow.

Merseyside Police said this is “simply not acceptable” and has reported the driver.

The force posted an image on social media platform X of a Mercedes car covered in snow, with the caption: “Just when you think you have seen it all!

“This vehicle was being driven exactly as you see it in the picture with the driver hanging out of the window Ace Ventura-style.

“We didn’t think we needed to say it, but that is simply not acceptable and the driver has been reported.”

In the 1994 film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, actor Jim Carrey’s character drives a car with his head out of the window because the windscreen was smashed.

AA president Edmund King said: “We have previously warned of dangerous ‘tank commander’ drivers who just scrape a small hole on the windscreen to peer out, but this example is a much more kamikaze approach as the driver won’t see a thing.

“It only takes 10 minutes maximum to scrape a windscreen.

“Or you can get an electric vehicle which can be preconditioned to defrost the car.”

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, drivers must have a “full view of the road and traffic ahead”.

Failing to remove snow properly from a windscreen could result in a £60 fine and three penalty points.

This week, Merseyside Police urged drivers to “take extra care” in wintry conditions.

The force posted images on X showing the aftermath of a crash between a Land Rover and a car, with both vehicles and a pedestrian barrier badly damaged.

There were “no serious injuries”, the force said.