IT IS a freezing cold January morning.
Standing on a frosty verge alongside the A164 near Swanland, two police officers are scanning the oncoming traffic.
As part of the Humberside Police's annual winter driving campaign, they are looking out for cars that are not safe to be on the road in cold conditions.
"We cannot stress enough the importance of people doing safety checks on their cars and, especially during the freezing temperatures, making sure ice is cleared from front, back and even side windows," says PC Simon Carlisle, casualty reduction officer for Hull and the East Riding.
"It is not so much about prosecuting as pulling people over and giving them a bit of advice.
"What we frequently find is people are not taking that extra couple of minutes to scrape the ice off cars before they leave on their journeys. This could prove fatal.
"It is not just about seeing other cars, it is pedestrians and cyclists."
Within minutes, his statement is proven to be true as they stop a car with a "dangerous" amount of ice on the windscreen.
The man had poured warm water over his car seconds before leaving for his commute to work.
The driver's side of the windscreen and both front side windows remain covered in slowly-melting ice.
The driver, 19, tells the officers he had been running late for work.
"I totally understand why I was pulled over by the police," he says.
"I do usually clear ice from my car more thoroughly but I was in a rush for work. That is no excuse though. I should have done it properly and the police pulling me over has given me a bit of a scare.
"It is fair to say I have learned my lesson.
"My advice to others would be to make sure, 100 per cent, that every window is clear from ice – as well as the normal checks such as tyres and screenwash."
The man is made to fully de-ice his car before continuing on his drive to work.
Another driver is also stopped for having ice which has failed to clear on the rear windscreen.
When PC Carlisle and his colleague PC Marcus Daley check the vehicle, they find the heater is on and the ice is starting to melt.
Both drivers are given a warning and sent on their way with some words of advice.
PC Daley says the teenager seemed to learn his lesson from being stopped.
"We decided not to prosecute the man because he understood immediately that there was a problem and he admitted he was in the wrong," he says.
"He seemed genuinely upset at being pulled over and I don't think he will forget to clear the ice from his car the next time."
During last year's campaign, dozens of motorists were found to be unprepared for winter. Common problems included tyres that had the wrong pressure levels, a lack of screenwash and broken lights.
This year, officers will be spending 100 extra hours carrying out random vehicle checks across Hull and the East Riding.
Drivers whose cars have problems will be issued with vehicle defect forms, giving them two weeks to repair the fault. Others could be banned from the roads, fined or prosecuted.
Although only a handful of checks have been carried out so far, officers say there have been fewer motorists breaking the law.
"Although we are only slightly into the new year, the early indication is an improvement on last year," says PC Carlisle.
"But there are undoubtedly still motorists out there who think throwing a bit of warm water on a frozen windscreen is enough. We are out on the streets to show them it isn't."
Advice to drivers DRIVERS are advised to carry out the following checks before heading on their journey: - Is there enough water to clear the windscreen? - During winter months, there should be an equal measure of screen wash fluid and water - Are the tyres inflated sufficiently? - The tread should be 1.6mm. - Are front and rear lights working? - Is there enough water in the water tank in case of a breakdown? - Is there enough oil in the car? - Is all ice and snow cleared from front, rear and side windows? Visit www.humbersidepolice.co.uk for further tips from the region's traffic officers.