As temperatures start to drop and we get the usual warnings of rollercoaster weather and appalling conditions garage chain Halfords Autocentres claims to have come up with a solution to iced-up windows. While warning against risky methods such pouring boiling water on a windscreen or using a credit card to scrape through the ice, the accessories and parts chain has announced a service which it claims will ease life for drivers. Predictably, it says that the £25 Duxback treatment helps stop ice forming, makes it easier to remove if it does form and reduces the use of windscreen wipers by allowing rainwater to run off the glass. The treatment works by applying a water resistant coating to a car’s windscreen, which helps repel the droplets that will freeze to a solid sheet of ice in winter temperatures. At speeds over 40mph, rain water runs straight off the glass while at slower speeds the water spots, rather than spreads. As a seller of the treatment Halfords is obviously keen to sing its praises but independent testing appears to back up the claims. Germany’s TÜV Thüringen, which tests cars and accessories for safety, found that it improves driving visibility by 35 per cent in rainy weather. Aaron Edwards from Halfords Autocentres commented: ““Cold weather can play havoc with our cars. Our research shows that motorists are taking potentially dangerous short-cuts to keep their windscreens clear. “The survey found that 50 per cent of motorists have used a kettle of hot water to defrost their car windscreen in the past, which is a risky move that could result in the screen cracking and needing replacing. And 35 per cent of drivers have admitted to using a bank card to scrape ice from their windscreen, without realising this can scratch the glass. “Drivers should take the extra time to prepare their cars for winter conditions.”