Figures published by motoring body the AA have highlighted the serious implications that can be felt as a result of individuals failing to clear their windscreens of frost and snow during the freezing winter months, with poor visibility increasing the likelihood of motorists being involved in collisions.

According to data compiled by the AA and based on the Department for Transport's road casualty statistics for 2013, last year witnessed 19 cases where individuals were killed on the UK's roads as a result of motorists unable to see clearly due to their failure to clear their windscreen properly, while 259 incidents where individuals were seriously injured took place.

Meanwhile, the AA highlighted research showing a significant proportion of drivers have been "surprised" by bike riders "coming out of nowhere", despite the fact these vulnerable road users can clearly be seen if motorists only take the time to look properly.

Overall, 93 per cent of respondents to the AA's poll said they sometimes find it hard to distinguish cyclists and motorcyclists when out on the roads, while more than half (55 per cent) admit to having been caught off guard by these vulnerable road users in the past.

Fogged or frosty windscreens and mirrors therefore only make this issue more serious, as they can considerably reduce a driver's field of vision, when awareness of the road around them is one of the most important aspects of being able to drive safely.

Indeed, AA president Edmund King commented: "Your car windscreen is not an optional extra, yet some drivers seem to treat it like one. Particularly in winter our patrols report numerous cases of drivers peering through frosted, frozen or filthy windscreens.

"Our surveys suggest some drivers find it hard to spot those on two wheels, but having an obscured windscreen can double the size of your blind spot. Drivers should regularly clean their windscreens, ensure they have adequate screen wash and make certain their side mirrors are clear too."

As part of efforts to now improve levels of awareness surrounding the need for all vehicle operators to increase their understanding of the need to think about vulnerable road users more often, the AA has distributed more than six million stickers as part of its ongoing Thinkbikes campaign, which attach to the wing mirrors and act as a reminder to drivers to always be on the lookout for vulnerable road users.

Now, with the winter fast approaching and temperatures plummeting across the country, it is imperative drivers take the time to maximise their visibility every time they take to the roads, as failure to do so can see them running the risk of a collision when this situation can easily be avoided with a little forethought and extra vigilance.

The research was carried out as part of the AA's National Road Safety Conference, which saw events recently take place in Brighton and Motor Cycle Live 2014, in Birmingham.