Motorist's 'Genius' Windshield Wiper Hack Goes Viral for the Wrong Reasons

Life hacks are supposed to be about changing the way you do something in order to maximize efficiency.

A good life hack should be logical and simple to follow. One thing it definitely shouldn't be is dangerous.

Unfortunately, one motorist does not appear to have received this memo, if the viral video of an astonishing windshield wiper shortcut is to be believed.

In a jaw-dropping clip posted to TikTok by Stephen Keeling, a U.K. driver in a dark blue hatchback car can be seen motoring down a stretch of road in wet conditions.

As the vehicle passes Keeling's camera, it becomes apparent that the car's windshield wipers have stopped working.

How do we know? Because the driver has fashioned a primitive alternative from a piece of string that is pulling the blades back and forth across his windshield.

Every time his field of vision becomes blurred by the rain, he pulls on the string and the glass is cleared.

This quick "fix" is illegal under British road rules, as well as incredibly dangerous. Not surprisingly, Keeling's clip is captioned "Someone stop the world I'm getting off"—and has been watched more than 4.1 million times on TikTok.

Keeling, a bricklayer who posts under the handle @stephenkeeling9, apparently came across the blue car while traveling to a job. His video can be viewed here.

Thousands of people have left comments on the clip, with most finding the footage relatable and even quite amusing.

Several people joked that the hack was "genius." One TikToker, porcsheturbopaul, claimed it was "innovation at its best."

Equineappaloosa said the driver was "living in 2030" while rahchyj suggested the fix was like something Mr. Bean would have come up with.

Ambersissinsx expressed sympathy, explaining that she had found herself in the same situation eight months ago after the motor controlling her wipers "gave up" and "breakdown wouldn't recover me."

Katsvantatts offered up an even more extreme example, recalling when the clutch cable broke on her car during a late-night journey with her partner.

"He drove I did gears hanging out window," she wrote.

According to U.K. road regulations, cars "must have one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers" unless they can "obtain an adequate view of the road to the front without looking through the windscreen."

That last part is unlikely to apply here, though, as the rules also state that "all wipers and washers which are required to be fitted must be properly adjusted and maintained in efficient working order."

Newsweek has reached out to Keeling for comment on his video.

This particular life hack may not be one to recommend, but plenty that actually could change your life for the better have popped up in recent months.

One man became a viral sensation in August after showing the best way to wrap yourself in a towel.

Also last month, a mom shared a genius hack for getting the most out of ketchup sachets at fast-food restaurants.