With so many driving laws in the UK it’s easy for some to slip your mind.
New rules and laws are being introduced to keep up with the changing face of the motoring industry.
Here is a list of driving laws you may not be familiar with but should know to help avoid fines and punishments:
-Unless signposted, driving over 30mph on a streetlamp lit road can attract a £100 and three penalty points. Street lighting indicates an ‘urban area’ where the default speed limit is 30mph.
-Motorists can be penalised for ‘careless driving’ if they are caught driving too slowly. Penalties for this offence can be anything from a verbal warning up to nine points on you, depending on circumstances.
–Flashing your headlights at a motorists to warn them and others about a speed trap further up the road can attract fines. A minimum fine for this offence is £30 but you can be fined up to £1,000 for being caught under the ’obstructing an officer’s duty’ road law.
-In London you can be fined £70 for parking on the pavement and there are now calls for a nationwide ban to be introduced to kerb the amount of motorists parking inconsiderately.
-If you leave your car running while it is stopped on a single yellow line line then you can land up to a £130 fine.
-Motorists who take a nap in their car while intoxicated can rack up a minimum of 10 penalty points with the potential to also receive a hefty fine.
-Using an unfixed mobile phone as a sat nav under the new mobile phone driving law can land drivers a £200 fine and up to six penalty points. New mobile phone driving laws were introduced in March last year which saw the fines double from £100 and three penalty points in a crackdown over the amount of offences.
–Eating, drinking, applying make up, changing CD etc while driving can see a motorist land between three and nine penalty points and there is also potential for a £100 fine. These acts are not illegal in their own right but if they can are deemed to be distracting a motorist, then they can be penalised.
-Allowing a passenger to cradle a baby in their arms while driving can attract a fine of £100. New child seat laws were introduced in 2017 which saw radical new guidelines for parents travelling with their children in the car.
-Allowing dirt to obscure your number plate can see you land an on the spot fine of £100. The maximum penalty for this offence is £1,000 and it can even see you fail your MOT.
-Failing to clear snow from your roof can land you a £60 fine and three penalty points. This is because snow and ice can obscure a drivers view and or fall off and obstruct the view of -other drivers.
–Paying for food using your phone at a drive-through is an offence under the new mobile phone driving laws. With the increase in popularity of Apple Pay and Android Auto many drivers may opt to pay for their meals with these services, however, doing so can attract an on the spot fine of £200 and up to six penalty points. This fine can however be increased up to £1,000 if your case goes to court.
-Driving in the fast lane when you have a trailer/caravan is extremely dangerous. Caravans can cause snaking causing a driver to lose control, especially at higher speeds. Being caught doing so also has the potential for a £2,500 fine and three penalty points.
–Hogging the middle lane of the motorway is one of the biggest bugbears of drivers. It’s an inconsiderate act that defies to Highway Code. Offenders can receive a £100 fine and three penalty points but being such a hard thing to monitor, it is unlikely a driver will be charged.
–Splashing pedestrians with puddles can land you three penalty points on your licence. It’s inconsiderate and unnecessary and falls under the category of ‘driving without due care or consideration.’ A fine for this can range from £100 up to £5,000 if your case goes to court.
-Beeping a horn for any reason than alerting traffic of your presence is not allowed. If you are caught beeping your horn in stationary traffic you can relieve a fine starting at £30 but it can increase up to £1,000.