There are many driving behaviours which we would all consider dangerous and reckless. Our favourite example of late at Flexed short term car leasing is the woman in Marlborough who was pulled over for driving whilst on her mobile phone, with a baby goat on her lap and not having a valid license!
Of course this is an extreme example, but there are other behaviours which are much more common, that the majority of drivers would frown upon. One example is not wearing a seatbelt. There are very few people who would object to the fact that there is a fine and potentially penalty points associated with such an offense if a driver is caught. This was backed up by a recent survey which was carried out by Direct Line. However, there are also some more common driver behaviours which you may be surprised to learn about which have a fine and penalty associated with them and which you may even be guilty of committing yourself.
Not indicating even if there are no other vehicles on the road!
It’s probably not quite on the philosophical scale as ‘if a tree falls in a forest with no one in it, does it make a sound?’, but if you fail to indicate when there are no other vehicles close by, does it matter? Well, according to the Highway Code it does and it could lead to a £2,500 fine, 9 penalty points or even the possibility of losing your license if you don’t. This is because it can be considered ‘driving without due care or attention’ or even ‘dangerous driving’ as you are failing to warn other drivers or pedestrians of your intentions.
Flashing another car is also another behaviour which is an offence as it can potentially cause confusion to other drivers and pedestrians. So, the next time you receive a rude hand gesture from a car that you didn’t ‘flash’ to let out, you can be safe in the knowledge that by not doing so you have managed to stay on the right side of the law!
Paying for a drive through take away with the engine running
We are all aware of the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving. For example, our reaction times whilst texting are double that even of drink drivers. What you may be less aware of is that using a mobile phone to pay for refreshments at a drive-thru is also technically considered ‘using a mobile phone whilst driving’ if the engine is running. So, the next time you use Apple Pay to pay for your Big Mac, medium fries and apple pie, make sure you turn the ignition off to avoid the possibility of getting into trouble.
Not wearing sunglasses
I know what you are thinking! ‘I didn’t know the fashion police had jurisdiction on the roads in the UK’, but in reality it’s the ‘actual’ police that you need to be aware of when it comes to summer eye wear. It’s not a legal requirement in the UK to wear sunglasses whilst driving. However, if you are caught driving dangerously because you have been dazzled by the glare of the sun, this is considered driving without due care and attention and it is your responsibility to take the necessary precautions to prevent this from happening i.e. wearing sunglasses.
The penalty relating for this offence is a standard on the spot fine of £100 and 3 penalty points, but could go up to £5,000 and even a ban if it ends up in court. For daytime driving, filter category 2 lenses which transmit between 18% and 43% of light are recommended.
Driving through a puddle
Driving through a puddle in itself isn’t considered a criminal offence (It’s a good job considering the number of pot holes currently in the roads of the UK….am I right?), but if you happen to splash a pedestrian then that’s a whole different ball game. In this case, you would be considered to be on the wrong side of the law and could be issued with a maximum fine of £5,000 (but a £100 fixed penalty notice, or FPN is more likely) and 3 penalty points. This is due to section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which considers it an offence to drive ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons’…even if it was Piers Morgan!
Honking your car horn
‘Honk if you’re horny’ car stickers seem like a thing of the past, but believe it or not, they are still widely available through most reputable online retailers. And although it isn’t a crime to have such a sticker on your car, if you respond to the instruction from another vehicle (whether you are feeling frisky or not) you could be issued with a hefty fine. This is because, according to Rule 112 of the Highway Code, a motorist should only use their vehicle horn when their car is moving and they need to warn others of their presence. You could be issued with a £30 FPN for using your car horn inappropriately, which could increase to £1,000 following a dispute that ends up in court.
Flexed specialise in offering hassle-free and cost-effective short term car leasing for 28 days or more.
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