10 driving laws you may have broken without realising
Whether you’re nipping to the shops or travelling further afield, it’s easy to fall into bad driving habits. In fact, you might be breaking some rules of the road without even realising it.
Beeping the car horn
Tempted to beep your horn in a traffic jam? Use it to get a pedestrian’s attention when stationary? You might need to have a rethink. Beeping your car horn for any other reason than alerting traffic of your presence on the road could lead to a £30 fine.
Flashing your headlights
You may think that warning other drivers of an oncoming speed trap is just being considerate, yet the law says otherwise. It’s considered dangerous practice, and you could face a fine of up to £1,000 if caught.
Driving too slowly
Despite there being no minimum speed limit on the majority of UK roads, you can still be fined for driving too slowly. It can be a hazard to other road users. If pulled over, you could get a verbal warning or face a fine of up to £5,000 and nine penalty points on your licence.
Eating at the wheel
If you’re in a hurry and feeling hungry, you may be tempted to eat whilst driving. However, this could cost you 3-9 penalty points and a fine of up to £100. Although eating whilst driving isn’t illegal, it can be classed as careless driving if your attention isn’t solely on the road.
Splashing pedestrians
Sometimes it’s hard to avoid puddles in the road… especially in the wet British weather. Yet if you are caught splashing a pedestrian with a puddle it could result in three points on your licence.
Using your mobile phone as a sat nav
Penalties for using your phone whilst driving have been extended to the use of mobiles as sat navs. It’s not illegal to use navigation apps. However, you could be given a £200 fine and up to six penalty points if you touch the handset while driving. To avoid this penalty, make sure your mobile phone is fixed to your dashboard and ensure your route is programmed before you set off.
Swearing or making rude hand gestures to other road users
When frustrated or annoyed behind the wheel, it’s easy to lose your cool. Taking your frustration out on other drivers is classed as not being in full control of a vehicle. It can lead to a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points.
Forgetting to put headlights on when it’s dark
You must always use your headlights when it’s dark (the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise). Headlights make sure you can clearly see where you are going and are visible to others on the road. If you forget to switch your lights on, you could face a fine of at least £50.
Making profit from giving someone a lift
There is nothing wrong with helping a friend if they’re stranded or need a lift – they can even chip in for petrol. However, if you profit as an unofficial taxi driver without the right documents to hand, you could face a hefty penalty and points on your licence.
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore Swinton cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.