Drivers could face an on the spot fine of £150 if they are caught throwing litter out of their car window while driving, LeaseCar.uk has warned.
Many drivers may see this as a minor offence however, the act is classed as littering and is a criminal offence on the roads - even if the litter is biodegradable.
A lot of drivers do not realise that some seemingly innocent driving acts could actually see them disqualified in extreme cases.
The motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have compiled together a list of common things some motorists do often which could actually land them in hot water.
All of these driving acts can be seen out on UK roads daily, but more and more motorists are getting caught out by these Highway Code breaches - so it is important to be aware of them.
Smoking
Although the act of smoking whilst driving itself is not illegal, motorists who are distracted behind the wheel whilst smoking could be fined £100 for "careless or inconsiderate" driving with three points on their licence.
It is against the law, however, to smoke in the car whilst carrying passengers under the age of 18 - this ban was introduced in 2015 to protect young people from second hand smoke.
Swearing
Most motorists can admit they are guilty of a tad bit of road rage, but getting excessively angry whilst driving may be classified as disorderly conduct under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
This includes both verbal swearing and offensive hand gestures.
If you are caught being hot headed behind the wheel you could potentially see in a hefty fine of up to £1,000.
Alongside this, you could also be fined for "not being in full control of a vehicle" if you take your hands off the wheel.
This rule particularly applies to those who choose to throw aggressive gestures toward other road users.
Driving with pets
Many drivers will happily travel around with their pets in the passenger seat, footwell or in the boot - but this could land them a £5,000 fine.
Rule 57 of the Highway Code says that all animals must be suitably restrained to not distract the driver.
If your pet is moving around the vehicle, they could get in the way of the steering wheel and pedals, which could cause an accident which could result in the most severe "careless" driving fine.
If you do have an accident, a pet running loose in the car is more likely to be badly injured, as well as being a danger to everyone else in the car
So if you do have a pet, it's best if you buy it a crate or carrier that keeps your pet safely contained whilst you're in the car.
Flashing headlights at others
Flashing your lights at vehicles in an attempt to warn others about speed cameras or police up ahead, is commonly seen on UK roads every day - but this act could carry a penalty of £1,000.
This is because headlights should only be flashed to warn other cars of your presence.
So legally you should flash your headlights to indicate the intention to overtake or pass another driver, or to signal a driver who has just overtaken that they can now return to the original lane.
You can also use them to signal or insist that a leading driver speed up or change lanes to get out of the way of a faster following driver.
Rules 110 and 111 of the Highway Code outline when motorists should and shouldn't use their headlights.
Holding your mobile
Most of us are aware that it is illegal to use and touch our mobile phones whilst behind the wheel, which comes with a fine of up to £1,000 and a driving ban.
However, some drivers are unaware that the law actually extends to even holding any device which can connect to the internet, even if not actually using it.
The law still applies if a driver is stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, or using a car that has a start/stop engine when you're not moving.
The RAC says: "If your engine is running, your phone shouldn’t be in your hands".
This sometimes can cause an issue if a driver is using their phone or tablet as a satnav for their journey.
If you are doing this, you need to fix the phone to the windscreen or dashboard, so it’s in clear view while driving - but not obstructing your view - without requiring you to hold or interact with it.
