With the weather only turning wetter and colder, and the worsening cost of living crisis, looking after our cars has never been more important.
Experts have warned there are many "hidden" fines we are particularly susceptible to being hit with at this time of year. Drivers could be set back thousands of pounds by failing to look after vehicles properly.
Hayley O’Connor of Go Car Credit told the Express: “With the changing weather, priority one is to stay safe in challenging autumn driving conditions. However, we also understand that people want to avoid paying unnecessary fines.
READ MORE: Motorists warned of 'dangerous consequences' of driving in autumn
"If you fall foul of all these laws, it could cost you upwards of £21,000. As such, we’ve created some guidance on how to maintain your car this autumn, to help our customers stay safe and avoid potential fines.”
Here are some common errors motorists should avoid:
Leaving leaves on your windscreen
Autumn leaves can create a variety of hazardous driving conditions but allowing wet leaves to collect on the windscreen without clearing them could land drivers in trouble. Under Regulation 30 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, drivers are warned they must keep all glass clear of obstruction.
If leaves or autumn debris is impeding visibility drivers could be in breach of the law. The potential fine for this is £1,000.
Forgetting to put headlights on
As it starts to go dark earlier and earlier, it can be common for people to forget to put their headlights on. But with 40 percent of accidents occurring during the hours of darkness, it’s imperative that motorists have optimum visibility whilst driving in the darker autumn months.
If road users are caught driving in the dark without their headlights, they could be charged with Driving Without Due Care And Attention and "allowing your standard of driving to fall below that of a prudent motorist".
The fixed rate for penalties is a £100 fine and three points on the licence. However, if the police deem it serious enough to take to court drivers could end up with a £5,000 fine and nine points.
Driving with condensation on the windscreen
It can be tempting when drivers are in a rush to set off before the windscreen has had a chance to fully demist. However, the law states that windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision.
Regulation 30 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 says: "All glass or other transparent material fitted to a motor vehicle shall be maintained in such condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven on a road”.
Failure to wait until your windscreen has fully demisted could land drivers with a £5,000 fine.
Worn-out windscreen wipers
The varying temperatures that come with an unpredictable autumn can cause rubbers and plastics to crack. This can lead to damage to windscreen wipers which impacts their ability to clear the screen adequately.
Section 40a of The Road Traffic Act: Using a Vehicle in a Dangerous Condition Part II clarifies that drivers must operate the vehicle correctly and this includes accessories like windscreen wipers. The potential fine for breaking this law is £2,500.
Weather worn tyres
Police officers can issue charges of up to £2,500 for driving without due care and attention if the tyres are considered unsuitable for the conditions and three penalty points for each tyre that does not meet road standards.
Driving too fast for road conditions
If motorists lose control of their vehicle due to driving too quickly for the road conditions, police could issue a charge for dangerous driving. This could see motorists fined £5,000 and issued with up to nine penalty points on their driving licence.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Martin Lewis warning to prepay and direct debit energy bill payers
Lorraine Kelly shows off 'new look' with body tattoos
I'm a Celebrity's Ant and Dec report Charlene to bosses after 'breaking rules'
Travel warning for UK holidaymakers heading to Spanish islands over new laws
