As the mornings grow darker and the weather gets worse, people are making sure their vehicles are legal to drive, and taking extra care on the roads this year.
As exciting as the festive period is, wintery temperatures make driving conditions more dangerous and can lead to unsafe vehicles and habits which could result in punishment.
To avoid any nasty fines, points on your licence (or losing it altogether), the experts at National Scrap Car have compiled a list of winter driving laws to keep in mind and habits drivers should avoid at all costs.
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Dorry Potter, car and scrappage expert at National Scrap Car, said: “The festive winter period puts everyone in a good mood and people will want to make the most of it by jumping in the car to see family and friends.
"But as temperatures start to drop, it’s important to be aware of the latest rules and laws that could find drivers in a lot of trouble.
“Being safe on the road is key to having a fun time this winter and the police will be clamping down on motorists to avoid as many accidents as possible when the roads are busy.
“The regulations are always changing for drivers so it’s important to keep up to date, the last thing anyone needs right now is to be lumped with a huge fine - if it can be avoided.”
Dirty licence plates
You may already be aware that leaving snow and ice on the windscreen or roof can result in a fine, but if you don’t clear your registration plate, you could face up to £1,000 in fines. The law states that all number plates must be visible, as if obstructed it can affect your car being picked up by police cameras.
So before you start your journey, always make sure your licence plate is clear of snow, ice, grit and dirt.
Splashing pedestrians
With temperatures dropping and the weather turning increasingly wet, it can be hard to avoid puddles on the road. However under section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is illegal to splash someone as it amounts to driving without reasonable consideration for other persons.
Those found to be diving deliberately through a puddle to splash a pedestrian will likely be hit with a £100 fine and three points if caught by the police.
If police deem you to be driving in a manner that “amounts to a clear act of incompetence, selfishness, impatience, and aggressiveness” then the maximum punishment of a £5,000 fine could be issued.
Driving with fogged-up or frosted windows
All windows need to be clear and able to see out of at all times in bad conditions. Failure to comply with this could again land you in trouble with the law. This is supported by section 41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988, meaning it is a legal requirement to have a clear view of the road ahead before you set off.
Make sure your windscreen as well as side and back windows are de-iced on the outside and thoroughly de-misted on the inside.
Leaving your engine running while defrosting the car
Although you are making your driving conditions safer by defrosting your car, according to the Road Traffic Act 1998, it is an offence to leave your engine on whilst you clear away snow and ice from outside your vehicle on a public road. It can land you an initial £20 fine so always make sure to turn your vehicle off before exiting.
In addition to this, something drivers can often forget - leaving your engine running to warm your vehicle up and help it to defrost can compromise your insurance by failing to meet insurers' 'duty of care' clause.
Broken lights
Motorists in winter will often find themselves driving to and from work in the dark. It’s therefore important that you check your lights regularly before setting off on your journey. If stopped by the police with a broken light, you could be given a penalty of £100.
It is worth noting, if you are found to be driving a vehicle in a “dangerous” condition for example your broken light has sharp edges, the fine could increase to £2,500 and three points on your licence.
Tyre treads
Winter weather can make driving difficult and dangerous with dark mornings and evenings as well as potential ice and snow. Winter tyres tend to need treads of around 3mm to be suitable for winter driving. Despite rumours that it aids grip, motorists are not recommended to let air out of their tyres, this is unsafe.
Be sure your tyres are correct and safe, as this is where the biggest fines can come in: you can be charged £2,500 per tyre meaning it's easy to rack up a £10,000 bill.
Wearing winter clothing
While not technically against the law to wear winter clothing whilst driving, Rule 97 of the highway code actually states that clothing and footwear should not prevent you from being able to use the controls. According to the Road Traffic Act, anything that obstructs a driver's vision in any way is considered a hazard and, if caught, there is a £100 fine.
This fine can rocket up to £1,000, and lead to three penalty points if the case is challenged in court and the driver loses.
Drinking and driving
For many the festive period means an increase in alcohol whilst we celebrate Christmas and New Year. Whether that be down the local pub or visiting friends and family. But drinking and driving isn’t a good mixer and it’s important to know when to stop drinking alcohol and switch to soft drinks if you plan on driving home. Or, to refrain from drinking at all.
Most people are aware that it’s illegal to drink any alcoholic beverage behind the wheel. Despite this, approximately 85,000 people are convicted of drink driving related offences every year in England and Wales alone.
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit is a serious offence and can result in 3 months imprisonment, a fine of up to £2,500 and in some cases, a life-long driving ban.
It doesn’t end there either. A conviction for drink-driving also means that your car insurance will increase significantly and if you rely on your car to travel to work, your employer will be able to see a conviction on your licence.
It's impossible to state a universal figure when it comes to alcohol limits because the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol varies from person to person, based on sex, weight and stress levels. There’s really no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit, which is why it’s safest not to drink at all if you’re driving.
Decorating your car
Whilst we all want to embrace the festive period decorating our homes, cars should be avoided as this could lead to fines and invalidate your insurance. Affecting your view out of your windscreen can lead to three points and up to £1,000 in fines. Therefore, you should leave the tinsel, baubles and ribbon at home.
In addition to blocking your windscreen, according to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, coloured lights that are not native to your vehicle should not be used and doing so can get you in trouble.
Therefore adding fairy lights or other light up decorations can be very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
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