I recently received an email from Saga that included a motoring item, “12 surprising driving laws that could catch you out”. The writer, Carlton Boyce, a freelance motoring journalist, says that we drivers think we know the rules of the road but there are a few lesser-known and more obscure laws that may not be common knowledge and so you could unintentionally break the law. As an advanced motorist I took the article to be a challenge. Was I likely to be caught out?
First, the 12 are:
- Fog Lights: Should only be used when visibility is “seriously reduced”, taken to be less than 100 metres.
- Stop junctions: Do just that: stop. If you don’t you are breaking the law and could be given three penalty points on your licence.
- Snow on your car roof: Driving with snow on your roof isn’t a specific offence, but if it slips down over your windscreen and blocks the view or slides off into the path of another vehicle you could be charged with ‘driving without due consideration’ or ‘using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition’.
- Splashing pedestrians with puddles: Under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is illegal to splash someone as it amounts to driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons’. If you’re found guilty you could receive a fine of up to £5,000 ore even nine penalty points on your licence.
- Box junctions: Only enter if your exit is clear.
- Using a mobile phone: It is illegal to make a call if you’re stationary but the engine is running. To remain within the law you must be safely parked i.e. in a genuine parking place.
- No road tax: When buying a car you must tax it before you drive it away.
- Out of date driving licence: Photocard driving licences are only valid for 10 years. Failing to update it could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
- Red traffic lights: An automatic camera will likely issue a ticket if you go through to get out of the way of a police car or ambulance with blue lights flashing!
- Leaving the engine running unattended: Even if you’re defrosting it!
- Parking facing the flow of traffic at night: You are breaking Rule 248 of the Highway Code – the fine is an average of £1,000.
- Letting your dog stick its head out of the car window: You’re breaking Rule 57 of the Highway Code. This doesn’t carry a direct penalty but you may be charged with driving without due care and attention.
Well, were you aware of these ‘unusual’ driving laws and are you likely to be caught out by any them? I don’t want to boast but I did not think that any of them were surprising. In my opinion the most contentious is point 9. It seems good manners to move forward through a red light if a police car or ambulance is behind you with its siren blaring and blue lights flashing. But Carlton is right and we have it on good authority from the police driving school that you should not. Stay where you are and let the emergency vehicle find a way through.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your views.
ED – BUS LANES
Gary Whittle