I don’t suppose there are many drivers, handy with a computer, who don’t use price comparison sites to seek out good deals on insurance. One of the drawbacks, however, is that the companies get your email address and may bombard you with information you don’t want. Of course, sometimes the information provided is interesting and worth looking at.
Recently I received an email from GoCompare telling me about illegal driving offences. The article, written by Melissa English, had the title, “Five things you shouldn’t do while driving”. She wrote “We all know not to drink and drive or use our mobile phones”. But what about other things you might do while driving? As Secretary of the Bolton & District Advanced Motorists, I thought that I should know what is legal and what is illegal, shouldn’t I? The article was said to be a five minute read, so I thought I’d look through it and make sure I was up to date. Will you do the same?
Melissa reported that GoCompare had carried out a survey to find out “what motorists are getting up to behind the wheel” and advised reading on to find out how these acts could affect your wallet, your licence and your car insurance.
Using your mobile phone as a satnav in an unfixed position
The research found that only 30 per cent of drivers knew this could be breaking the law. Unless your phone is fixed to the windscreen or dashboard you cannot use it as a satnav. If you do and are caught you could be fined £100 and get three penalty points on your licence.
Don’t splash pedestrians
Only 42 per cent of those surveyed knew that splashing a pedestrian in the rain is an offence. It’s illegal because it’s considered driving “without reasonable consideration for other persons”. Again, if you are caught, you could get a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Sleeping in your car while inebriated
In the survey, just 51 per cent knew that sleeping in your car while drunk, even if you were not planning to drive, is an offence.
Driving with a dirty number plate
It is illegal to have a number plate obstructed while driving and you could get a £100 on-the-spot fine or even a maximum fine of £1000.
Exiting a car on a single yellow line
I’m sure you all know that a single yellow line on the side of the road indicates that waiting and parking restrictions are in place. These will be specified on nearby signs, likely saying that you can’t park there between certain times. Even if just dropping someone off, the driver should never get out of the vehicle. Among those who took part in the survey only 18 per cent knew this was an offence.
This article is one of a series on the gocompare.com website. Another, a four minute read, has the title “Driving us round the bend: the UK’s top motoring annoyances”. The biggest motoring concern of drivers taking part in this GoCompare survey was potholes. I haven’t the space to cover the survey in detail so, if you want to find out what were the other irritations, you will have to go to their website!
. Gary Whittle