Tuesday 31 January 2017

8 Common Things You Should Know, Which Is Completely Illegal When You Driving

driving

Every driver has to go through rigorous training before they're allowed to go solo.

Aside from actually having to learn how to physically move a car, there are countless rules you also have to memorise so you can safely operate the vehicle on the road with everyone else.

Once you know what all the road signs mean, the speeds you should be driving at on certain roads and you've passed your test, you're a bona fide driver, right?

Unless you're speeding or texting behind the wheel, there's nothing we can be doing on the roads that would get us points on our licence or fines, surely?

Well, there are several things many drivers do which are actually illegal - although they might not know it.

Law firm Slater and Gordon have listed the minor offences drivers do without even realising.

1. Splashing pedestrians with puddles

Living in the UK, you're never too far away from a puddle.

And anyone who's ever stood at a bus stop on a rainy day will have felt the wrath of lorry drivers when an icy cold wave of water comes in your direction.

But what you probably don't realise is it's actually against the law to splash pedestrians by driving through puddles at speed.

You can get a fixed penalty notice for doing so. In a few cases people have been handed tickets for public order offences after deliberately driving through puddles to target pedestrians.

2. Taking prescription drugs before driving

In March 2015 new road-side drug screening devices were introduced, along with new driving limits for a string of prescription drugs .

Over-the-counter drugs including codeine, for example, could see you banned from driving. While many other drugs could potentially cause problems because they induce drowsiness.

3. Tooting your horn in anger

We're all taught that the horn should be used to warn other drivers of your presence - particularly when driving over bridges or around corners where visibility from the other direction is limited.

But if you beep in a moment of anger or frustration with another road user, you're breaking the law.

You also can’t sound your horn between 11.30pm and 7am unless in an emergency situation.

4. Getting out of the car on a single yellow line

You're taught that you can't park on single yellow lines, so naturally you'd expect that the driver shouldn't really get out of the vehicle.

Single yellows are fine for dropping people off or picking people up, but the driver should not get out of the vehicle at any time.

5. Smoking

Since October 2015 it has been illegal to smoke in your car if any passenger is under the age of 18.

As the driver, you are also responsible for other passengers who choose to smoke if there is a child in the vehicle.

6. Taking your pet out of the car if you break down

Break down on a motorway and you're told you should exit the vehicle and get to a safe place .

What you're not allowed to do is take your pet out of the car - sorry, but they've got to stay put.

7. Having a dirty number plate

Registration plates must be visible at all times when a car is on the road.

If you've been driving down country lanes and splashing mud everywhere and yours is too dirty to read one or more of the numbers/letters on your plate, then you're breaking the law.

8. Eating

Although eating itself is not an offence, eating a snack behind the wheel could cause you to be driving without due care and attention - and could get you into serious trouble.

Think twice before you grab an apple on the way out of the door.


SHARE THIS

Author:

Etiam at libero iaculis, mollis justo non, blandit augue. Vestibulum sit amet sodales est, a lacinia ex. Suspendisse vel enim sagittis, volutpat sem eget, condimentum sem.

0 comments: