There are a lot of driving laws that we need to be aware of in order to stay safe on the road and to avoid any serious repercussions.
While many of these will be obvious and if we do break them we’re certainly aware of the fact (such as speeding or drink-driving), there are other smaller offences that we may be guilty of doing without even really knowing it.
Here are just four common driving behaviours that could get you in trouble with the long arm of the law if you’re not careful.
Misuse of the horn
It’s not uncommon for drivers to lean on the horn out of frustration with other people on the road, but this is actually illegal and you should only use your horn aggressively or while the car isn’t in motion if you’re warning of present danger.
Splashing pedestrians
We’ve all seen it happen… drivers charge through a big puddle by the side of the road, often intentionally, to splash pedestrians walking past. This is, in fact, illegal and you could be hit with a fine of up to £5,000 or a fixed penalty if you’re caught in the act.
Tailgating
It’s quite easy to tailgate by mistake, where you drive too close to the car in front – although, of course, many people do this on the motorway on purpose if they deem you to be driving too slowly. Note that tailgating potentially counts as careless driving and you could get three points added to your licence as a result.
Playing music too loudly
We all know the joy of driving along with our favourite tunes to keep us company – but play your music too loudly and you could be breaking the law if it proves distracting and affects your driving ability. Fines of £100 and three penalty points could be yours as a result.
What to do if you’ve committed a driving offence
Don’t panic if you’ve fallen foul of the law and have to go to court for a motoring offence. Get in touch with the Caines Law team to see how we can help.