With snow and ice covering much of the UK this weekend, driving is more hazardous than usual.
There are several easy mistakes that you can make in winter without realising that could see you heavily fined – so if you want to protect your bank balance this weekend, make sure you know the rules.
Keith Hawes at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has revealed people in the UK should be aware of a number of laws that could cost them thousands when driving in the snow, to help drivers avoid getting caught out with unforeseen costs this winter.
The first way you could be caught out by these little-known laws is by leaving snow on the roof of your car when you set out.
While many people remember to clear car windows, the roof is sometimes overlooked.
However, if the snow on your roof falls onto your window screen while driving or interrupts the path of another car, drivers could face fines for ‘using a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition’ or ‘driving without due consideration’ so be sure to spare two minutes to clear the roof before setting off.
This could see you facing a fine of £2,500.
It can be tempting when you set off to leave your engine running to defrost before you get on the road – however, this could lead to a £40 fine as the Highway Code states that ‘you must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.’
In a similar vein, it’s crucial that you take the time to fully demist all your windows.
When driving, you must have full visibility of all windows. Take the time each morning to make sure all snow and ice is removed from the windows, if not it could result in a £2,500 fine.
Leaving snow covering your number plate and lights can also be an expensive mistake. By clearing this off before you get going, you could save yourself £1,000 in fines.
Another easy miss is the depth of your tyre treads
To avoid a hefty fine of up to £10,000 (£2,500 per tyre), make sure each tyre has a tread depth of at least 1.6mm, the legal limit for cars in the UK.
However, when driving in the snow and ice, lower tread on tyres can become dangerous making it even more difficult to come to a stop. With this in mind, aim for a tyre depth of 3mm when faced with snowy conditions.
It’s also important to make sure you’re dressed properly to drive. Wearing impractical footwear behind the wheel could see you fined £5000 if they are deemed to impact your ability to control the pedals, so make sure you’re dressed appropriately.
