There is nothing worse than coming home from a long day and finding a massive bill waiting for you at home.
Car leasing specialists Rivervale Leasing have uncovered six surprising driving laws and drivers can easily break.
There are so many rules of the road and even the slightest deviation from them and leave you will a massive fine.
Worst of all, if you are ever caught making all the below mistakes in your vehicle, you could be fined a staggering £11,600.
Understanding what the Highway Code says is essential to knowing how to avoid them. Here are six driving laws that can land you a huge fine.
Honking your horn - £30 fine
The horn of your car is only designed for alerting other drivers or warning them of your presence.
It's not to be done unnecessarily, even if you are feeling stressed or filled with road rage.
It can distract others and even shock them, leading to unintended accidents.
Rule 112 states: “The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving, and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn
- while stationary on the road
- when driving in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30pm and 7.00am
except when another road user poses a danger.”
Preparing for snow - £60 fine
In the winter months, drivers dread getting up early to heat up their car and clear off the snow and ice.
However, it is crucial to do this properly and ensure your windshield doesn’t have any obstruction.
Your field of vision needs to be totally clear otherwise you risk another fine.
Rule 229 states: “Before you set off you MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows and you MUST ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible.”
Parking on a pavement - £70 fine
When heading into London, finding a parking space can turn out to be a real ordeal.
However, you shouldn’t just dump your car on the pavement as blocking the footpath and has been illegal for over 40 years.
Rule 244 states: “You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it.
“Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.”
However, elsewhere in the UK it is not illegal to park on the pavement, if a sign permits it.
Night-time parking - £1,000 fine
Now we get to the bigger fines and these are the ones you really want to avoid.
Finding a place to park at night may seem easier, especially with less cars on the road and more spaces free.
However, finding the right place is trickier than you might think, as you can’t park on a road facing against the traffic at night.
Rule 248 in the Highway Code states: “You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.”
Unrestrained pets - £5,000 fine
You may see it often and even do it yourself if you have a pet but having your dog or other animal stick their head out the window can lead to a big fine.
This is because it can be a major distraction to other drivers and leads to one of the biggest penalties on this list.
Rule 57 in the Highway Code states: “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.
“A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
Splashing a pedestrian - £5,000 fine
This is one the street walker will like, as cars caught slashing you on the side of the road can be fined massively.
Rain is already a real challenge for drivers, but this only makes thing more challenging as they try to avoid the big puddles and other vehicles.
In the Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 3, it states: "If a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place, he is guilty of an offence."
If you’re seen doing this, you could receive 3-9 points on your licence as well.
