A fresh warning has been issued over storing hats, gloves and other items such as ice scrapers on dashboards or car floors - as the cold weather continues to sweep the United Kingdom.
After motorists finish clearing their windscreens of debris such as ice and snow, they don't always consider the best place in their cars to store their extra items. However, not putting them in a safe and secure place could land you in hot water, with fines of up to £2,500.
It's certainly worth taking the extra couple of seconds to stow away belongings in the correct fashion, so they don't have the probability of falling somewhere which could impact safe driving - such as footwells or gear sticks.
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The Liverpool Echo reports that this would be considered dangerous driving, as you might not be able to safely use the pedals or see clearly due to obstruction or reflection. A recent study by the car insurance team at Comparethemarket revealed that drivers can be fined up to £2,500 for not keeping their dashboards and footwells clear of items like beanies, gloves and ice scrapers.
While there is no specific law that says your car must be kept clean at all times, the Highway Code states that a driver’s vision must be free from obstruction, and drivers can be fined up to £2,500, receive three penalty points or even lose their licence for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition in relation to visibility.
This could include having smears or marks on the inside of your windscreen, rubbish piling up inside that could become wedged under the pedals, or any clutter on dashboards that could obscure visibility of the road. Julie Daniels from the car insurance team at Comparethemarket said: "It’s important to regularly clean the inside of your vehicle and remove any potential dangers or distractions that could impact the ability to drive safely.
"Under the Highway Code, failing to do this would be considered dangerous driving, and could land drivers with an unlimited fine or three to eleven penalty points on their license. The fact that 47 per cent of Brits are unaware they could be fined or given penalty points for a dirty interior windscreen is concerning and the importance of removing hazards and distractions from the inside of a vehicle should be taken seriously, to ensure the safety of themselves, and other road users.”
Actions that come under dangerous driving that you may be unaware of
- Items on the dashboard blocking the windscreen - Place your winter wear somewhere out of the way whilst you drive.
Items moving in the car that cause the driver to be distracted - Don't have winter supplies sliding around your car.
Messy footwells that may lead to the pedals being obstructed - make sure you properly store winter boots.
Read next:
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- Highway Code rule changes all drivers need to know to avoid fines and points on licence
- The DVLA driving licence rule that applies to all motorists over 70
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