Four Unexpected Fines That Could Cost Motorists £3,700
The car finance experts CarMoney are warning motorists to be mindful of everyday driving habits that may come with an unexpected fine. So what are the Unexpected Motoring Fines?
1. Dodgy handbrake – £2,500
To avoid causing wear and tear on the handbrake, some drivers choose to not use the handbrake when parked on a flat road. However, if the handbrake on your vehicle needs adjustment or is broken completely, this will negatively affect its roadworthiness and likely bring you a fine of £2,500. If this defect is the cause of an accident, your insurance policy may also be void, so fix issues with your handbrake for approximately £150, depending on the car model.
2. Throwing a cigarette out of a car window – £100
Ditch the flick and avoid a fine! Throwing a cigarette butt out the window – car moving or parked – is considered littering. Get caught and you’re looking at a nasty £50-£100 fixed penalty notice. While puffing away behind the wheel isn’t illegal with adult passengers, this fine aims to curb cigarette butt pollution and keep our roads clean. To avoid a littering fine altogether, best to smoke before or after your drive.
3. Having a dirty number plate – £1,000
Another unexpected motoring fine Don’t let a dirty plate land you in hot water! Especially in winter, grime from wet roads can easily build up, but here’s the shocker: an unreadable number plate can result in a whopping £1,000 fine. That’s right, the Highway Code is clear: “lights, indicators and number plates must be kept clean and clear”. So make a habit of wiping your plates down after battling dirty roads. A quick clean keeps you legal and saves you a big headache (and a lighter wallet).
4. Stopping beyond the white line at traffic lights – £100 + 3 penalty points
A simple mistake of stopping beyond the Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) could land drivers with a £100 fine plus three penalty points on their licence. The white line box indicates a reserved space for cyclists to be visible and ahead of cars and motorcycles, but many motorists creep into this box, risking a fine. To avoid this, be mindful of stopping at a red light behind the first white line and giving space to cyclists in front.
Marketing & Partnerships Manager at CarMoney Andrew Marshall says, “More and more drivers are being caught out on the roads by unexpected fines. More publicised offences, such as making phone calls whilst driving, are already deemed unacceptable in our society, but simple things, such as throwing a cigarette out of a window, are what we see on journeys every day, and often without consequence. We are reminding road users to be considerate of other road users and obey driving laws for their own safety and the safety of others whilst travelling.”
