Drivers risk a £5,000 fine for breaking little-known rules this summer

Whether you’re taking a long car trip this summer, or just making a few short journeys, it’s important you remember to follow these important rules and laws or you’ll risk a huge fine.

Check your footwear

While it’s not strictly illegal to drive barefoot, or wearing flip-flops, it’s not recommended. Flip-flops can get caught under the pedals, or could cause your foot to slip.

The official rule is that you can’t be wearing ‘unsuitable shoes’ while driving. Flip-flops are one of the most likely shoe to make you lose control while driving, which increases the risk of accident, or being charged with unsafe driving.

If flip-flops are your footwear of choice in the summer, make sure to keep a spare pair of shoes in your car, just in case you need them.

Ventilate your car

The Highway Code states that cars must be ‘well-ventilated’. This means either having your air-con on or having at least one window open. Not ventilating your car means you run the risk of becoming drowsy, which increases the likelihood of an accident.

In fact, if you do get into an accident that was caused by not ventilating your car properly, you could be fined £5,000 for careless driving.

Check your music volume

You could also receive a £5,000 fine for playing your music too loudly.

When driving, it’s important that you’re able to hear what’s going on around you. You’ll need to be able to hear the noise of other road users and, most importantly, the sound of any emergency vehicles around you.

Failing to give way to an emergency vehicle could get you fined and even arrested, so make sure your music is at a low enough volume to hear your surroundings.

Minimise your luggage

According to the Highway Code, all windows must be visible to the driver at all times. That means nothing should be obstructing your windshield, side windows, or the window at the back of the car.

If you’re going on a long trip, you might be tempted to pile your luggage haphazardly in the boot, but if you can’t see out the back window, you could be facing a £50 fine and three points on your licence.

Sleeping off alcohol

While it’s obviously illegal to operate a car while under the influence, it’s also illegal to be ‘in control’ of a vehicle while you’re intoxicated. That means, if you’ve been drinking, you shouldn’t be left in the vehicle alone.

Being ‘in control’ of a vehicle if you’re over the legal limit could see you hit with an unlimited fine, and ten points on your licence. So, if you’ve decided to sleep it off instead of driving home, don’t sleep in your car.

If you want to know more about the rules of the road, check out these new driving laws.