Avoiding Fines!
The blog this week is about how you could potentially end up paying fines if you are found to be driving and breaking the law. These fines range from £30 to £10,000! That is truly eye-watering! What can you do to try and avoid this happening to you? Read on to find out more:
Low tread on tyres – up to £10,000 - £2500 per tyre
A Volvo or Toyota with low tread on its tyres becomes even more dangerous in snowy and icy conditions as it can already be difficult to come to a stop. We have written many blogs about how to check the tread on your tyres and all you need is a 20p! To avoid the fine, you must have the minimum legal tyre tread of 1.6mm, but a tread depth of 3mm for tyre is best. Check your tyres at various intervals and across the width using a 20p – if you cannot see the border on the coin then your tyres are fine. Also visually check for cracks and bulges in the tyre wall. If you are unsure take your car to your local independent garage for an inspection.
Careless driving - £5000
Failing to drive appropriately to the road conditions could land you with a hefty fine. Being mindful of snow and ice on the roads, the increased risk of the car skidding and of longer breaking distances will help you avoid any potential careless driving charges. Always question whether you actually need to make the journey or whether you can wait for better conditions.
Driving through puddles - £5000
Intentionally driving through puddles can land you with a hefty fine, but you are unlikely to be charged if the puddle is unavoidable and you slow down appropriately beforehand. Driving through a puddle at speed can be dangerous as there is the potential to lose control of the car, especially if there is snow and ice on the road. Not to mention what may happen to pedestrians and cyclists on the pavement. We saw an incident where two idiots in vans went through a massive puddle at speed and drenched a pedestrian and a chap on his bike was knocked off his bike from the tidal wave that engulfed him!
Driving in inappropriate footwear - £5000
The Highway Code states that drivers should ensure 'clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner'.
To avoid this fine you must make sure your footwear isn't impeding your driving. We have literally seen people get out of their cars, say, at a petrol station and not be wearing any footwear at all!
Snow on car roof - £2500
A very simple fine to avoid, by remembering to scrape off any snow before you set off. Again, we have blogged about this – it really is dangerous for the person driving behind you to have a ton of snow hit their windscreen from your car – don’t be ignorant and lazy – think of others! Clear the snow from your car before you start your journey!
Snow on car lights or number plate - £1000
Much like the snow on the car roof fine, taking 30 seconds to make sure your lights are clear, and your number plate is visible could save you £1,000. Obviously with some areas experiencing low visibility because of the dense fog being able to see where you are going and to be seen is of paramount importance.
Driving with low visibility - £1000
It can be frustrating having to scrape ice off your Volvo or Toyota windscreen in the morning, but not doing this properly or only clearing enough so you can see through a small gap could be costly. Not only is it dangerous to you not being able to see properly it is also dangerous to other road users, pedestrians, and bike users. Set aside enough time in the morning to scrape off all the ice and snow so that you have full visibility. Please do not leave your vehicle running unattended – the insurance companies will likely not pay out if you left it running and unattended. There is also another fine to be had leaving your car running see below!
Defective exterior lights - £1000
Like having snow covering your lights, defective exterior lights can be dangerous - particularly in the snow. Taking a quick look around your Volvo or Toyota after starting the engine and turning your lights on could save you £1,000. Bulbs can go at any time without warning!
Engine on while parked on a public road - £40
While this law might seem surprising and something that occurs regularly, you could be fined £40 for doing so. It can be tempting to heat your car up in the colder weather, but the Highway Code states, 'you must not leave a vehicle's engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road'.
Misuse of fog lights - £30
Fog lights should only be used when it is foggy, not when it is snowing. Though visibility is poorer when it is snowing, using fog lights could leave you with a £30 fine. Remember to turn them off when the fog has lifted. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!
Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire.
