The UK weather has entered a dire period of heavy rainfall, which is expected to continue for the next 10 days at least. Alongside the misery of grey dreary skies, Brits have one more rain-related risk to worry about – fines for incorrect driving in the rain.
According to a motoring expert at ChooseMyCar.com, the UK’s leading car marketplace, there are various fines that can be served to UK drivers during a rainy period. This includes: splashing pedestrians when driving through a puddle, driving too fast for the conditions, or having low-quality tyres or windscreen wipers – some of which could lead to a fine of up to £10,000.
Heavy rainfall leads to puddles in the road, which can be tricky to avoid. However, driving through them at high speeds risks splashing pedestrians, and if you do, it can result in a £5,000 fee, should the case be taken to court. Other offences, such as driving too fast, or even too slow, fall under careless driving, according to section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and can also land you a fine.
Nick Zapolski, motoring expert and founder of ChooseMyCar.com, says that while some of these fines may seem unreasonable, the idea behind it is to protect drivers and pedestrians as wet roads make for more dangerous driving conditions.
“The weather is currently absolutely horrendous in many parts of the UK, and appears to show no signs of slowing down. The problem is, most of us can’t avoid driving, which means we have to be savvy about how to drive safely in the rain.
“Heavy downpours cause our roads to be soaked and slippery, which not only is a problem for drivers, who will have less control of their cars, but pedestrians, too, who happen to be standing near large puddles. For this reason, it’s vital that we take extra measures to ensure a safe journey for everyone this week. This means adjusting your speed, as well as checking your car is in a good enough condition for you to use.
“Careless driving in wet weather can pose a genuine danger to you and those around you, so it’s not a surprise that there are offences that could land you such a hefty fine. Though, if you want to avoid such damning costs, be extra careful while behind the wheel – or don’t drive if you feel it’s too unsafe.”
These offences are what ChooseMyCar.com warns could land you in hot water with the law:
Splashing pedestrians
Rainfall is to be expected for at least another week, and this will likely pave the way for many puddles on our roads. And while these can be tricky to avoid while driving, it’s still an offence for you to splash pedestrians when driving through one – even if it’s an accident. This offence falls under section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which deals with careless driving, and if you’re found to have done this, you could face a fine of up to £5,000, as well as being taken to court. To drive through a puddle safely, slow down and assess its depth, before driving through it slowly on a low gear.
Not adjusting your speed
You will have less control of your car during heavy rain, so it’s vital that you adjust your speed. It’s recommended that you keep at least a four-second gap between you and the car in front of you (double the Highway Code recommendation compared to dry roads) when it’s raining, as the slippery roads make it harder to brake or slow down in good time. If you’re involved in a crash and found to have lost control of your car because you were driving too fast, you may be issued a fine of up to £5,000, as well as up to nine points on your licence.
Incorrect tyres
It’s not just your speed that will help increase control of your car in this weather, you must also make sure your tyres are able to withstand wet roads. This includes making sure they’re able to properly disperse water, to ensure that they don’t lose contact with the road’s surface (known as aquaplaning) and cause your car to spin out. If you’re found to be driving in wet conditions with tyres that are deemed unsuitable, you could be fined up to £10,000 (£2,500 for each tyre).
Driving too slow
It’s also dangerous if you drive too slowly – even in conditions like rain where you need to lower your speed. Slow driving can risk drivers behind you attempting dangerous manoeuvres in order to overtake you, which can have dangerous consequences if done on wet, slippy roads. Unnecessarily dangerous driving is considered to be careless or inconsiderate in the eyes of the law, and, if you’re found to be driving significantly under the speed limit, you could receive three points and a £100 fine.
Faulty windscreen wipers
You’ll need to make sure you can still clearly see when you’re driving, so, understandably, it’s vital that your wipers are in a good enough condition to properly clean your windscreen of excess rain, to help avoid potentially dangerous situations. The Department for Transport states that all windscreen wipers must be properly adjusted and maintained in efficient working order, so, if they’re found to be faulty, you may be handed three points and a £2,500 fine. If the rubber of your wipers haven’t been changed for over a year, or since you’ve bought your car, it’s best to check to see if it needs replacing.
Not using appropriate lights
Heavy rainfall can reduce visibility while on the road, so it’s an absolute must that you’re visible to other drivers. The Highway Code states that you need to use headlights when visibility is reduced, usually for when you can’t see more than 100 metres in front of you. Dipped headlights are the most appropriate to use, as it means other drivers can see you without being blinded by your car lights. If you’re seen not using the right lights when driving in heavy rain, this could land you an on-the-spot fine of £50.
Stephen
