Driving home fro Christmas

DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS? REMEMBER THESE RULES

Anyone driving home for Christmas in the coming days, should make sure they’re not risking invalidating their insurance. According to the RAC, an estimated 31 million separate leisure journeys will be taken between now and Christmas Eve, with 4pm on Friday likely to be the beginning of the ‘peak’ travel period.

1. You should not put Christmas decorations on your car, or drive with an excessively large Christmas tree on your roof Rules 89 and 98 of the Highway Code state that you must ensure your vehicle complies with the full requirements of the Road Vehicles regulations, and you must secure your load and ensure it does not stick out dangerously. If you failed to abide by these rules – for example by decorating your car or having an excessively large, overhanging Christmas tree on your roof - and were then involved in an accident, you could be charged with ‘construction and other driving offences’, which relates to the dangerous or unsuitable use of a vehicle. This in turn could lead to 3-11 penalty points and a fine up to £2,500.

2. You should not wear fancy dress while driving (so no Santa suits or festive slippers) Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that you must ensure that your clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner. Unfortunately, as festive as it may be, a large Santa suit or some Christmassy slippers could prevent you from being able to use pedals, change gear etc. and if you caused an accident, you could be charged with ‘careless driving’. Overall, it’s best to save any dressing up for once you’re reached your destination!

3. You should not overload your vehicle or cover your back window / reduce your vision According to rule 98 of the Highway Code, you must not overload your vehicle, which means that the manufacturer’s recommended weight should not be exceeded. It would be tricky to do this in most cars – but it’s something to keep in mind if you have a lot of passengers and some very heavy gifts. It’s best to check your car doesn’t look overloaded (usually you can tell by looking at it). Most cars have their maximum load capacity weight outlined in the owner’s manual.

4. You should not listen to loud music, and children must be kept under control Rules 148 and 102 of the Highway Code advise that safe driving requires concentration, and you must avoid distractions such as loud music, as this may mask other sounds. Drivers who are carrying children in cars, vans and other goods vehicles should also ensure that they are kept under control – so that means no loud singing along to your favourite Christmas playlist if you think there is a chance it could be distracting. Again, these actions fall under ‘careless driving’ and fines up to £1,000 and penalty points (at least 3) apply.

5. You should ensure you have enough fuel before setting off, especially if driving on a busy road or motorway According to rule 97 of the Highway Code, before you set off you must ensure you have sufficient fuel or charge (if an electric car) for your journey, especially if it includes motorway driving. If it is proven that a crash came about because of this type of careless behaviour by the driver, many insurers will not pay out and you could face 3+ penalty points and a fine of at least £200.

6. You must not use your sat nav or a mobile phone while driving Rules 149 and 150 of the Highway Code state that you must exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times, and that means not using a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device which could be distracting. Drivers are advised to find a safe place to stop if necessary. The rules and penalties associated with using a mobile phone while driving have recently been updated, so drivers could now expect to receive 6 points on their licence, plus a potentially unlimited fine.

7. You must not drink and drive Christmas is a time when many will be eagerly heading off to the pub for drinks with friends and family, but rule 95 of the Highway Code advises drivers to never drink and drive as it will seriously affect judgement and abilities. In England and Wales, you must not drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 35 microgrammes/100 millilitres of breath or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligrammes/100 millilitres of blood. In Scotland the legal limits are lower, and you must not drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 22 microgrammes/100 millilitres of breath or a blood alcohol level of more than 50 milligrammes/100 millilitres of blood. Penalties for drink driving are severe, with at least 3 penalty points given and a fine of £2,500+.There is also a risk of driver disqualification.

8. You must remove snow from your roof and ensure you fully de-mist your windscreen According to rule 229 of the Highway Code, before you set off you must remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users and you must also make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are demisted thoroughly.