Be honest, can you say for sure that you’re always a safe driver and never cut corners now and again to get to your destination quicker? Do you make sure you follow the rules every journey you make?
If your answer is yes, all we can say is don’t speak too soon. Take a read through these common driving offences you may not even realise are real, then answer again!
16 Common Driving Offences
There are particular common driving offences that we’re always reminded such as drink driving and talking on the phone and driving, we are fully aware of the severity of breaking these laws and the consequences. However, there are many smaller rules stated in The Highway Code and in traffic laws that we’re never actually taught and if we are, often take with a pinch of salt.
If you’re still intrigued by what these offences may be, you don’t have to wait any longer, keep reading to find out!
1. Flashing Headlights
If a car flashes its light at you, you automatically think it means they’re giving way to you and as drivers, we automatically do it back to say thank you, or vice versa. So this is just us being polite, right? Wrong. This is actually seen as the incorrect use of headlights and you could see yourself faced with up to a shocking £1,000 fine.
The Highway Code states that the only time it is ever acceptable to flash your lights is inform other road users that you are there or to warn them of an upcoming hazard they may not have seen. Flashing your headlights should never be used to give a message to another driver, for example, giving way to them on a busy road. Although most of us do this every day, it is actually relatively understandable why it’s a driving offence. You can never predict how another driver may take your message, even though it’s perfectly clear to you that you’re giving way, how can you guarantee that they will receive the message correctly and not misinterpret it?
We spoke to one of our trusted driving instructors in Leicester about the use of headlights:
“I honestly couldn’t count the number of pupils who automatically flash the headlights during lessons to say thank you to drivers, or to give way. They see their parents or friends do it. Many people doing it think they are being nice and helpful but in the eyes of the law and the highway code it is a driving offence. In some instances it can misinterpreted and cause more than one person, be it a pedestrian or another road user to to go on your flashing which can lead to more confusion and sometimes an accident. Certainly refrain from doing this on your driving test as it would be deemed as a serious/dangerous fault.”
Driving on the motorway is high-speed with constant lane changes, we often see drivers flash their lights out of frustration at a slow driver lane hogging or plodding along taking their time. Flashing your lights to intimidate another driver is, in addition, a driving offence. Essentially, you’re forcing the driver to lose concentration and look elsewhere from the road, causing a potential hazard.
2. Unreadable Numberplates
There are a number of different rules regarding the topic of number plates, but one, in particular, drivers are less familiar with is the topic of cleanliness. If your number plate is unreadable due to, for example, excessive dirt or snowfall, you may see yourself with a £1,000 fine. You also run the risk of failing your MOT if you take it to the garage with a debris-covered number plate.
Even if you are in a rush or are only heading out for a 2-minute journey, always double check that your number plate is clear and readable. This may seem a hassle in the Winter when you’re driving in the snow and your vehicle is covered in snow, but you must always leave extra time to clear all snow.
If your number plate is full of dirt and you’re in a rush, you can just give it a quick wipe with a wet cloth. But if you opt for a thorough clean, carefully remove your number place, scrub with a soft brush and car wash soap, then for an extra touch and give it back its shine, add a little car polish.
3. Parking At Night
So, when it comes to parking, as long as you’re not parked on yellow lines and are not blocking an entrance or junction, surely there’s nothing else you should worry about? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
Rule 248 of The Highway Code states that you must never park facing oncoming traffic when it is dark. This is because, when drivers approach your vehicles with their lights on, there is a risk that your headlights will dazzle them, plus it can often be tricky to see a vehicle until your headlights reach close enough to see the reflection of the number plate. You must never park overnight facing oncoming traffic, you must always be facing the way in which you would be going if you were driving. This also means you must never be parked on the wrong side of the road overnight, you could be fined for both. If there are no spaces nearby that meet these criteria, along with the basic rules on parking, then you must look elsewhere, even if end up parking far away.
4. Driving Too Slow
Yes, as strange as it sounds, driving too slow can be just as dangerous as driving too fast. Although there is no specific law, you can still face a penalty if you are driving too slow, authorities will put it under the ‘careless driving’ category. Police officers have every right to pull you over if they believe that you are putting others at risk due to your driving ability, especially if you are pulled over for this offence on the motorway.
Driving too slowly in high-speed roads can be dangerous mainly down to the fact that it is incredibly frustrating for other drives. Drivers will become fed up and are more likely to act erratically and attempt to overtake when it is not entirely safe.
You could also be given a minor in your driving test if the examiner believes that you are unnecessarily holding up other drivers causing potential hazards. We spoke to Andy Thompson who is part of our driveJohnson’s franchise teaching driving lessons in Ludlow about this topic.
“I remember a few years ago I had such an unfortunate event with one of my pupils who failed their test for driving too slow. They were a fantastic driver in lessons, so safe and confident but just completely panicked when it came to their test. They were so worried about failing or doing something wrong their examiner just gave up and gave them a major – I know, a little unfair, but it just shows how careful you have to be!”
5. Driving A Van More Than 60mph
We’re all guilty of getting a little frustrated at larger vehicles, such as vans and buses, who drive slower than we would usually do so. But, there is a reason behind this. It is actually illegal for vans to drive any faster than 60 mph when on a dual carriageway. The same goes for single carriageways and motorways. On single carriageways, vans cannot exceed 50 mph, and on the motorway, there is a 70 mph limit.
6. Napping In Your Vehicle After Drinking
You’d be surprised about the number of people who head to the pub on a Friday evening after work, have one too many drinks, then take a nap in their car or just decide to sleep there overnight.
This is also, in fact, seen as a driving offence and you could end up with 10 points on your licence and a massive fine. The law says that you must never be in control of a vehicle over the alcohol limit, so even sleeping in your car counts!
7. Overtaking At A Pedestrian Crossing
So this isn’t actually that common, but you would be surprised the number of drivers who obscurely think that this is acceptable. If you are coming up to a pedestrian crossing and see a driver sitting stationary to allow people to pass, you cannot overtake them. Opting to nip past a driver just as the lights are about to go green is breaking the law. You can never quite anticipate whether pedestrians are hidden in blind spots. Instead, you must stop behind any vehicles waiting at a crossing.
8. Using Phone Navigation In An Unfixed Position
Nowadays, it’s rare to see a driver using a sat nav device. Instead, most opt for the convenience of their smartphone navigation. While there is nothing wrong with using your phone GPS, you must ensure that it is in a fixed position; otherwise, you risk severe consequences. Your phone must be placed either on the dashboard or windscreen using a mobile phone holder. Failing to abide by the rules will result in similar consequences to talking on the phone and driving – a £200 fine and 6 points on your licence.
9. Parking On The Pavement
If you are visiting a friend or family member who lives on a busy estate with narrow streets, keep in mind that it is, in fact, illegal to park on the pavement – unless signs tell you otherwise. Even if you park slightly on the pavement to allow plenty of room for passing cars, you are breaking The Highway Code. It is classed as obstructing a pedestrian walkway; therefore, posing a danger to others.
10. Using Your Phone After An Accident On The Motorway
In the unfortunate event of an accident, ideally, you should only use the orange emergency telephones located at the side of the road. Unlike the other sections of The Highway Code, this is an advisory rule, which isn’t classed as an illegal offence. In using the emergency telephone instead of your mobile phone, you will be instantly connected to emergency services, who will be able to pick up your location automatically.
11. Parking On A Single Yellow Line
When approaching roads painted with single yellow lines, it is more than likely that you will spot signposts with time restrictions. These inform you of the times in which you are prohibited to park on the lines – usually between peak hours. During the stated hours, you are only allowed to stop briefly on the single yellow lines, for example, to pick up passengers. Parking here for any longer than needed may result in a fine.
12. Using Your Phone To Pay At A Drive-Thru
This is one of those ‘lightbulb moment’ driving offences – you don’t class it as illegal when you do it, but when you think into it, it does make a lot of sense. If you usually pay for your drive-thru fast food using Apple or Android pay, then unless your handbrake is on and the engine is off, you are breaking the law. It is classed as using your phone while in control of a vehicle; therefore, a dangerous distraction. If you are caught committing the offence, you might well land yourself a £1,000 fine and 6 points on your licence. Find out more about this new law on North Wales Live.
13. Letting Your Pet Out The Car After A Breakdown
In the event of a breakdown, everyone is taught that both the driver and passengers must leave the vehicle while waiting for backup. However, the law states that only in an emergency can you also allow an animal out of the car. If you let your pet run freely, then you risk them running into the road, posing a threat to both themselves and other road users.
14. Failing To Turn On Parking Lights
Rules 249 of The Highway Code includes a parking law that you may not have heard before. It states that when parked on the side of the road or in a lay-by when the speed limit is more than 30mph, you must switch on your parking lights. This ensures that any upcoming road users are informed in advance that you are stationary and have time to move around you.
15. Using Your Horn At Night
Between the hours of 11:30 pm and 7 am, it is illegal to sound your horn in a built-up area. This could be anything from your housing estate to the city centre. While it is unlikely that you will face severe consequences for failing to follow this rule, it is classed as a driving offence; therefore, not worth the risk.
16. Having An Unreadable Numberplate/Non-Compliant Number Plate
Your number plate is your vehicle’s form of identification, which means that it must always be clearly readable. If you are caught with an unreadable number plate, then you risk being fined £1,000. Not only this, but you could also fail your MOT altogether if you turn up with a number plate filled with dirt/debris/cracks on it. Many people with private plates will also adjust the number plate, for example the DVLA expect to see: N15 EAN however, someone may purchase a number plate so it appears as N1 5EAN. The later definitely looks better but in the eyes of the law, it’s an opportunity for the police to pull you up. Make sure the spacing is correct, some number plates are over the top and can appear as extreme as: N1 5EAN (Sometimes 4-5 spaces in the middle.
When purchasing private number plates you should alway have the number plate provider showing in the bottom right of the number plate too. Number plate providers have guidelines they must follow as well and that is one of them.
So, Is Your Answer Still Yes?
In the beginning, we asked whether you always drive following every law, is this still your answer? It’s something to think about!
