Having a car can incur all sorts of unexpected costs. From a surprise parking ticket to your necessary MOT checks, having a car can cost you a fair bit sometimes. Some people will opt for second-hand cars in the hopes of spending a little less upfront but getting a brand new car can sometimes pay off as it needs less work done to it. Getting the latest model might be out of your budget if you were to buy it outright, but you can actually get a lot of the swankiest models on finance. Some companies offer car finance with bad credit, so you don’t have to settle for a car you don’t really like. Once you have your car, you may think you won’t need to spend any more than what you’ve planned. However, did you know that there are lots of unexpected ways you can be fined? Keep reading to find out more so you can avoid them and save your cash!
Clothing
When the weather warms up, you’ll probably change up your wardrobe to match the heat. But, wearing a long dress or loose trousers can actually land you with pretty hefty fines when behind the wheel. If you get caught wearing clothing that could potentially hinder your driving ability, you could be instantly fined between £100 to £5,000 pounds and have at least 3 points added to your license. If you’re heading to the beach, maybe bring your summer clothes in a separate bag so you can change into them and avoid ruining your summer.
Footwear
As well as sensible clothing, your shoes have to be suitable for driving. During the summer, you might think it’s okay to keep your feet cool and wear flip-flops. However, just by wearing this summertime shoe, you could receive a £100 fine and 3 points on your license on the spot. Similarly, if you were to wear slippers on your morning school run or have on chunky heeled boots for your night out, you’ll still receive the same penalty. When driving, your footwear should be sensible and not inhibit your driving ability. All of these could possibly cause difficulties while driving and could cause an accident. Make sure you wear appropriate shoes while driving and bring any pairs that aren’t suitable with you so you can pop them on when you arrive at your destination.
Dirty Number Plate
Your number plate is essential, and you probably know that driving without one is against the law. However, if you have your plate on your car but it’s unreadable due to dirt, then you could be fined up to £1,000. Your number plate needs to be visible at all times and easily readable, so if you want to avoid this large fine, make sure you keep it clean.
Tyre Tread Depth
One driving offence that you may not be aware of is the tread depth of your tyres. The Highway Code requires your tyres to have a tread depth of 1.6mm. If your tyres are inspected and found to be below this, you could be fined £2,500 and receive 3 points on your license per tyre. If all 4 of your tyres are below the requirement, you could be facing a charge of £10,000 and 12 penalty points added to your license.
Pedestrian Splashing
Rainy days can make driving a pain and trying to avoid massive puddles can be a challenge. You probably do your best to avoid splashing pedestrians too, but it can’t always be avoided. However, if you do splash a pedestrian, even if it’s accidental, you could be looking at a £100 fine and 3 points added to your license. (advvisioncenters) In extreme cases, people have been known to face fines of up to £2,500 and a driving ban. Splashing pedestrians doesn’t comply with the Highway Code as it shows that you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings while driving. To avoid these easily done offences, make sure you take extra care when driving near puddles!
Music
Everyone loves to listen to their favourite tunes while driving, but you could end up paying out £100 and have 3 points whacked onto your license if it’s too loud. Music is cited as a distraction while driving, and in worst-case scenarios, you could be fined £5,000 and be disqualified from driving. Although you can listen to music while driving, you need to be sensible about it and ensure that you aren’t distracted.
Window Visibility
You might be used to keeping a couple of items on your parcel shelf to help keep your car organised. But you could end up with a £1,000 fine and at least 3 penalty points on your license. Even something as simple as not clearing your windows of ice or mud can land you with the fines too. Car windows are designed so you can see your entire surroundings and drive safely. Any obstruction could have the potential to cause accidents and problems with your driving. Try not to leave things on your parcel shelf and keep your windows clean so you can make sure to avoid these costly fines.
Keep Calm
No matter how calm a driver you are, there will be a time when someone really pushes your buttons. However, road rage is actually classified as a driving offence and could leave you even angrier when hit with a £1,000 fine and points added to your license. If you have a tough day and end up taking it out on another motorist, don’t be surprised if you end up having an even worse day if you’re caught hurling abusive language. It can be hard to stay calm, as a natural reaction to someone causing problems on the road is to yell and curse. Although it’s difficult,Always try your best to stay cool and focus on your own driving.
Although these fines might be unexpected, they are valid and it’s easy to see why they’re enforced. All of them are put in place to ensure that you’re driving sensibly and not causing any possible dangers to others on the road.
