Your sunglasses can get you in a lot of trouble
More and more of us, it seems, are prepared to break the law while driving. Take, for example the latest statistics on speeding. According to the road safety charity, Brake, one in six (18%) of us admit to having driven at over 100mph during 2020 (up from 15% in 2019), and this rises to 33% when you consider just the 25 – 34 age group. These figures include one person who was caught doing 181mph on a motorway in Nottinghamshire, and another who was stopped while driving his Audi R8 at 152mph in a 30mph zone. These are all speeds you don’t reach accidentally, without realising it the offenders must have been perfectly aware that they were in violation of the law.
But, while we usually know when we’re breaking the rules of the road, it’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s genuinely unintentional. There are a lot of laws which, while reasonable, aren’t obvious. Here at Desperateseller.co.uk, we thought readers might like to be reminded of a few of them. Here are six which you may – or may not – be aware of.
Sunglasses
Did you know that sunglasses are divided into four categories based on how much light they filter out? Well, they are. Most sunglasses are in Category 2, which means they let through between 18% and 43% of light, so are suitable for driving. Category 4 sunglasses, though, let just 8% of light to pass through, and are illegal when driving at any time. Wearing the wrong kind of sunglasses can lead to a fine of up to £2,500 and nine points on your licence.
Flipflops
At the first sign of Summer, lots of people like to get into flipflop mode. And, if you’re one of them, watch out – you may not be doing anything specifically illegal, but you could still be fined or earn some penalty points. Why? Because, while flipflops themselves aren’t a no-no, there is a law which forbids the wearing of ‘unsuitable footwear’ while driving, as it puts the driver, their passengers and other road users at risk. It’s not easy to define ‘unsuitable footwear’ but cases do exist where flipflops have been considered to fit the bill. So – flipfloppers beware!
Hayfever medication
You may not think of yourself as a consumer of Class A drugs, but - if you’re a hayfever sufferer - you could find yourself treated by the authorities as if you were. That’s because lots of people fight their hayfever symptoms by using over-the-counter medications which contain antihistamines. And antihistamines can cause sleepiness, sickness, dizziness - and can even affect reaction time and ability behind the wheel. So, if you have an accident, and you’re found to be ‘under the influence’ of hayfever medication, it could affect your insurance, and the police can charge you under the same drug-driving law as cocaine and cannabis. Sounds harsh, but it’s true.
Cycling
OK, so this one’s not strictly a driving offence. But it’s connected. After all, many of us have fancied a drink with our mates in the local pub, but have hesitated to drive for obvious reasons. Instead, we’ve just said to ourselves, “I know, I’ll just hop on the bike. Nothing wrong with that, right?’ Wrong. Not everyone is aware of the fact, but it’s actually illegal to ride a bicycle on a road or other public places, if you’re not in proper control. And, according to Section 68 of the Highway Code, imbibing alcohol can mean you’re not in proper control. To be precise: “Cyclists must not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including some medications).˜ Just so as you know, the maximum penalty for cycling whilst under the influence of drink is a £1,000 fine. So, if you’re planning a trip to your local, we have two words for you: Shanks’ pony.
Pets
Talking of ponies, here’s another quadruped: dogs. Lots of us love to take our dog(s) with us on car journeys, whether we’re making a quick trip to the supermarket, or going on holiday. And, naturally, we want our treasured pet to feel relaxed and unrestrained. We reason that, if it just lies on the back seat or floor, there’s no risk – no harm will be done. But that’s not how the law sees it. According to 2019 research by Confused.com, almost two thirds of UK motorists are unaware that driving with an unrestrained dog (or, in fact, any animal), however calm and quiet it may be, can attract a fine of up to £5,000, plus up to 9 points on your licence. It may also invalidate your insurance. And don’t assume that the chances of being caught are negligible – the same Confused.com study study found that one in 10 drivers has had an accident while travelling in the car with a pet, or know someone who has.
Litter
Have you ever been tempted chuck something out of the window while driving? Sure, most of us would draw the line at discarding something sizeable, like – for example – a used McDonald's bag in this way, but many of us think it’s a different story with smaller items, such as a crisp packet or bit of chewing gum. And we tend to be especially relaxed about compostable items, like an apple core (it'll rot, right?). Well, in the eyes of the law, none of these actions are acceptable, and you can be fined if you’re caught. How much? It varies between Local Authorities, but the penalty can be pretty steep. In September this year (2020), for instance, a man was fined £400 by East Northamptonshire Council (ENC) for throwing an empty cigarette packet from the window of his Vauxhall Corsa. Our advice? The best bet is to keep it until you get home, whatever it may be.
