With winter rolling in and temperatures falling, drivers in the UK are being warned that wearing winter clothes when they get behind the wheel could land them a £1,000 fine.
If you are wearing clothes, such as gloves, coats and scarves that could impact your driving, you could be at risk of a fine.
While it may be tempting to wrap up warm while getting behind the wheel on a cold winter’s morning, it could be costly.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers must have “footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.”
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Motoring experts have warned that gloves could hamper motorists due to a loss of grip on the steering wheel or gear stick.
Scarves, meanwhile, could impact visibility, as could hats and puffy coats, the experts warn.
Sonia Hobbs, Group Marketing Director at Harwoods Group has revealed how you could get a £1,000 fine simply from wrapping up this winter.
She says: “As the temperatures get cooler, drivers are unintentionally opening themselves up to breaking the law. Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers must have “footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner”.
“This means as drivers wrap up in gloves, coats, hats and scarves for the winter months, they could be putting themselves at risk of receiving a fine.
“Gloves, while keeping your hands toasty, can loosen your grip on the steering wheel. With temperatures set to plummet even further, driving with gloves in the snow can put you in unnecessary danger.
“Scarves can also impact your vision, as can large puffer jackets and thick woolly hats. Ear warmers can also stop you from being able to hear other cars and sirens from emergency vehicles.
“Wearing this kind of clothing can lead to a £5,000 fine and potentially three points on your licence, so make sure to heat your car before driving and wear lighter clothing.”
The Road Traffic Act warns that anything that obstructs the vision of a driver could be considered a hazard.
If someone is caught with an object that obstructs vision, they could be hit with a £100 fine which could rise to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence if the incident is taken to court.
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