Christmas driving laws to keep in mind
Driving home for Christmas? Steer clear of hefty fines by sticking to these driving laws
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Last year, Kwik Fit research estimated that drivers across the UK were going to travel 6.3 billion miles by car across the 2023 festive season.
A separate study by the RAC and INRIX also suggested that the nation’s motorists were planning 21 million getaways between 18 December and Christmas Eve alone.
It’s not quite as far as the almost 100 million miles Santa covers on Christmas Eve, but there are a lot of drivers on the road this time of year.
The question is: could you land yourself a hefty fine for breaking the rules when driving home for Christmas?
Turns out you could land yourself a bill of up to £17,500 in fines if you don’t stick to the rules of the road.
We've put together some season-specific driving laws to prevent you from getting caught out.
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Listening to festive songs too loud – £100 to £5,000 fine
We all have our favourite Christmas songs (who hasn’t tried to hit Mariah Carey’s high notes in All I Want For Christmas Is You?).
But playing your festive playlist too loud from the speakers in your used Volkswagen could land you in hot water.
Our motoring editor, Sam Sheehan, says: “There’s nothing wrong with driving to music as long as you can still hear hazards like horns and sirens if you need to.”
A fixed penalty notice of £100 and three points on your driving licence could be heading your way if you drive without due care or attention.
And this can rise to a staggering £5,000 fine and prosecution if you cause an accident that results in an injury or fatality.
What the law says
Rule 148 of The Highway Code states: “Safe driving and riding needs concentration. Avoid distractions when driving or riding, such as loud music (this may mask other sounds).”
Wearing a Christmas outfit that interferes with your driving – up to £5,000 fine
We get it. There will be plenty of reasons to dress up this festive season, but just be careful if you decide to take the office Christmas jumper competition to the next level.
You could face a fine of up to £5,000 if your festive outfit ‘interferes with your ability to control your vehicle’.
Sam says: “Nobody’s going to try and drive in an inflatable Santa costume (we hope not anyway), but you need to be more careful than you might think with what you wear behind the wheel.
“If your shoes make it difficult to push the pedals, don’t change into them until you’ve reached your Christmas party venue. Also, don’t put on any hats, masks, or fake beards that affect your vision while driving.”
What the law says
Rule 97 of The Highway Code reads: “Before setting off [in a vehicle], you should ensure that clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner.”
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Carrying a Christmas tree dangerously – £100 to £5,000 fine
Christmas isn’t complete without presents under the tree, but trees can be tricky to get from A to B – especially if you’re going all out with a giant fir.
Here’s what you need to do to stay within the law when getting your Christmas tree home this year:
Stay within the weight limits recommended by your car’s manufacturer
Secure any sharp edges or loose, heavy parts of your tree (keep it in the netting you bought it in if you can)
Make sure it’s attached nice and securely, so there’s no risk of it flying off
Avoid the tree overhanging your car by more than six inches
Keep your boot closed if you can (if it’s impossible, secure the boot lid and attach a reflective flag to the tree to alter other motorists)
You can be fined £100 and given three points on your driving licence if you don’t follow these rules.
And it can rise to a £5,000 fine and being disqualified from driving if it’s more seriously dangerous and you’re taken to court.
What the law says
Rule 98 of The Highway Code reads: “As a driver, you must secure your load, and it must not stick out dangerously.”
And, if you’re towing your tree in a trailer: “Before towing, as a driver, you must not overload your vehicle or trailer. You should not tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle.”
Not de-icing enough of your car – £60 to £2,500 fine
De-icing your car on a cold winter's morning is not a job any of us look forward to.
However, you should never cut corners here by ‘portholing’. This is where motorists only clear enough of their car’s windows to just be able to see out of a small section.
‘Portholing’ is a driving offence that can carry a fine starting from £60 but potentially increasing to £2,500 depending on how dangerous the vehicle is. Getting caught can also land you three points on your driving licence.
Sam says: “Make sure all car windows are entirely clear of frost, ice and snow before you set off – that includes each side window and your rear window.
“Clear snow from the roof too, as otherwise, this can fall onto your windscreen when you brake.”
What the law says
Rule 229 of The Highway Code states: “Before you set off [in a vehicle], you must be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows. Also, you must ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible.”
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Parking in an unsafe place – £100 fine
Many of us head to see family and friends around Christmas, which can turn a usually quiet street into one packed with parked cars very quickly.
So, if you’re driving on some gift-giving missions, make sure to park properly, or you could be slapped with a £100 fine.
What the law says
Places to avoid parking are listed in Rule 243 of The Highway Code. It states that drivers should not stop or park:
Anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
In front of an entrance to a property
On a bend
Opposite or within 10 metres of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
Opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
Near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
Near a school entrance
Where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
Where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities
At or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
Where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
On the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
It’s obviously important to stick to the driving laws all year round, but now we know there are some unexpected ones that might come up at Christmas.
Make sure to stick to the law to avoid turning the most wonderful time of the year into the most stressful and (even more) expensive one.
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