Valentine's Day driving laws that could land you with a fine
Take a look at the Valentine's Day driving laws that could cost you up to £12,000 in fines
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With an estimated 32.7 million Brits set to embrace Valentine's Day celebrations this year, those driving to deliver gifts or pick up their dates need to be careful to avoid fines and penalty points.
We've done the research to make sure you stick to the law and avoid over £12,000 worth of fines.
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Here’s what you need to be careful of:
Playing music too loudly (up to £5,000 fine)
Oversized gifts obscuring your view (up to £1,000 fine)
Taking your eyes off the road (unlimited fine)
Leaving the engine running (up to £1,000 fine)
Wearing clothes that affect your ability to drive (up to £5,000 fine)
Parking in an unsafe place (up to £100 fine)
Playing music too loudly - up to £5,000 fine
A love song can create the perfect ambience as you drive to a surprise location for a special Valentine’s meal, but playing your romantic playlist too loud in your used Volkswagen could land you in a spot of bother.
Our motoring editor, Sam Sheehan, says: “There’s no problem with driving to music as long as you can still hear hazards like horns and sirens if you need to.”
But be warned, you could find yourself with a fixed penalty notice of £100 all the way up to £5,000 and three points on your driving licence if you drive without due care or attention.
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).”
Oversized gifts obscuring your view - up to £1,000 fine
You need to be careful delivering oversized gifts (think giant soft toys and heart-shaped balloons) in your car to avoid them becoming a distraction or dangerous.
Sam says: “It's important to secure large gifts properly before you get behind the wheel, so they don’t obstruct your view whilst driving.”
What the law says
The Annex. 5 Penalties of The Highway Code outlines: “Failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead,” can land motorists with a £1,000 fine plus three penalty points.
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Taking your eyes off the road - unlimited fine
Make sure to save your loving glances for when you’re not driving this Valentine’s Day, otherwise you could be guilty of driving without due care and attention.
Shifting your focus from the road to your date could lead to between three and nine points on your licence, an unlimited fine and a discretionary disqualification from driving.
What the law says
Rule 144 of The Highway Code states: “Driving requires focus and attention at all times. Remember, you may be driving dangerously or travelling too fast even if you don’t mean to.”
Leaving the engine running – up to £1,000
It's only courteous to meet your date at the door and escort them to the car, right? Well, just make sure to turn your engine off if you do.
If you leave the engine running, ‘you stop being in control of your car,’ says Sam. “If you plan to step out of your car, you have to park up properly and turn off your engine.”
By breaching The Highway Code in this way, you could be fined £1,000 and issued with three penalty points.
What the law says
Rule 123 of The Highway Code states: “You must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.”
Parking in an unsafe place - £100 fine
If you find yourself running late for your booking and there’s limited parking close to your romantic eatery, it might be hard to resist parking up anywhere you can like a taxi rank or an entryway.
“Not parking up properly could make for a very expensive night out,” says Sam Sheehan.
“Even without realising, your bad choice of parking could end up causing a nuisance and landing you in trouble.”
So, choosing your parking spot thoughtfully could help you avoid being 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
As a driver, it’s obviously important to keep The Highway Code in mind all year round. But to help maximise your enjoyment of this love-filled day, stick to the rules of the road so you only have to worry about the cost of your romantic meal.
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