10 Motoring Laws People Forget or Ignore

The UK’s Highway Code changes frequently - with the 2022 edition being the 17th iteration since its introduction in 1931, and it contains a lot of information that drivers are expected to understand. From common sense laws to rules that might not have been covered in your test, the government expects UK drivers to have a solid understanding of those detailed within The Highway Code. Due to this, there are a number of motoring laws that are common for drivers to forget. In many cases, these laws are either pertaining to situations that rarely happen, or are highly specific, meaning drivers often get them wrong or are unaware of them in the first place.

In the following guide, the expert motoring offences solicitors at JMW will list ten of these motoring laws that are often forgotten, and will provide guidance on how to avoid situations where you may find yourself accidentally committing a motoring offence.

1 - Do not, under any circumstances, use a mobile phone while your engine is running to be on the safe side and prevent a prosecution

While you are likely aware that using your mobile phone while driving is illegal and dangerous and may get you into a lot of trouble, you may not know that using it even while parked is illegal, unless your engine is switched off. You should not use your phone at all while stuck in traffic or waiting at traffic lights. If you need to take a call, pull into a safe, allocated parking space or layby and switch off your engine before picking up your phone.

To reduce the chances of being distracted by incoming calls or texts, put your phone on silent and place it out of the way so you will not be tempted to pick it up.

If you need to use your phone as part of your job, attaching it to a phone holder within sight will allow you to access it without taking your eyes off the road, or your hands off the wheel. However, the rules still apply - you should only use it when you are parked and your engine is turned off, even with a phone holder.

If you are caught using your phone while driving, you may be fined and receive six penalty points on your licence. You may be taken to court if you caused an accident due to using a mobile phone while driving, and you may then be fined up to £1,000, or substantially more if you were driving a larger vehicle. The court may also revoke your licence and require you to retest if you are a new driver, or ban you for a set amount of time in some circumstances.

2 - Keep your drivers licence up-to-date

Driving licences remain valid for 10 years (unless you’re on a restricted licence), after which they must be updated. Drivers who have had their licences for 10 years often forget or do not know that this is a legal requirement. You can renew your licence on the government website, here. To do so, you will need to pay a fee of £14 and not currently be under any driving bans.

From your application, it should take a number of weeks for your new licence to arrive. You should plan to apply for your new licence well in advance, as driving with an expired licence is a criminal offence.

Being caught driving with an expired licence could result in you receiving a fine of up to £1000 and, if you are involved in an accident, you may not be able to cover the expenses with your insurance.

3 - Do not leave your vehicle while the engine is running

Before leaving the driver's seat, you should make sure to turn your engine off. Despite the common method of defrosting a car by doing so, leaving a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running is a driving offence and you should avoid doing it. Instead, plan ahead so you have time to sit in your vehicle while it defrosts.

If you leave the engine of your vehicle running while you are not in it, you may receive a fine in some parts of London due to the high rate of offences committed in these areas. While the fine is smaller in comparison to other motoring offences, leaving a vehicle engine running unnecessarily or while you are not in it can be dangerous and you should ensure that your handbrake is engaged and your engine is turned off before you leave it. 

4 - Pay the right amount of road tax

When you purchase a road vehicle, you are required to pay a percentage of road tax on the payment. This percentage is not the same in every situation, as different vehicles demand different charges depending on their efficiency and environmental ratings. You can find out the different rates of road tax by visiting this government resource.

Underpaying road tax can lead to fines - depending on the amount underpaid - while overpaying will be a waste of your money. To ensure you pay the right amount of road tax on a vehicle purchase, double check the charge with the dealer or on the government website.

5 - Slow down when driving through puddles

Driving through deep puddles can cause your vehicle's exhaust system to become waterlogged, but if you go too fast, you could risk splashing pedestrians. Whether doing so intentionally or by accident, this could be an offence of dangerous driving or driving without consideration of other road users/driving without due care and attention.

While it is not widely known that pedestrians can report the registration number of a driver who splashes them, the penalty a driver will incur if they do is high, and could result in points or a disqualification.

To avoid splashing pedestrians, drive more cautiously along wet roads, slow down when driving through a puddle and avoid deep puddles by crossing them at a shallow point.

6 - Stop your vehicle completely at stop junctions

If a junction has a stop sign, you are legally required to stop your vehicle completely before continuing. You are required to do this even if there are no other cars, and failure to do so could lead to three penalty points on your licence. As this is such a specific driving law, drivers often fall into the trap of accidentally committing a motoring offence when doing so. Familiarising yourself with this law and keeping an eye out for stop signs will help you to avoid this charge.

7 - Only enter box junctions when their exits are clear

Box junctions also cause many drivers to accidentally commit driving offences. A box junction is one which connects to roads on four sides and has a yellow crossed box in the centre. Stopping on this yellow box is a motoring offence, so you should only cross the junction if your exit is clear.

If any part of your vehicle is inside the yellow box while you are stationary, you could be fined and receive penalty points. If an emergency vehicle is passing, you must not enter the box junction, or you could risk causing another accident.

If you are turning right, you are legally allowed to enter the box when waiting for your exit to clear, but this is the only exception.

8 - Only use fog lights in low-visibility situations

Fog lights are very bright and can damage the eyesight of anyone looking at them for too long. When driving in the dark, fog lights can be blinding to drivers coming the other way and can easily cause an accident. Turning fog lights off quickly is not legally advised as even a short flash can leave a driver blinded for seconds after they are turned down, which is enough time to cause an accident.

You should only use fog lights in conditions where you can not safely see in front of you.

9 - Driving in the correct motorway lane and middle lane hogging

The motorway is a stressful aspect of driving for many drivers. This can cause drivers to forget rules or make mistakes. One of these is choosing the correct lane, which is commonly misunderstood.

Unless you are approaching an exit, you should not drive in the outside lane. If your vehicle is towing something, it is a motoring offence to do so.

You should only drive in the middle lane if the nearest lane is not free and prioritise driving on or as close to the inside lane as possible and should return to it after an overtake.

10 - Clear your roof of snow before driving

Heavy snow is not common in the UK, but when it does arrive it can cause major problems for drivers. Often, drivers forget the rules surrounding driving in snow, and this can lead to motoring offences.

Drivers should clear snow from the roofs and windscreens before driving. This can cause accidents, so preparing before you set off will allow you to easily avoid this.

What Can I Do if I Have Accidentally Committed a Driving Offence?

If you receive a notice through the post, you should contact JMW Solicitors for advice before responding. You must do this quickly, as driving offences require a response within 28 days from when you receive the notice.

If you have been pulled over by the police, you can decline to pay any fines they issue, but you will be taken to the nearest police station. From here, you can contact us for help.

We will work with you to understand your situation and examine your chances of success based on the evidence at hand and your reasons for committing the offence. It may not always be possible to completely remove your penalties, but we may be able to reduce them significantly.

For expert legal advice on motoring offences of any type, call our team today on 0800 804 8159, or fill out an online enquiry form and we will contact you at a time convenient for you.

For more information on the service we offer, visit our Motoring Offences page.