Those flowing skirts could be a driving hazard and cost you money! (Image: Getty)
With the Bank Holiday heatwave here drivers should make sure they follow these driving laws to ensure they don’t end up with a fine costing them up to £10,000. With half-term about to hit the UK, many drivers may be travelling around the country to take advantage of these nice few days.
So whether it’s the summer clothing you have on or the car itself, make sure you’re prepared. A whole lot of summer fashion items could prove expensive for drivers according to experts from Yell who have highlighted some of the more obscure rules of the Highway Code. And from sunglasses to fashionable flowing maxi skirts, what you wear when you drive in hot weather could prove unexpectedly dangerous…and expensive.
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They are a summer fashion must have and every woman’s go to when the sun finally makes an apperance in the UK.
Maxi dresses and skirts may seem like the perfect lightweight option to wear on a hot sunny day when taking a drive but they pose a hidden danger.
When it comes to wearing this type of clothing while driving, you could receive a fine of up to £100, or even penalty points on your licence if you are found to be wearing one.
In some instances fines could be up to £5,000 according to experts from Yell who have put out a warning ahead of the Bank Holiday.
They say according to rule 97 of the Highway Code, “the clothing and footwear you choose to wear while driving must not prevent you from using the controls in the correct manner.”
If you choose to wear a maxi skirt or dress, there is a high risk of the material getting caught under the pedals or restricting your use of them, increasing the risk of loss of control and causing an accident.
Driving in flip flops is never a good idea. (Image: Getty)
Sunglasses are another potential driving hazard. While wearing sunglasses may seem like a good idea to block the bright sun from your eyes, it is important to think twice before sliding them on and getting behind the wheel.
All sunglasses have a certain tint level to them and are marked and labelled as such with a category number. These digits will not only tell you what tint level they have but they will also tell you if they are legal to drive in or not.
If you are found to be driving with sunglasses that are tinted too dark, you can be slapped with a hefty £5,000 fine.
The tint levels are ranked from zero to four in reference to the strength of the lens and the time of day that they are best worn. These go from lightest to darkest. While the majority of shades will likely be in category 2, it is always worth checking before embarking on your journey.
Category 2 sunglasses mean they have a slight tint and will transmit between 18-43% of light, meaning they are perfect for wearing on any sunny test day. If your shades are in category 4, they should not be worn, as they are far too dark.
Summer footwear could also cost you dearly. While it’s tempting to throw on a pair of flip-flops and head out driving they can get caught under the pedal. Whilst they are not explicitly listed in the law of what you cannot drive in, they certainly hinder you from driving to the best of your ability, and you could face a fine of up to £5,000.
According to the DSA guidelines, the shoes you choose to drive in must “have a sole no thicker than 10mm, but the sole should not be too thin or soft” meaning you will want to make sure you swap out your sandals for some drive legal shoes before your test, such as a pair of trainers. If you turn up to your test in a pair of flip-flops, you will be turned away and asked to rebook.
Wedges & Heels are also poor choice of footwear when getting behind the wheel.Wedges or platforms have a large amount of material between your foot and the pedals, which means you will be unable to get an accurate feel of how hard you are pressing the pedals.
Wearing wedges also goes against the maximum sole width guidelines, where they cannot be thicker than 10mm. As a result, these shoes are highly discouraged as they could result in you accidentally slamming the brakes unexpectedly, losing control of the car and impacting drivers around you.
* Yell can help you find a local driving instructor and hasbeen championing local business since 1966 when the Yellow Pages directory was first printed.