Protyre News
Nationwide confusion over driving laws
By Adam White
Motorists, are you committing driving offences without even realising? Well you are not alone...
New research conducted by Confused.com has revealed that millions of motorists across the UK are committing driving offences, unaware that they even existed. The research found that around six million (16%) of UK Motorists say that due to the high-level of motoring offences, they are unsure what is legal and what is illegal. This lack of knowledge could land motorists with possible fines worth thousands of pounds.
Around six million drivers have been fined up to £5,000 for splashing a passing pedestrian when driving through a puddle. According to the research, over 15% of motorists have committed the offence deliberately, or by accident but did not receive a fine. However, the research also proves that not many motorists are aware that they could be fined for doing so, as more than 21% admit they did not know. To help understand these offences, Confused.com have created a driving fines calculator highlighting how much these offences could have cost them.
This is not the only offence that may leave motorists feeling confused if they received a fine:
| Offence | No. of motorists who comitted offence | No. of motorists unaware of offence |
|---|---|---|
| Driving through a puddle resulting in splashing a pedestrian | 6 million | 8 million |
| Charging a passenger and making a profit | 763,000 | 9 million |
| Flashing another driver to warn them of a speed camera | 8 million | 8 million |
| Driving with an pet insufficiently restrained/not restrained | 6 million | 6 million |
| Failing to clear a number plate of mud making it unreadable | 2 million | 2 million |
These types of offences could potentially cost motorists thousands of pounds if they were caught red-handed, or taken to court. Confused.com has launched a new driving fines checklist to display the amount in fines drivers could have faced for committing offences they may not necessarily be aware of.
Users can view a list of unknown or uncommon driving offences and the cost of fines that could be given to them. Confused.com has created a guide to show how the cost of fines for offences, such as; hogging the middle lane, or using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
While it is impossible to police every single car on the road, understanding just how expensive the repercussions could be should deter motorists to prevent them from breaking the law.
