Wearing warm clothing behind the wheel can impact driver visibility
Certain items of warm clothing can have different impacts on your driving such as affecting visibility and your grip on the wheel.
Drivers are being warned that wearing coats, gloves and scarves behind the wheel can impact their driving and cause a huge fine, up to a whopping £5,000.
As the colder weather draws in, many people will don their winter woolies to keep warm while driving and travelling. Certain items of warm clothing can have different impacts on your driving such as affecting visibility and grip on the wheel, reported BirminghamLive.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states drivers must have “footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner”. Gloves could hamper motorists as they grip the wheel, motoring experts have warned, and drivers are warned to ensure coats, hats and scarves don’t restrict their visibility.
Impacting driving ability: impairing vision and hampering controls
Michael Bourne, group marketing director at National Tyres and Autocare said: “Driving in outfits that impact your driving ability could cause an accident. Any piece of clothing that impairs your vision or prevents you from using the car’s controls, could lead to a £5,000 fine and potentially three points on your licence.”
According to the Road Traffic Act, anything that obstructs the vision of a driver in any way is considered a hazard and, if caught, there is a £100 fine. This fine can rocket up to £1,000, and lead to three penalty points if the case is challenged in court and the driver loses.
Written by James Rodger for Liverpool Echo © 17 October 2022.
Image by Liverpool Echo
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