Anyone who drives in the dark urged to stop saying thank you or risk £1k fine
Drivers have been warned to stop this common habit in the dark autumn nights or risk a whopping £1,000 fine
Autumn is well and truly here and the days seem to be getting shorter faster than ever. Before you know it, the winter equinox will arrive, and by 4 o’clock, it will be completely dark. While the long nights can ruin your outdoor plans, they can also make driving much more difficult, with a whole new set of risks coming down the road. Whether it’s heavy rain, wet leaves lining the road, or blown-away twigs and branches, autumn can bring about some challenging conditions.
While many drivers might change their driving style slightly to adapt to the dark roads, lots of drivers don’t realise that even small actions could put them in danger, and risk thousands in fines under the Highway Code. Luckily for drivers, experts at Nextbase have released the latest research that highlights some of the most common mistakes drivers make during darker autumn nights, and simple changes you can make to avoid some hefty fines.
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According to Bryn Brooker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, even a simple driving thank you could land you with an eye-watering £1,000 fine, so it might be wise to forget your manners.
Bryn revealed: “When driving in darker evenings, many motorists flash their headlights to say thank you or signal that another car can pull out.
“While it feels like a harmless gesture, the Highway Code is very clear: flashing headlights should only be used to warn other road users of your presence.”
What may seem like an innocent gesture that is actually polite, if you're caught, it could land you in some hot water.
Bryn added: “Using them for any other reason could be considered misleading, and if it contributes to an accident, you could face a fine of up to £1,000 for careless driving.”
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But it’s not just flashing your lights that could land you with a fine, for those driving with a sat nav or a phone, the glare onto your windscreen can leave you with drastic consequences.
“As the evenings draw in earlier and drivers rely more on their phone for satnav or hands-free calls, remember to turn your screen brightness down,” the expert added. “A glaring screen can impair drivers' night vision and distract you from the road ahead, potentially putting you at risk of prosecution.”
“The issue is more widespread than you might think. Our research reveals that nearly a quarter of drivers (23%) use their phone to even join work calls while driving.
"While using your phone hands-free is legal when properly secured, you could still face serious penalties if police believe it's causing dangerous driving. A distraction-related offence can result in a £1000 fine and 3 penalty points on your licence.”
