UK drivers warned of £1,000 fines for winter clothes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 09:02 · Archive

UK drivers face fines up to £1,000 for wearing winter clothes that hamper vehicle control.

UK drivers face fines of up to £1,000 for wearing bulky winter clothes while driving, motoring specialists have warned. Gloves, thick coats, scarves and hats can all breach Rule 97 of the Highway Code, which requires drivers to wear 'footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner'.

Motoring experts say that gloves can hamper motorists by reducing their grip on the steering wheel and gear stick. Scarves, hats and puffy coats can obstruct a driver's line of sight and restrict head movement when checking mirrors and blind spots. The Road Traffic Act treats anything obstructing a driver's vision as a potential hazard.

Clare Freemantle, Sales and Marketing Director at Harwoods Group, cautioned that drivers may unintentionally break the law simply by wrapping up warm during winter months. She noted that gloves can loosen grip on the steering wheel, putting motorists at risk of receiving a fine. Motoring specialists have found that many drivers remain unaware of these rules.

How it is being reported

• UK drivers warned they face £1,000 fines for wearing winter clothesDrivers in the UK have been warned that wearing winter clothes such as coats, gloves, and scarves behind the wheel could result in fines of up to £1,000.Oxford Mail · 23 Oct, 08:27
• UK drivers warned they face £1,000 fines for wearing winter clothesDrivers in the UK have been warned that wearing winter clothes such as coats, gloves, and scarves behind the wheel could result in fines of up to £1,000.Oxfordshire Guardian · 23 Oct, 08:27

In this story: UK · Highway Code · Road Traffic Act · Harwoods Group · Clare Freemantle

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