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

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 10:32 · Archive

UK drivers risk fines of up to £1,000 for wearing bulky winter clothes while driving.

UK drivers risk fines of up to £1,000 for wearing winter clothes such as coats, gloves and scarves behind the wheel. Wearing bulky winter items can hamper vehicle control and break the law.

Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers must have 'footwear and clothing which does not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner'. Wearing items that restrict movement or grip means motorists could unintentionally commit an offence. Motoring specialists have warned that many drivers are unaware of these rules.

Gloves can reduce grip on the steering wheel or gear stick. Scarves, hats and puffy coats may obstruct a driver's line of sight and restrict head movement when checking mirrors or blind spots. The Road Traffic Act warns that anything obstructing a driver's vision could be considered a hazard. Clare Freemantle, Sales and Marketing Director at Harwoods Group, said that as temperatures drop, 'drivers are unintentionally opening themselves up to breaking the law' by wrapping up for winter.

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.York Press · 24 Oct, 10:00
• 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.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 24 Oct, 10:00

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

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