Rules of the road: seven driving laws you might be breaking by accident.

18 October, 2022: The Department for Transport are trailling new noise cameras to help detect unruly drivers heading to Bradford, Bristol, Great Yarmouth and Birmingham. Backed by £300,000 government investment, the technology is aimed at identifying antisocial behaviour amongst drivers, such as car racing, revving engines and modified exhausts, to help reduce noise pollution.

Connected with a number of microphones, these video cameras can accurately pinpoint excessively noisy cars that break the law.

With over 300 regulations in Britain's Highway Code alone, there’s a possibility you might be breaking the law unknowingly when you get behind the wheel. Temporary car insurance provider, Cuvva (https://www.cuvva.com/car-insurance/temporary) reveals some lesser-known laws to help you stay on the right side of the law, saving you unwanted fines this Autumn.

Last year, there were more than 1.36 million road traffic offences committed in Great Britain that resulted in an endorsement, according to the DVLA, who responded to a Freedom of Information request from Cuvva (https://www.cuvva.com).

Of these offences, exceeding the speed limit, and driving uninsured were listed as some of the top road offences committed in 2021.

However, there are less familiar motoring laws that can result in legal action. Most are included in the Highway Code but not all. Being aware of them means you can avoid getting caught out.

Read on for Cuvva’s list of surprising driving laws that you might not be aware of.

Playing the radio too loudly in your car

Driving along with tunes blasting and the windows down is something we've all done before.

However, under the The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, this is a potential distraction to you and other road users.

It can also prevent drivers from hearing emergency sirens.

This act also prohibits using your engine when stationary, meaning that if you have stopped to pick someone up, you must, by law, switch your engine off. The only exception is if you’re stuck in traffic.

Unrestrained dogs in the car

When you head out for the day, with your pooch in tow, if they’re loose in the car, you can be fined up to £5,000 and issued with nine points.

Keep your precious furry friend in a carrier or harness when travelling, and, although it’s not actually illegal, don’t let your dog stick his head out of the window.

Yes, we all laugh at pups’ ears flapping in the wind, but it can be an accident waiting to happen if drivers are distracted or your dog decides to try and climb out.

Road rage and the law

If we’re being honest, this is something we’ve all experienced - feeling impatient or frustrated at other road users. You may not realise that expressing those feelings in an unfriendly manner is against the law.

If you’re caught swearing, making obscene hand gestures, shouting or honking your horn at other drivers, you could face fines of up to £1,000 under the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998.

It’s also illegal to push into a queue of traffic or drive too close to the car in front, also known as tailgating.

Splashing pedestrians

On rainy days, seeing a pedestrian getting soaked by a motorist driving through a puddle is a bit of a cliché - but one that often happens.

While it’s rude, it’s also illegal. Seen as careless and inconsiderate driving under the Road Traffic Act 1998, you could risk a £5,000 fine and as many as three penalty points on your licence.

Dirty number plates

It is illegal to have dirty number plates. If your plates are covered with dirt, snow, or anything else that obscures them, you’re breaking the law. Speed cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) devices must be able to log your car's registration plate and to prevent this is illegal.

Early in 2022, new number plate rules were introduced. Harder-to-recognise fonts, including 3D lettering and background colours were banned, so make sure your plate isn’t breaking the law.

You can get a £100 fine on-the-spot and up to £1,000 if you’re very unlucky.

Driving too slowly

We all know that breaking the speed limits is illegal, but driving too slowly can also be a punishable offence.

If you’re caught driving too slowly or proceeding with too much caution, you could be considered a risk to other drivers.

By causing a build-up of traffic or encouraging drivers to take unnecessary risks, police could charge you with dangerous driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Parking facing the traffic at night

Did you know there are laws regarding which direction you park after dark? You have to park so that the rear of your car faces oncoming traffic so that their headlights pick up your rear reflectors, unless you’re parked in a recognised parking space.

Not doing so could result in a fine of up to £2,500.

If you park facing the traffic flow, your car can become a hazard as there are no front reflectors, making your car almost invisible at night.

Visit Cuvva for more driving regulations (https://www.cuvva.com/how-insurance-works/rules-of-the-road-strange-driving-laws) in Britain that you might be unaware of and accidentally breaking.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Contact:

Kim Camilleri

Tel: +44 78 212 54080

Email: kim.camilleri@cuvva.com

About Cuvva:

Connecting the dots between insurance, technology, and mobility, Cuvva (https://www.cuvva.com) offers lightning-fast car insurance that suits the needs of modern-day consumers. People can choose from a range of flexible policies in the Cuvva app, from as little as one hour to an always-on, hassle-free policy, in just a few taps. It's a better way to insure your car without penalties or tie-ins. Good drivers can save up to a third on their car insurance with in-app personalised driving scores, giving people greater control of their car insurance.

Since 2016, Cuvva has sold over 5 million policies and supported over 750,000 people. Around 4% of all motor policies sold monthly in the UK are now sold through the Cuvva app.

Shaping flexible car insurance has led Cuvva to secure funding from top investors, including RTP Global, LocalGlobe, Breega, Seedcamp, Digital Horizon, Techstars, and Tekton. For further information visit: www.cuvva.com.

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