Written by Menswear Fashion
in
Vehicles
on the
sixth February 2025
Once in a while, debates flare up about whether or not sure teams of individuals ought to need to retake their driving take a look at. Some argue that younger drivers ought to face a follow-up examination after just a few years on the highway, whereas others assume older drivers needs to be examined periodically to verify their abilities are nonetheless sharp. Then there are those that consider the take a look at itself wants an overhaul – including fashionable situations or reducing outdated parts.
However what about the remainder of us? Those who handed years in the past and don’t fall into any of those classes? How a lot of the Freeway Code will we truly keep in mind?
For many of us, The Freeway Code is simply one thing we crammed earlier than our take a look at, solely to neglect it the second we handed. Be trustworthy – when was the final time you truly checked out it? Thought so.
This being the case (and don’t lie, we all know it’s) it’s no shock that loads of its guidelines are forgotten, unknown, or simply plain ignored. Even cautious drivers may be responsible of breaking just a few with out realising it.
The Freeway Code isn’t technically the regulation, however it’s primarily based on numerous authorized rules, and should you’re caught in violation of it, you may end up in bother. In court docket, it’s usually used as a reference for acceptable driving behaviour, and breaking its guidelines gained’t do you any favours.
Fortunately, personal quantity plate supplier Regtransfers have put collectively a fast listing of among the most forgotten guidelines – in addition to among the extra obscure ones.
Rule 57 – Securing Pets within the Automotive
We’ve all seen canine with their heads hanging out of automobile home windows, ears flapping within the wind. Cute? Completely. Protected? By no means. The Freeway Code states that pets needs to be correctly restrained in a automobile to forestall distractions and shield each them and passengers in case of sudden stops.
Advantageous: As much as £5,000
Cause: It’s thought of an element of “driving with out due care and a focus”.
Rule 110 – Flashing Headlights
Many people flash our headlights as a approach of claiming “thanks” or letting somebody merge. However in keeping with The Freeway Code, headlights ought to solely be flashed to make different highway customers conscious of your presence—to not ship a message, warn of velocity traps, or encourage somebody to go.
Advantageous: as much as £1,000
Cause: Improper use of headlights might be misinterpreted, resulting in confusion on the highway
Rule 123 – Leaving Your Engine Operating
If you happen to’re parked and never shifting, you need to flip off your engine—even should you’re simply defrosting your windshield. It’s towards the foundations to depart your automobile working unnecessarily, and the rationale for it is a little bit of a no brainer…
Advantageous: At the very least £20, or £80 in areas of London
Cause: Pointless engine idling contributes to air and noise air pollution
Rule 124 – Towing Velocity Limits
If you happen to’re towing a trailer, it is advisable decelerate. The velocity restrict is 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on twin carriageways and motorways—10 mph lower than the standard velocity restrict.
Advantageous: At the very least £100, and three penalty factors added to your licence
Cause: This shouldn’t actually must be defined, however rushing reduces response time, will increase the danger of shedding management of the automobile, and heightens the severity of accidents.
Rule 188 – Mini-Roundabouts
Let’s be trustworthy—many people are responsible of reducing throughout the markings on mini-roundabouts as an alternative of going round them correctly. Seems, that’s a direct violation of the Code. Even when it appears pointless, you’re supposed to stay to the designated round route.
Advantageous: At the very least £50
Cause: Slicing roundabouts, in addition to different highway markings, is mostly thought of careless driving.
Rule 248 – Parking In opposition to the Move of Site visitors
At evening, you need to not park dealing with oncoming visitors until it’s in a delegated parking house. It’s a easy rule, however one which many drivers overlook.
Advantageous: At the very least £1,000, however should you’re taken to court docket, the penalties can improve to £2,500
Cause: In case your automobile is dealing with oncoming visitors, it turns into much less seen to different motorists, which will increase the danger of accidents.
Rule 249 – Utilizing Parking Lights at Evening
If you happen to park on a highway with a velocity restrict over 30 mph, it is advisable go away your parking lights on, for causes not too dissimilar to those above; it’s all about visibility. They’re not utilized in too many circumstances, so it’s honest to imagine that just a few of us might not even know tips on how to flip them on (Trace: they’re the setting with a logo that appears like two small lights with three rays coming from every.)
Advantageous: Normally between £35 and £75
Cause: Your automobile must be seen to different drivers in low gentle circumstances, particularly if it’s stationary.
Rule 264 – Lane Hogging on Motorways
“Maintain left until overtaking.” Sounds easy sufficient, however many drivers deal with the center lane as their default, even when the left lane is obvious. This dangerous behavior clogs up motorways and might result in pointless congestion.
Advantageous: £100 and three penalty factors.
Cause: Lane hogging is taken into account a careless driving offense.
As a little bit of a bonus, listed below are a few guidelines throughout the Freeway Code which can be somewhat unusual, however nonetheless true and enforcable
Rule 58 – Herding Animals at Evening
We think about it’s not usually that you just’ll want to do that, however should you occur to be shifting a herd of animals on the highway after darkish, you’re required to hold a white gentle on the entrance and a purple gentle on the again. Of the herd, that’s.
Is sensible in rural areas, although convincing a herd of deer to observe this rule could be tough.
Rule 148 – No Loud Music or Arguments
Loud music and heated arguments are listed as distractions in The Freeway Code. If you happen to’ve ever had a political debate with a passenger whereas driving, technically, you’ve been breaking the foundations. This one’s an “simple out” should you’re about to get right into a dialog you’d desire to not.
Guidelines 276 & 277 – Warning Triangles on Motorways
Most individuals assume you need to put out a warning triangle should you break down, and that’s completely the case…with one key exception. The Freeway Code says it’s too harmful to deploy a warning triangle on the motorway, because it may get blown into the trail of fast-moving visitors.
If any of those guidelines caught you without warning, it could be time to revisit The Freeway Code. It’s at all times a good suggestion to flick by it every so often, as a few of what you discovered to your take a look at might now not apply…or would possibly by no means have been true within the first place.
Fortunately, The Freeway Code is free to learn on-line, so there’s no excuse to not brush up. Who is aware of? A fast learn would possibly simply prevent a nice, and even stop an accident.
