Is It Illegal To Drive With…

Is it illegal to drive with a broken wing mirror?

All cars must have a minimum of two mirrors that provide a clear view of the back of the vehicle. The offside rear view mirror, which is affixed to the driver’s door, must be one of them. If this is damaged, you are not permitted to operate the vehicle.

However, if your passenger door wing mirror is damaged, it may still be legal to drive the vehicle, providing your central rear view mirror is fully functional, providing you with a good view of the back of the vehicle. Failing to maintain this view could easily cause a problem and put you in need of a motoring offence lawyer.

Is it illegal to drive without a spare tyre?

Although many cars come equipped with spare tyres, having one on board is not a legal requirement. “Run-flat” tyres are a common feature of more recent cars. Run-flat tyres have specially reinforced sidewalls, allowing you to keep driving at a slower speed, even if you have a puncture. Even if your vehicle doesn’t feature these tyres, you won’t fail an MOT for not carrying a spare tyre.

Is it illegal to drive with one hand?

Rule 160 of the Highway Code states that you must drive with both hands on the wheel whenever practicable. This means that while driving with one hand is not illegal, it is typically accepted as best practice for safe driving. If a police officer thinks that you are not in appropriate control of your vehicle, because you are driving with one hand, this may get you into trouble with the law.

Is it illegal to eat and drive?

Eating or drinking while driving is not prohibited, but it must not distract you from the road. If you eat while driving and become distracted, the police may charge you with careless driving if they believe you are not in appropriate control of the vehicle.

Is it illegal to drive while wearing headphones?

While there are no regulations specifically prohibiting the use of headphones while driving, they must not distract you from the road or compromise the safety of your driving, just like with other activities.

Ask yourself honestly if you can hear the traffic around you, the sound of your own engine, and the sirens of any emergency vehicles. If not, then you could be implicating yourself in legal trouble.

Is it illegal to drive with a cracked windscreen?

According to the Highway Code, drivers must have a clear vision of the road ahead, and glass must be kept in good condition. Even a small fracture could quickly become large and dangerous during the course of a trip, since even small cracks can swiftly increase in size.

Directly in front of the driver, limited cracks smaller than 10 mm are typically acceptable and legal to drive with, however on the passenger side, cracks up to 40 mm may be acceptable.

Window screen cracks of any size should be repaired as quickly as possible to avoid legal issues arising, as cracks grow over time.

Is it illegal to drive without shoes?

Driving without shoes is not illegal, but it is typically regarded as risky because your braking ability is significantly diminished. You can still face a serious driving offence, and require a traffic offence solicitor if you were to have an accident while driving without shoes.

Is it illegal to drive with a petrol can in your vehicle?

In a maximum of two containers, drivers are permitted to keep up to 30 litres of petrol in their vehicle. The maximum capacity for plastic fuel containers is 10 litres each, whereas the maximum capacity for metal fuel containers is 20 litres.

If the containers are not kept secure and safe within the car, the police may still consider the petrol to be unsafe. For instance, it might be unsafe to put a petrol can on your passenger seat, where it could move forward when braking or turning.

What should I do if I am charged with a driving offence?

Alsters Kelley’s approach to driving offences is compassionate and friendly. We can chat with you, offer support and use our expert knowledge of motoring offences to help you achieve the best outcome.

Sources

NHS Resolution – https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/advice-for-claimants/