DRIVERS could be slapped with a fine of up to £5,000 for driving in the rain.
Rainy days are no surprise in the UK, but drivers should try to avoid puddles, as splashing pedestrians – maliciously or not – is actually an offence.
Drivers could be slapped with a fine of up to £5,000 for driving in the rainGETTY_HUB
Under section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, splashing a passer-by with your car amounts to careless and inconsiderate driving.
It states: “If a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place, he is guilty of an offence.”
If the police catch you, you can expect at least a £100 fine and three points on your licence, but in more serious circumstances, the driver may be hit with a £5,000 fine.
Car experts recommend either slowing down when going through the puddle (if safe to do so) to minimise the impact or going around the puddle and avoiding it completely (again, only if safe to do so).
On the topic of wet conditions, rule 121 of the Highway Code says that drivers should test their brakes after driving through puddles or standing water.
This is because water can hinder the effectiveness of your brakes, so it’s always worth checking that they’re working properly.
If they’re not, apply light pressure to the pedal as you drive slowly to dry out your brakes.
Pete Williams, RAC road safety spokesperson, told The Daily Express: “Anyone unfortunate enough to have suffered a drenching by an inconsiderate motorist splashing them when driving through a puddle would probably welcome a sizeable financial penalty for the driver.
“Since 2013, careless driving can be dealt with by a Fixed Penalty Notice with a £100 fine and three penalty points.
“If, however, they refuse [the notice] then they will face a magistrate who could impose a fine up to £5,000, although the maximum is very unlikely.”
Plus, drivers have been warned to think carefully about what paintwork they choose for their cars.