A CAR expert has warned drivers that their summer wardrobe could cost them a £5,000 fine.
With summer hotting up and many of us using our cars to reach holiday destinations, motorists need to pay more attention to the items of clothes they’re wearing when behind the wheel to avoid a hefty fine.
A car expert has warned drivers that their summer wardrobe could cost them a £5,000 fineGETTY_HUB
Handily, car experts at CarMoney have come up with a list of items of clothes you should avoid when you are driving a car.
Sunglasses
Depending on the glass in your sunglasses, they could actually be too dark to drive in safely.
Your peripheral vision can also be affected by wearing sunglasses when driving due to the frames blocking your vision.
Sun visors were invented for the very purpose of allowing you to see the road clearly on a sunny day, so it’s best to use them when needed.
A long skirt or dress
Maxi dresses and skirts are all the fashion, but when it comes to wearing this type of clothing while driving, you could be faced with a fine and even penalty points on your licence.
The material could get caught underneath the pedals or restrict your use of them, which is obviously far from ideal.
Very baggy jeans
For the same reason as above, if your jeans are too baggy, they are likely to be unfit for driving in, meaning you could be penalised.
It’s been thirty-one years since Madness released their smash hit, so baggy trousers might just be past their prime.
Flip flops/sliders
Thousands of motorists get behind the wheel every year in their flip-flops and sliders when the sun hits, but just how safe are they?
Shoes with a thin sole, with less than 10mm in thickness, are classed as unsafe to drive in.
Just remember, flip-flops are for the beach, not the driver’s seat.
High heels
Your footwear should not limit your ankle movement.
Alastair Grier, Managing Director of CarMoney, says: “If you are planning on driving somewhere where the dress code is smart, we recommend you take a change of sensible shoes for the car ride”.
According to the RAC, 40% of women have admitted to driving in high heels. Although they may look classy, high heels are simply not practical for the pedals.
Andrew Marshall at CarMoney said: “If you wear inappropriate clothing that restricts manoeuvring correctly, you could find yourself with a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points on your license for careless driving.
“If an incident goes to court, the penalty could go up to a £5,000 fine, nine penalty points and even a driving ban.
“Rule 97 on the Highway Code states that ‘the clothing and footwear you choose to wear whilst you are driving must not prevent you from using the controls in the correct manner.”
This comes after drivers were warned that running out of fuel could cost them a £5,000 fine and nine penalty points.
Plus, drivers were warned that they could face a £100 fine for wearing the wrong shoes behind the wheel.