DRIVERS have been warned about a TikTok Valentine’s Day trend which could leave them severely out of pocket with fines totalling £2,800.
Currently on social media ‘car date night’ clips are doing the rounds but motorists are being urged to take extra precautions in the lead up to the most romantic day of the year.
TikTokThe TikTok trend sees couples deck out the backs of their cars with pillows and blankets[/caption]
TikTokFavourite snacks are also often added[/caption]
Leasing experts at Auto Trader say not only could end up with a sizeable fine you could get points on your licence for breaking laws in England and Wales as well as the Highway Code.
TikTok videos showing ‘car date night’ have surpassed 1 billion views and usually feature loved-up-couples packing their car with cosy pillows and blankets and loading up with snacks and treats and even packing board games and creating a playlist of their favourite songs.
They then drive off to some picturesque beauty spot in order to fall asleep in the comfort of their own car.
While all may seem idyllic and the perfect setting for some romance, you could land yourself in serious trouble, possibly being arrested and your vehicle seized, if you camp out on land without the express permission of the landowner.
Snacking or recording your date night while behind the wheel can also lead to a number of penalty points and fines.
These are some the lesser-known sanctions you could face – and how to avoid them.
£2.5K FINE
While parking up in some beautiful location amongst stunning scenery might be just the right setting for romance, it can put you in a tight spot with the law.
Wild camping is not legally permitted in most areas of England and Wales, so if you are found sleeping on land without the approval of the landowner, you are technically breaking the law, which means you could be handed a £2,500 fine, arrested and your vehicle seized.
To avoid that situation, make sure you get the permission of the landowner before setting out if you intend to stay the night in your car.
The best way to do this is check with your local council website who owns the land and in most cases you can find out their contact details.
USING YOUR PHONE
Some of the videos posted on TikTok show the driver recording their adventure from start to finish, which can mean driving to the location.
If you are caught using your phone in any way whilst in control of your car you can find yourself landed with a £200 fine and six points on your licence.
The Highway Code rule 149 says: “You must not use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, capable of interactive communication (such as a tablet) for any purpose when driving or when supervising a learner driver.”
Also, you “must not pick up the phone or similar device while driving to dial a number and then put it in the cradle for the duration of the conversation and you must not pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.”
It is also worth remembering many of the people recreating the trend on TikTok are young people, and those who passed their driving test within the past two years caught on their phone whilst driving could lose their licence altogether.
The best course of action, according to the experts, if you are desperate to get these memories on camera, is to ask the passenger to record it all.
EATING BEHIND THE WHEEL
Although eating behind the wheel is not illegal, it is not recommended as it can be a big distraction from the road.
Simply by opening a bag of snacks and eating them there are lots of ways drivers can accidentally lose focus from what’s on the road ahead.
However, if you are distracted by something you are consuming whilst in control of a car and end up in an accident as a result of eating, you could face a £100 fine, plus penalty points on your licence.
The advice is to always pull over if you are hungry and want something to eat.
Or you could add some extra fun by stopping at motorway services to stock up on some tasty treats.
Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto Trader, said: “This time of year is, of course, a time to enjoy the company of your nearest and dearest and what better way than a creative new date night idea.
“However, if the date you have in mind involves your car, it is important to practise caution this Valentine’s Day.
“With the car date night TikTok trend surpassing 1 billion views and really taking off in popularity on and offline, the police are likely hyper-aware of couples taking to their cars for a date night, so there’s an even greater chance to be caught out over Valentine’s Day.
“It’s so important that you seek permission from the landowner if you are planning on sleeping on their land and ensure you limit distractions when in control of your car – whether it’s eating behind the wheel or trying to use your mobile phone.
“Not only can you face a financial fine but you don’t want to put yourself and other drivers at risk of harm.”
TikTokDrivers could face a huge fine for staying on private land without permission[/caption]
TikTokA potentially romantic night could end up going sour, experts warn[/caption]