WET AND WINDY: Splashing pedestrians while driving could carry £5,000 fine
Updated: Sep 26, 2022
There are many driving offences that can lead to fines, such as speeding or illegal parking, but there are also some offences that aren’t as commonly known which can land you some hefty fines.
Thanks to new research, Zuto Car Finance have identified that splashing pedestrians can cost you up to £5,000 and have also provided some top tips to help avoid fines like these and stay safe on the roads in wet and windy weather.
Splashing pedestrians
According to the Road Traffic Act 1988 in reference to careless and inconsiderate driving, the law 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.”
This means that speeding up through a puddle at the side of the road to splash an unsuspecting pedestrian is actually illegal and can land you a fine of up to £5,000!
The best way to avoid this is to either slow down when going through the puddle (if safe to do so) to minimise the impact or to go around the puddle and avoid it completely (again, only if safe to do so).
How to drive in heavy rain
Driving in heavy rain can not only land you some costly fines, but it can also be quite dangerous. Here are some top tips for driving in heavy rain to avoid being fined and stay safe on the road:
Watch your speed and distance with other vehicles: don’t forget, your braking distance will be twice as long in wet weather.
Be careful of the spray on the road: This will make it much harder to see and make sure that your wipers are in good condition to be able to deal with it!
Dipped headlights are safer to use: Using dipped headlights, even in the daytime, will make sure that your car is visible in even the worst of rain. Don’t forget to put your fog lamps on only when visibility is below 100m. Although it can be very tempting to use them on those dark winter mornings, be careful as it can dazzle other drivers and land you a £50 fine. Especially with water on the roads. A quick and easy check to know if you need your fog lights on is checking if you see the rear lights of the car in front of you. If you can see them, its best not to put your fog lights on. If you can’t, put them on.
Watch out for surface water: Make sure to always take care when driving on wet roads and adjust your speed accordingly. Speeding through a thin layer of water could cause your car to lose grip on the road, also known as aquaplaning. If this happens, don’t brake, simply ease off the accelerator and keep your hands on the steering wheel until your speed naturally decreases or you clear the water. Driving through deep water also may cause damage to your car.
How to drive in strong wind
Likewise, driving in heavy wind can be just as dangerous and costly. Here are a couple of tips for driving in heavy wind:
Keep your speed down: So short gusts of wind won’t be able to catch you out and you’ll be less likely to lose control.
Hold the steering wheel firmly: Gusts of winds can come and go so have a firm grip on the wheel so you’re not caught off guard by them.
Lucy Sherliker, Head of Customer at Zuto Car Finance, said: “Although many people are unaware of these Highway Code Rules, it’s important to know the laws of the road, not only to avoid being financially penalised, but to also keep everyone safe while driving.
“Hopefully this information along with the top tips will save some pedestrians from having an unexpected shower as well!”
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