UK motorists could face £1k fine over easily done driving licence mistake

Motoring fines can come in a variety of punishments – from parking fines to fixed penalties.

And while most of us are aware of obvious offences, such as speeding or going through red lights, there are other common ways of breaking the law that you may not know about – including an 'easily done' driving licence error.

Some of these offences could see you get a £5,000 fine, up to 9 points on your license and even a custodial prison sentence.

READ MORE: 'Compassionate' bloke fined £170 for taking 10 minutes to drop off hospital patient

Motoring expert Sal Patel from Finest Car Mats has revealed some of the most expensive driving offences that you could be making without realising.

Splashing the public – £100 to £5,000 fine

UK weather often means that there are puddles on the road and while driving through a puddle and splashing pedestrians may seem like a harmless prank, not only is doing so rude but it's also against the law.

The Road Traffic Act 1988 says it's "illegal to drive without reasonable consideration for other persons". This includes road users and pedestrians.

Sal says: "Splashing pedestrians at the side of the road is something that could lead to a fine between £100 and £5,000. In most cases, drivers would get a £100 fine and 3 penalty points for splashing a pedestrian."

"To avoid splashing, you can leave a good amount of distance between you and the car in front so you can get a better view of the road ahead. This will allow you more time to avoid the puddle or to slow down."

Unsecured pets – £100 to £5,000 fine

Whether you are taking your pet to the park or on a longer journey, they will need to be secured correctly or you risk invalidating your insurance, an on-the-spot £100 fine with 3 penalty points. If unpaid, the fine could increase to £5000 and you could also receive 9 penalty points.

Having a dog or cat in your car unsecured could be distracting and could cause harm to yourself and other road users.

"If you have a pet that you transport around in your car, think of them as you do with other members of your family. Your pets should be secured and safe when embarking on a journey. You can keep your pet safe by investing in a car crate or a suitable harness."

"When travelling with your pets, you will also need to make sure they are comfortable and you will need to carry water and install window shades to keep your pets cooler in the warm weather." says Sal.

Warning drivers about speed cameras – £1,000 fine

We are all facing the cost of living together and fines on top of our bills can make life very difficult, because of this many drivers will warn others about speed cameras in their area by flashing their lights or by taking to social media to warn others where cameras are located.

While it may be tempting to warn others about speed traps and save them money, you should remember that speed traps are put in areas where there is a history of road traffic accidents.

Sal says "Warning others about speed cameras can land you with a £1,000 fine, as you could be seen as obstructing the police. Obstruction of the police could also land you a 1-month prison sentence."

Not wearing your glasses – £100 to £1,000 fine

If you have ever forgotten your glasses and have decided to drive anyway not only have you put yourself and other road users at risk but you could also get a heft fine if pulled over by the police.

Your driving license will have codes on the back of it showing any restrictions on the vehicles you can drive as well as rules such as having to wear glasses. If you are pulled over and you aren't wearing your glasses you could get a £100 fixed penalty. Failing to pay the penalty could result in a fine increase of £1,000 and 6 penalty points.

"Failing to wear your glasses when driving is a motoring offence that could have deadly consequences. Not only do you pose a danger to others, but you can also invalidate your insurance by doing so. If you are a forgetful person, get a spare set of glasses and keep them in the glove compartment." says Sal.

Failing to renew a photocard license – £1,000 fine

Once you pass your test you have a responsibility to make sure your driving license is up to date and you must renew your photocard licence every 10 years. Failing to renew your license when it expires or providing a photo that doesn't show your true likeness could result in a £1,000 fine.

"10 years is a long time so remembering exactly when your license is going to expire is not something many of us are thinking about, because of this it's easy to let your license expire. Thankfully the DVLA do send out warnings before your license expires so it's best to renew your license as soon as you can. Doing your license renewal online is the quickest option and can take around 7 days for your new license to come through." says Sal.

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