Motorists could be slapped with fines of up to £5,000 for breaking three little-known driving rules on Christmas Day.
Experts at Cinch have pointed out the simple mistakes road users could make, which could put a downer on the Christmas festivities.
Playing Christmas songs too loudly while behind the wheel is one most individuals are likely to break.
Meanwhile, wearing a Christmas costume that interferes with motorists’ control of a model could also cause havoc, with fines of up to £5,000 possible.
Parking in the wrong location is also a concern with motorists likely to feel the sting if caught out.
Playing Christmas music too loudly
Getting into the Christmas spirit and playing songs loudly may appear a bit of harmless fun while on the roads.
However, Cinch warned motorists enjoying the music a little too much could be fined for “driving without due care and attention”.
This could see drivers hit with a £100 charge and up to three penalty points on a driving licence.
However, bills can soar to a whopping £5,000 fine if individuals cause an accident that results in an injury or fatality.
Cinch’s motoring editor Sam Sheehan said: “There’s nothing wrong with driving to music as long, as you can still hear hazards like horns and sirens if you need to.”
Wearing a Christmas outfit
The Highway Code is clear that items of clothing and footwear should not prevent motorists from using the car controls safely.
It means those hoping to don fancy dress costumes for Christmas parties could be affected and caught out.
Motorists could be hit with a £5,000 fine in severe cases in a massive dent to the Christmas fun.
Sam added: “Nobody’s going to try and drive in an inflatable Santa costume (we hope not anyway), but you need to be more careful than you might think with what you wear behind the wheel.
“If your shoes make it difficult to push the pedals, don’t change into them until you’ve reached your Christmas party venue. Also, don’t put on any hats, masks, or fake beards that affect your vision while driving.”
Parking in an unsafe place
Parking spaces may be rare to come by with so many families meeting up over Christmas.
However, stopping in the wrong place could backfire with penalties of up to £100 possible in some situations.
The Highway Code states individuals should not leave their vehicles anywhere that would prevent access to Emergency Service vehicles.
Meanwhile, cars should not be stopped in front of a property, near a junction or at a bus stop.
