Drivers are being warned to do one thing on Bonfire Night to avoid being whacked with a £5,000 fine.
Motorists have been urged to take particular care when travelling during fireworks night in order to prevent huge fines as well as serious accidents.
Whilst many Brits love going out on Bonfire Night to see fireworks, the number of displays can create a much smokier atmosphere than normal.
To help drivers stay safe behind the wheel, Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, recommended that motorists make sure they keep a sensible distance from the vehicle in front.
He said: “Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead as reduced visibility can impact your ability to judge distances accurately.
“One study found that tailgating is one of the leading causes of rear-end collisions.”
Under normal driving conditions, motorists must keep a steady distance of at least two seconds behind the vehicle they are following in order to give them enough time to react to sudden situations.
However, in rainy or foggy weather, drivers should increase this distance to four seconds in order to compensate for the limited visibility.
Those who crash their vehicle because they were unable to react to a sudden scenario on the roads face significant fines that can be up to £5,000 if a road user was seriously harmed.
Graham also recommended that, whilst drivers should make sure their headlights are in full working order, they must only turn on their fog lights when visibility is severely limited.
He said: “Only use fog lights when visibility dips below 100 metres (328 feet).
“If you’re still struggling to see, even with fog lights on, consider pulling over and stopping until it’s safe to proceed.
“Also, if you see a ‘Fog’ sign on the motorway, but the road is clear, you should still be prepared for a bank of fog or smoke ahead. Even if it seems to be clearing, you can suddenly find yourself in the thick of things.”
