Five ways your passengers (and pet) could land you up to £6,250 in fines

Motorists are urged to be aware of five ways their passengers (and pets) can fine them up to £6,250.

As if owning and operating a car isn’t expensive enough, and with the crisis of the cost of living, rising prices and inflation, making sure your vehicle-related costs are low is a must.

When driving a vehicle, we have become accustomed to the laws and regulations to be a safe driver, according to the traffic rules.

However, many Brits do not know how your passenger can get you a hefty fine.

To warn Britons about unexpected fines, Charlotte Rennox, expert on medical negligence, has with her Fletcher’s Grouphas released five ways a passenger and pets can fine a driver – totaling a whopping £6,250.

So here’s what Ms. Rennox advised you to watch out for, to avoid getting hit with these charges…

1. Seat belts

Estimated fine: £100

While this may be a given for regular drivers, the medical negligence expert says you should inform your passengers that wearing a seatbelt is legal.

Ms Rennox says: ‘It’s ingrained in drivers to wear a seatbelt at all times, to the point where it’s rightfully become second nature, but your passengers may not be the same.’

“Wearing a seatbelt became mandatory for all rear seat occupants in 1991, so if your passengers are caught without a seatbelt you could get three points on your license and a possible driving ban even if you’re wearing one.”

She added: ‘Obviously the main benefits of wearing seatbelts are that they can literally save your life, but if you make sure everyone in the car is wearing them before you leave you could be fined £100 prevent.

“Protecting children while driving is critical, so it is your responsibility to ensure that any passenger under the age of 14 wears a seatbelt. If caught, you could be fined for any child not wearing a seatbelt while driving; that can be as much as £500.’

2. Smoking

Estimated fine: £50

The expert advised: ‘Since October 2015, it has been illegal to smoke cigarettes in the car with anyone under the age of 18. Both the driver and the smoker could be fined £50 as a result. The financial implications of this are significant, but more importantly, smoking in a car can cause children to inhale the cigarette’s toxins and chemicals, potentially causing major respiratory problems in the future.

“The law doesn’t apply to smoking e-cigarettes, to a 17-year-old driver in his own car, or to driving a convertible with the roof all the way up, but it’s never worth the risk.”

3. Using a phone

Estimated Fine: Up to £1,000

British drivers have also been urged to know that using their phones while driving – even when supervising learner drivers – could earn them a huge fine.

The expert said: ‘We know that driving while using a phone is illegal and extremely dangerous, but did you know that a passenger using their phone could be fined?

“If a passenger uses their phone to monitor a learner driver you could be fined up to £1,000 along with six points on your licence.

“As the person assisting the learner driver, you are also expected to have full visibility and attention to the road, as if you were the real driver.”

4. Too many passengers

Estimated fine: £100

Ms Rennox added that excess passengers could see motorists slapped with fines of around £50,

She said: “Ultimately, cars should not carry more people than they are designed for. While there are no strict laws about your car being filled to the brim with passengers, it could seriously invalidate your insurance if you get caught.

However, having too many passengers can cause a host of driver distractions, such as not being able to see your wing mirrors and creating blind spots, increasing the risk of a collision. If you are stopped for careless driving you may be fined £100 on the spot.”

5. Pets

Estimated fine: £5,000

Another area that many motorists may not be aware of that they could be fined is pets in the car.

Ms Rennox says road regulations require animals to be kept in the car to avoid distraction.

She said, ‘Watch out for your furry friends! They may seem like the ideal travel companion, but they can be a distraction for the driver. Road regulations state that animals must be properly restrained so that they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure yourself or themselves if you stop quickly.

‘Your pets don’t want to cause you a nuisance, but if they’re not restrained with a seatbelt, dog carrier, dog cage or dog guard you could face a massive £5,000 fine’