How your dog could cost you your driver’s license or get you a £5,000 fine
- Motorists have been urged to restrain their pets while driving – or face heavy charges
- It can cost you your driver’s license if you don’t obey the traffic rules
Motorists should be aware of the only driving law that can earn them a fine of £5,000 – or worse, a driving ban.
With many motorists hitting the road for the Easter holiday, motorists should be aware that it could cost you dearly if your dog hangs his head out of the car window while driving.
According to ChooseMyCar.com, a used car buying service, a highway code rule means that motorists who don’t adequately restrain their pets while driving could end up in hot water.
By hanging your pet’s head outside a vehicle, you are demonstrating that the animal is not properly secured to the car, according to traffic regulations.
This is not only dangerous, but can also lead to the driver being pulled over.
There is one rule of the highway code that means drivers who do not adequately restrain their pet while driving can end up in hot water
ChooseMyCar.com founder Nick Zapolski has urged Britons to properly hold their four-legged friends when traveling, however short.
Rule 57 of the Highway Code clearly states that: ‘If you are in a vehicle, ensure that dogs or other animals are properly restrained so that they cannot distract you while driving or injure you or themselves if you stop quickly .
‘A belt harness, dog carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways to safely secure animals in cars.’
And if a driver is stopped and found not to be following these guidelines, he could face a series of fines.
Drivers can be hit with an on the spot fine of up to £5,000.
They can also get up to nine points on their driver’s license, or worst of all, they can even get a full driving ban – meaning they have to take a mandatory retest to get their driver’s license back.
Following this, ChooseMyCar.com founder Nick Zapolski has urged Britons to keep their four-legged friends properly restrained when taking a journey, however short.
He added that many drivers are unaware of Rule 57 and are therefore vulnerable to losing their license.
Mr Zapolski said: ‘It always raises a smile when you see a happy dog with its head hanging out the window, ears flapping in the wind, but it’s an obvious way to demonstrate that you follow Rule 57 does not follow – and that may incur costs. you your license.
‘And not only that: in the event of an accident, an unbridled dog can cause serious damage to itself and the people in the car.
“It’s cheap and easy to get a seatbelt for your dog or a dog guard for the trunk — and it can prevent a lot of heartache.”