Motorists heading to Glastonbury this week have been warned that simple driving errors could result in a hefty fine. Around 200,000 festival-goers are expected to attend the five-day event, so heavy congestion is expected on all nearby highways and roads.
While planning your trip in advance is crucial, it is also important to check your vehicle for certain key aspects to ensure it is up to standard. Motoring experts at National Scrap Car have warned that easy mistakes could land drivers in serious legal trouble and hit their wallets hard.
These include problems that are easily overlooked, such as a dirty license plate and an overloaded trunk. Motoring expert Dorry Potter said: “Proper preparation and compliance with traffic laws is crucial to preventing accidents and ensuring a smooth journey to the festival. Thorough vehicle checks, including tire pressure, fuel levels fluids and the condition of the battery, are essential to avoid breakdowns on the way to the festival or any unpleasant surprises when leaving the site on Monday.”
“In addition, it is estimated that between 10% and 20% of all accidents are due to driver fatigue, with highways and expressways experiencing the highest volume of accidents. Since festivals are held in rural settings and partygoers travel long distances, the risks are clear. Make sure you are well rested and not under the influence of alcohol before getting into your vehicle or after the festival.”
Here’s a rundown of the things that could get you into trouble on your trip to Glastonbury this week…
Dirty license plates
With the Met Office forecasting rain in Glastonbury, drivers are being warned to ensure their number plates are clean. Under the Vehicle Registration and Excise Act 1994, if you are caught with a hidden number plate you could be fined £100 on the spot.
If the case goes to court this could rise to a level 3 fine of £1,000.
Using your horn wrong
While traffic jams are to be expected at festivals, drivers are reminded that using their horn to express annoyance, rather than warning of danger, could result in a fine. The Highway Code states that a horn should only be used to alert someone to the danger of another vehicle or any other type of danger, not to express anger.
It is illegal to use the horn of a moving vehicle on a restricted road, essentially a road with street lights and a 30 mph limit, between 11:30 pm and 07:00 am
Police can fine drivers for illegal use of car horns. This is usually a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £30.
If drivers challenge an FPN, they can challenge the decision in court, but if they lose, the fine can increase up to £1,000.
Overpacking your vehicle
Festival goers are warned that overloading their vehicles with tents, extra passengers and food supplies could result in a hefty £300 fine. According to DVSA roadside inspection guidelines, if your vehicle is found to be overloaded by 15% or more, you could receive this fine.
If your vehicle is overloaded by between 0% and 10% you could face a fine of £100, while overloading between 10% and 15% can result in a fine of £200.
The maximum payload weight depends on the size of your car. For smaller cars like the Renault Clio, Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Polo, the maximum payload weight ranges between 385kg and 482kg.
With four adult passengers, each with suitcases, tents and supplies, it is easy to exceed 400 kg of payload.
Flashing lights outside the festival grounds
Highway Code Rule 110 states that you should only turn on your headlights to let other road users know you are there. You could be fined up to £1,000 if you turn on your lights to show you are angry, let other drivers go first or try to send any other message.
You’re likely to wear all types of footwear at a festival, from wellies to crocodiles, but driving around in muddy boots or shoes can be dangerous.
According to the police, if you are caught driving with inappropriate footwear after an accident, you could be fined £100 and have three penalty points on your license for “driving without due care and attention”.
The case could end up in court, in which case the penalties could amount to a huge £5,000 fine, nine penalty points and a possible driving ban, so it is very important to wear suitable driving shoes.
Experts advise festival-goers to bring a change of clothes and shoes to leave in their cars so they have something dry and comfortable to take home.
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