Winter driving is difficult in many ways. Weather conditions mean that you have to drive more slowly and carefully. You probably have to spend more time getting your car or your drive ready for action on a frosty day or snowy morning. It can be tempting when time is short and you are in a hurry to cut corners and start driving before you are really ready. Apart from the obvious safety considerations though taking shortcuts like these is a way of getting yourself a hefty fine. So here are our hints and tips on how to avoid winter driving fines this winter season.
Christmas is just weeks away and most people are already stretched between rising bills, food shops, presents and travel – so the last thing you’d want is an unexpected fine.
But according to motoring expert Ammar Jafer, CEO of Speedy Machine, the colder months are exactly when drivers unknowingly break the most rules.
“Winter driving feels very different compared to summer – the dark afternoons, the Christmas errands, the whole ‘just get me there’ feeling,” Jafer says. “That’s usually when people make small mistakes without noticing, and some of those can turn into fines.”
To help Brits avoid ending up thousands of pounds out of pocket this Christmas, here are the winter habits he says catch drivers out every single year.
Setting off with misted-up windows – up to £1,000
At this time of year, the mornings seem to get colder and darker by the day. So it’s hardly surprising to see people jump into the car, wipe a tiny patch on the fogged-up windscreen and hope the heaters will “deal with the rest” before they reach the end of the street.
But Jafer says this is treated no differently to driving with ice or snow blocking your view. “Condensation feels harmless because it doesn’t look as dramatic as frost,” he says. “But if the glass is steamy and you can’t see properly, it’s still a visibility offence – one that can easily turn into a £1,000 hit to your bank account.”
In this case, it’s really just a matter of waiting an extra minute or two. Switching the heater on too soon can actually make the fog worse before it clears, which is something most drivers don’t realise.
Snow sliding off your roof – potential fines up to £2,500
Clearing the windscreen is standard. Clearing the roof? Often forgotten. Yet it’s one of the biggest winter hazards that leads to avoidable fines.
“People think the snow will just blow off harmlessly,” Jafer explains. “But if you brake hard, that whole layer can avalanche straight down the windscreen and blind you completely. Or it flies off and hits the car behind – and suddenly you’re the dangerous driver.”
Police can class this as careless or even dangerous driving depending on what happens next. Jafer says he’s seen penalties range from a quick warning to £2,500 fines and multiple points.
And it’s not just snow – loose slush and sheets of half-melted ice are just as risky.
Festive decorations blocking your view – fines up to £1,000
Christmas is officially everywhere – from the colourful decorations filling the streets to the familiar festive songs playing in every shop you step into. And because the whole world seems to be joining in, it feels perfectly harmless to bring a little bit of that joy into your car to make the daily commute more cheerful.
But winter visibility is already poor thanks to long nights and gloomy afternoons, and those decorations can get in the way faster than people expect.
“That’s not to say you can’t have anything Christmassy in the car,” Jafer says. “But hanging decorations that can swing straight across your eyeline – especially when you’re turning – are best avoided. It only takes one moment of distraction, and police won’t care that it’s festive. If it blocks your view, it’s a visibility offence.”
Plenty of drivers are surprised to learn that even a tiny obstruction can trigger fines of up to £1,000. And, as Jafer points out, officers often notice these things when cars are stopped at lights or stuck in traffic, not necessarily while they’re moving.
Driving in bulky winter boots – up to £1,000 and 9 points
Big winter boots keep your feet warm, but they’re not designed for pedal feel. Thick soles, slippery tread and wide shapes make it harder to brake smoothly or switch between pedals quickly.
“A lot of drivers don’t realise how much footwear changes their reaction time,” Jafer says. “If your boots make you brake too late or misjudge the pedal, police can argue you’re not fully in control.”
While wearing winter boots isn’t illegal on its own, Jafer says they’ve contributed to cases where drivers were handed serious penalties – including fines close to £1,000 and up to 9 penalty points.
He suggests leaving a pair of flat shoes in the car specifically for driving on colder days.
Loose Christmas gifts rolling around the cabin – up to £300
This is the season when people throw everything into the car at once: food shops, gift bags, boxes, decorations and oversized toys that don’t fit in the boot. And whatever doesn’t make it into the boot usually ends up dumped on the back seat or the passenger floor.
But one sharp stop is all it takes for a heavy gift to shoot forward with some force. “People genuinely underestimate how dangerous a loose box can be,” Jafer says. “And police can treat unsecured items as a safety issue, especially if they interfere with braking or steering.”
The fines themselves are usually on the lower end – somewhere between £100 and £300 – but the real worry is how easily something can hit you or a passenger inside the car.
So make sure bigger presents are tucked in the boot or wedged securely on the back seat and keep anything that might roll well away from the footwell.
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