Ten UK driving laws people could be breaking without realising

If you don't let your taxi driver know you're ill you are a officially a criminal.

British drivers and passengers could be breaking a number of laws dismissed as myths and legends.

For example, did you know its illegal to get into a taxi without letting the driver know you’re ill?

Motorists could be finding themselves in hot water, facing fines, licence points, driving bans or even prison sentences.

Before you say we didn’t warn you, here are ten UK driving laws which you could be breaking.

Driving with pets

When driving with your loyal companions it is important they are properly restrained so they can’t distract the driver or injure passengers or themselves if the vehicle has to suddenly stop.

If a motorist is pulled over with an unruly pet in the vehicle, they could be in the dog house – facing a fine for driving without due care and attention.

Flip flop fail

At the first sign of a tiny bit of sunshine Brits like to let whip out the flip flops and let their feet breathe.

While it’s not specifically illegal to drive in flip flops there’s a catch. If a driver is found to be wearing unsuitable footwear then it is considered to be putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk.

Drivers could face penalty points or a fine as a result.

Other footwear that may be considered inappropriate includes Ugg boots and wellies as they don’t offer suitable grip and renowned for slipping off the pedals.

‘Carpool Karaoke’

Singing in the car can be a joyous experience, but while fist bumping and reaching those high notes nay seem innocent enough, you might want to tone down your inner James Corden.

Distractions like loud music can result in a fine or penalty points as it can be classed as driving without due care and attention.

Backseat bickering

Drivers should try to ignore being wound up by backseat drivers. If you’re pulled over by the police for arguing in the car, you could get penalty points or a fine as it’s considered a distraction from the road.

Drinking in a motorhome

If the driver of a motorhome is drinking booze inside their vehicle in a public place they are breaking the law, even if it is parked up and they have no intention of driving.

They are still considered to be in charge of the vehicle and could be fined or banned from driving if caught out.

This also applies to people who want to ‘sleep off’ a few drinks inside their car.

Being ill in a taxi

It might sound medieval, but if a person is suffering from an illness or disease it’s up to the taxi driver whether they want to take their fare.

If a passenger knows they are ill and doesn’t let the driver know, they are breaking the law.

Drive-thru takeaways

Motorists paying at a drive-thru using their phones are automatically breaking the law by using a handheld device behind the wheel.

It doesn’t mater if your vehicle is stopped at lights, in a traffic jam or if you’re waiting for your burger and chips.

A driver shouldn’t have their phone in their hands if the engine is running, including if it automatically stops to save fuel.

Making a splash 

Splashing pedestrians is deemed to be driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons’ under the Road Traffic Act 1998 and offenders could be hit by a £100 fixed penalty notice and three points if they’re caught by the police.

Be extra vigilant when nearing puddles, or driving in treacherous conditions.

Lights out

While many Brits may have been brought up to believe having interior lights on at night is illegal, it turns out this small white lie is not too far from the truth.

While there is no law against driving with interior lights on, a police officer can deem this to be a distraction and either ask them to turn the light off or charge them with careless driving.

Feeding the meter

It may seem innocent enough to ask a passer-by for some spare change when you’re left short at a parking meter. But this could be classed as begging and considered a crime under the Vagrancy Act.

The lesser known driving laws were compiled by fuel additive manufacturer Redex who said some of them came ‘as a real surprise.’

Brand manager Louise Seddon said: ‘We hope that our research can provide some insight for road users and encourage people to be more vigilant when it comes to driving and abiding by car laws in the UK.’

Think you’re clued up on your driving laws? Try this quiz to find out.