Debunking UK Driving Laws

We’ve pulled together research alongside expert commentary to debunk some of the UK’s commonly misconstrued driving laws, letting Brits know once and for all where they stand (never on the hard shoulder, right?). On the flip side, we’ve also looked into the driving laws that you may not know existed. Ever used your phone to pay for a drive-through meal? Yep, that’s illegal!

Finally, by looking at what people are searching for online, we’ve launched an investigation into which UK cities have the most confused drivers. Data here was collected July 2021.

Have you ever given a friend a lift and taken money from them, perhaps to cover petrol? If so, we’re afraid to say that you were actually breaking the law. Known as ‘taxi touting’, it is an offence that both licensed and unlicensed taxi drivers can fall foul of. It could land you a fine of up to £2,500 – perhaps best just to give them a lift as a favour next time!

Under rule 57 of the Highway Code, when in a vehicle, dogs or other animals should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving, or injure you or themselves if you stop quickly. If you are seen to be driving without due care and attention, you could face getting 3 to 9 points on your licence. 

Another important law to know about is how to display your number plates. Personalised plates and the demand for customisation have been on the rise. However, whether you’re choosing a new font, icons or different sizing, you must follow the rules and regulations. 

According to Government rules, you cannot rearrange the letters or numbers of your registration, or alter them so that they’re hard to read. You could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will fail its MOT test if you drive with incorrectly displayed number plates – not worth the risk if you ask us! 

Jack Evans, Motoring Journalist at Blackball Media comments, “with drivers facing a fine of up to £5,000 for splashing pedestrians or receiving three penalty points if found to be driving with snow on their car’s roof, there’s a real incentive to make sure you’re aware of some of the lesser-known motoring laws. 

“There are plenty of hidden driving rules that can easily catch the everyday driver out. Keeping up to speed with these laws can be the difference between a clean driving licence or penalty points – so it’s well worth getting clued up. Even the most experienced of drivers could benefit from finding out about these hidden driving laws, so get brushed up today.

From driving in flip flops to ‘getting away with’ speeding, we’ve taken a look at some commonly misunderstood laws to answer the question of what’s legal.

While you do run the risk of being stopped for driving without due care and attention, it is actually perfectly legal to drive either in heels, flip-flops or even without shoes, (not that we recommend it). Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that clothing and footwear should not prevent you from using the controls in the correct manner. When behind the wheel, it’s crucial that you remain focused and in control at all times, so it’s best to wear clothing and footwear that won’t distract you or get in the way. 

Have you always thought that a speed camera would flash if you were breaking the limit? It turns out that’s not always the case. We discovered that in fact only one brand of speed camera – Gatso – will flash when triggered by a speeding driver. The minimum penalty for speeding is £100 in fines and 3 points added to your licence – a risk not worth taking at any time. 

We asked Peter Brabin, Head of Training at Billplant Driving School to share his expert knowledge on these misconceptions.

“There is an incredibly common myth that you are not allowed to drive with an interior light on, one that many people believe well into their adult years. It seems to stem from parents wanting to keep the interior light off when they’re driving with children in the car – presumably with the hope that they’ll cause less distractions or take a nap!

“There is nothing in The Highway Code however that states you cannot drive with an interior light on within your vehicle. That being said, it can also be considered a distraction to other road users, so if you are driving in the dark with an interior light on, it’s possible you may be pulled over and asked to turn it off by the police.”

Commenting on whether or not it is illegal to drive in flip flops, Peter says;

“Flip flops are largely considered flimsy and are therefore considered impractical footwear for managing any type of vehicle. But while they’re not ideal as your foot could very well slip out of the flip flop or off the pedals, it is not illegal to drive wearing them, no matter what your parents and friends may tell you.

“If you’re ever unsure, it never hurts to have a solid, sturdy pair of shoes in the car to drive in, which you can change out of once you’ve arrived at your destination.”

Once again, as mentioned above, Rule 97 of the Highway Code states footwear should not prevent you from using the controls of a car in the correct manner. Therefore it is important to choose appropriate footwear when driving. 

Although these laws aren’t illegal, they could still be seen as a breach of the Highway Code and therefore shouldn’t be implied as carrying no possible repercussions. We recommend that drivers be as safe as possible and take precautions when stepping behind the wheel. 

Using search volume data, we looked into which UK cities are the most confused when it comes to driving laws. Searching for terms such as ‘driving laws’, ‘weird driving laws’ and ‘uk driving laws’, we found these results. The results show search volumes per city and aren’t relative to each cities size. 

We discovered that Birmingham is home to the most confused drivers, followed by North West rivals Manchester and Liverpool. 

Kingston upon Hull ranks as having the most knowledgeable drivers, with the fewest queries relating to driving laws over a 12-month period – something definitely worth honking their horns over!

While we were digging into each city’s search history, we also looked at Google’s ‘People Also Ask’ feature to find out the UK’s most frequently asked questions about driving laws. 

The results show that we can’t wait to get on the road, with most questions relating to the driving age: