7 winter driving mistakes that could land you with a fine

Don’t let a driving mistake leave your business out in the cold. Here are 7 winter road risks and the penalties you could be facing this year.

 

As the nights draw in, the weather takes a turn for the worse and the temperature begins to tumble, many drivers could easily commit a driving offence that ends up in a fine.

 

This could be bad news for professional drivers, so prepare yourself by reading up on the seven winter driving mistakes you need to watch out for.

 

As well as being aware of road laws, you’ll also need to have specialist insurance for taxis to keep your business on track and on the right side of the law, whatever the time of year. 

 

UK fines for driving offences – how does the system work?

 

As a professional driver who relies on their car to make a living, it’s unlikely that you’ll deliberately break the law. But that said, driving offences are still extremely common on UK roads and even the most law-abiding of taxi drivers can end up in trouble after a lapse of concentration.

 

Some driving offences are more serious than others and will be dealt with by a far heavier penalty. For example, for a minor traffic or parking offence you might just receive an on-the-spot fine. Annoying but not likely to put a huge dent in your profits.

 

But for something more serious, such as dangerous driving, you could be hit with a hefty court fine, penalty points on your licence, disqualification or even a jail sentence. That could mean curtains for your taxi business.

 

According to the Sentencing Council, fines are the most common type of sentence imposed by the UK courts. Indeed, the most recent figures from the Ministry of Justice show that fines accounted for 78% of all sentences.

 

Currently, the maximum fine a magistrates’ courts or a Crown Court can impose on an offender is unlimited. But this will obviously depend on the seriousness of the offence.

 

When imposing a fine, a court must consider how serious the offence is and the financial circumstances of the person before them. In fact, how much someone earns can sometimes affect how much of a fine they pay.

 

While the fine should be an appropriate hardship, it shouldn’t force the person below a reasonable subsistence level. The Sentencing Council has produced a helpful guide to the assessment of fines and how the system works.

 

Just as a quick overview, the court will go through a 3-step process to determine the size of the fine:

 

• Step 1 - What level of fine can be imposed for the offence? For example, under s36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 running a red light is an offence carrying a penalty of three points on your licence and a maximum fine of £1,000.
• Step 2 - What are the sentencing guidelines that the court needs to follow for the particular offence? Whether in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court, every offence has a step-by-step process through which the seriousness of the offence is assessed and the level of responsibility of the offender is taken into account. For example, something that could increase the penalty for a speeding offence is whether the vehicle was carrying passengers or was being driven for hire or reward.
• Step 3 - What is the defendant’s ability to pay? When imposing any fine, the financial circumstances of the offender have to be taken into account. To find this out the court will probably ask you to fill out a ‘means questionnaire’.

 

An important point to be aware of is if an offence has been committed to gain a significant commercial benefit, then this standard approach may not be followed. For example, where someone is prosecuted for taxi-touting, then the standard approach may not reflect the level of financial gain achieved. So, in other words, you could be facing an even bigger fine!

 

Remember, while a fine might reduce your profits for the month, getting penalty points on your licence could end up costing you your livelihood. If you’re serious about keeping your taxi business healthy, you’ll want to keep your licence as clean as possible.

 

Any endorsement could put your taxi licence under threat. Different local authorities have different rules about how many penalty points a taxi driver can have on their licence, so check the limits in your area. And make sure your drivers are aware of them if you’re running a fleet.

 

Some local councils even run their own penalty point schemes for taxi drivers, which cover an even wider range of offences – things like not carrying a legal spare tyre or failing to disclose a fixed penalty notice.

 

It’s always worth getting in touch with your local licensing authorities if you’re unsure what the local rules are. Use this online government finder to find the details of the council near you.

 

Having points on your licence could also make insurance for taxis more difficult to arrange. That’s why it’s a good idea to go straight to a specialist like the Taxi Insurer of this applies to you.

 

7 winter driving mistakes that could land you a fine

 

Obviously, we’d all rather avoid a fine in the first place if we can. Roads can be risky at the best of times, but in winter the potential for landing yourself with a fine is ramped up.

 

Keep these things in mind when you’re behind the wheel this winter:

 

1. Wearing bulky winter clothes when driving

 

When the weather turns chilly, the first thing we want to do is bundle up in warm clothes. We’re talking bulky coats, gloves, thick winter boots - particularly if you’re helping customers in and out of the taxi all day.

 

But before you get too cosy, remember Rule 97 of the Highway Code. It says that you should ensure ‘clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner’. And if you’re found to be unable to operate your vehicle safely then you could be prosecuted if there’s an accident.

 

Can you still feel the controls easily through your bulky boots? Do your gloves give you a good grip on the wheel?

 

Remember, you could also risk invalidating your insurance for taxis if you’re involved in an accident wearing shoes or clothing you know are unsuitable.

 

2. Snow covered or dirty number plates

 

Your windscreen and mirrors should be clean and clear from anything that could obstruct your view - that’s day one basics! But when was the last time you checked your number plate?

 

Leaving your number plate covered with snow or ice could also land you in trouble, so give it a quick wipe down before setting off on your first fare of the day.

 

And it’s not just snow and ice that can cause problems. When there’s so much water on the roads, your taxi will soon be caked in mud and dirt, covering up your registration. Be aware, the rules apply to both the front and rear number plates, so remember to check the back of your vehicle, too.

 

When your number plate is obscured, speed and traffic enforcement cameras will be unable to pick it up. As well as tracking potential traffic offenders, the police also use the plate to check your vehicle is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT.

 

While you might get away with an on-the-spot £100 fine, you could easily face a penalty of up to £1,000.

 

And it’s not just number plates you need to keep clear. It’s also illegal to drive with snow on your lights, mirrors, roof, and any of your windows.

 

Rule 229 of the Highway Code says that in icy and snowy weather, before you set off ‘you MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows'.

 

3. Low tyre pressure in cold weather

 

As any professional driver knows, having tyres in tip-top shape is vital for effective braking, acceleration, steering and cornering at any time of year. But in the treacherous driving conditions of winter, this is doubly so.

 

Obviously checking the tread depth and looking out for damage, wear and tear on your tyres is important, but at this time of year you also need to keep a closer eye on pressures, too. Tyres lose their pressure more quickly in cold weather.

 

To keep you, your passengers and other drivers safe you should be checking your tyre pressures regularly. Whether you do it at home with your own tyre pressure gauge, at your taxi base or when you’re filling up with fuel, make it a regular routine once a week.

 

Any tyre that’s found to be unsafe could land you with a fine of £2,500 and 3 points on your licence. So, if you were pulled over by the police or involved in an accident, and all four tyres were found to be illegal, you could be facing a £10,000 fine and 12 points. That could be enough to put the brakes on your business permanently. Tyre labelling may be helpful in this and you check out how to do this correctly over on blog.

 

4. Careless driving on winter roads

 

It’s nearly Christmas. Traffic is heavy. Your passengers are keen to get home and you’ve still got present shopping to do after your shift. The added pressure at this time of year could see you taking more risks than normal. It’s all too easy to speed or drive too closely to the vehicle in front.

 

Let’s have a quick recap on the Highway Code’s typical stopping distances on a dry road:

 

• 20mph – 12 metres / 3 car lengths
• 30mph – 23 metres / 6 car lengths
• 40mph – 36 metres / 9 car lengths
• 50mph – 53 metres / 13 car lengths
• 60mph – 73 metres / 18 car lengths
• 70mph – 96 metres / 24 car lengths

 

Driving a minibus? Then these stopping distances will increase for heavier vehicles. In wet conditions they should be doubled. On snow or ice, times them by 10!

 

Remember, even if you’re driving slowly, if you lose control in icy conditions you might still be prosecuted for careless driving and face a hefty fine.

 

5. Splashing pedestrians when driving through puddles

 

 

 

While it might sound like something out of a comedy sketch show, driving through a puddle that splashes a pedestrian is far from funny. Not only can it be a really unpleasant experience for them but it could also end up with a fine for you.

 

Under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to drive ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons.’ And even inadvertently splashing a pedestrian with water is included in that.

 

While it might be dealt with by an on-the-spot fine of £100, you could also be hit with penalty points and if it goes to court, the fine could rise significantly.

 

During wet weather, either wait for pedestrians to pass if there is a puddle, or approach slowly to reduce the size and reach of the splash. Splashing a pedestrian could also damage your reputation in your local community, something a taxi driver really can’t afford to do.

 

And on the subject of driving in very wet weather, be extra careful if there’s flood water on the roads. Some insurers might not cover you if you damage your car as a result of driving through flood water on purpose.

 

Choosing the right insurance for taxis is the first step in keeping your vehicle safe at any time of year. Then it’s up to you to make sure you take the right actions to avoid unnecessary damage.

 

Driving into flood water could be classed as avoidable damage as you can never be 100% sure how deep it is. The number one tip for driving through flood water is, don’t do it!

 

We’ve got more seasonal driving tips for taxi drivers  elsewhere on our site. From dealing with gusty winds and April showers to summer heat exhaustion and allergies, there are plenty of useful tips to keep you on the road and earning, no matter what.

 

6. Leaving your car engine running to defrost the windscreen

 

De-icing a frozen windscreen first thing in the morning is never a pleasant experience. But if you leave your car with its engine running on a public road, you could be slapped with a fine under regulations 98 and 107 of the Road Vehicles (Constructions and Use) Regulations 1986. If you’re parked on your own driveway, then there shouldn’t be a problem.

 

Don’t forget about theft, too. Leaving your car defrosting with the engine running could be easy pickings for opportunist car thieves.

 

7. Fog lights dazzling other drivers

 

While some drivers will switch their fog lights on at the slightest hint of mist or drop in visibility, that really isn’t the right approach. According to Rule 236 of the Highway Code, you should only use your fog lights when visibility in front of your car is seriously reduced as they dazzle other road users and can even obscure your brake lights.

 

Rule 226 of the Code states that visibility is seriously reduced if you can’t see more than 100 metres ahead of you. And when visibility does improve, you must switch them off or risk causing an accident.

 

For lots more information on fog lights and when to use them, read this helpful article from the team of motoring experts at Auto Express.

 

Part of staying on top of your taxi driving business is to be aware of any new driving laws that might affect you. We’ve rounded up the latest driving laws introduced in 2022  so you can stay up to date.

 

A recent development that you might not be aware of is the penalty for failing to offer an accessible service to disabled passengers taking a pre-booked vehicle.

 

Under the new Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 you could face a fine of up to £1,000 if you fail to provide reasonable mobility assistance.

 

Driving offences and their penalties

 

As well as making sure you have the right insurance for taxis, you also need to be aware of the current penalties for driving offences in the UK.

 

The following table is taken from Annex 5 of the Official Highway Code but can be subject to change.

 

Offence	Fine	Imprisonment	Disqualification	Penalty Points
Causing death by dangerous driving	Unlimited	Up to life imprisonment	Obligatory – 5 years minimum	3 to 11 if not disqualified
Dangerous driving	Unlimited	Up to 2 years	Obligatory	3 to 11 if not disqualified
Causing death by careless driving or under influence of drink or drugs	Unlimited	Up to life imprisonment	Obligatory – 5 years minimum	3 to 11 if not disqualified
Careless and inconsiderate driving	Unlimited	No	Discretionary	3 to 9
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol: failing to provide specimen	Unlimited	Up to 6 months	Obligatory	3 to 11 if not disqualified
Failure to stop at an accident or failing to report an accident	Unlimited	Up to 6 months	Discretionary	5 to 10
Driving while disqualified	Unlimited	Up to 6 months (12 months in Scotland)	Discretionary	6
Driving after refusal or revocation of licence on medical grounds	Unlimited	Up to 6 months	Discretionary	3 to 6
Driving without insurance	Unlimited	No	Discretionary	6 to 8
Using a vehicle in a dangerous condition	£2500 or unlimited for LGV and PCV vehicles	No	Obligatory if committed within 3 years of previous conviction for a similar offence - 6 months min. Otherwise, discretionary	3 in each case
Failure to have proper control of vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead	£1000 or £2500 for PCV or goods vehicle	No	Discretionary	3
Using a hand-held mobile phone when driving	£1000 or £2500 for PCV or goods vehicle	No	Discretionary	6
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence	£1000	No	Discretionary	3 to 6
Traffic light offences	£1000	No	Discretionary	3
No MOT certificate	£1000	No	No	-
Seat belt offences	£500	No	No	-
Speeding	£1000 or £2500 for motorway offences	No	Discretionary	3 to 6, or 3 (fixed penalty)
Failing to identify driver of vehicle	£1000	No	Discretionary	6

                                              

Stay protected with specialist insurance for taxis

 

Working as a taxi driver at any time of year can be both profitable and a real pleasure, particularly if you already own a vehicle that’s ready for business. With that in mind, you’ll want to protect your car with specialist insurance for taxis.

 

Insurance for taxis like yours is easy to find at the Taxi Insurer. Our friendly team can find quotes to suit your budget and business needs. Give us a call today.