EXCLUSIVE: Motorists could be hit with an eye-watering four-figure fine for common habits behind the wheel.
Motorists could be hit with thousands of pounds worth of fines for simple habits behind the wheel (Image: Getty)
Motorists could be hit with a whopping £9,700 fine for breaking five common driving habits on UK roads, according to experts. Simple mistakes like cutting up other drivers or beeping aggressively can massively backfire, with road users at risk of hefty fines and penalty points.
These penalties can range from £5,000 to just a couple of hundred pounds, with the top five habits adding up to £9,700 if motorists pick up driving law infractions for all ten. Road users could be more at risk than they think, with a new study by Confused.com of 2,000 road users showing that almost nine in 10 (86%) motorists in the UK have at least one bad driving habit.
Drivers are at risk of invalidating their insurance as well as being slapped with fines (Image: Getty)
According to the website, cutting up other drivers is the most costly driving habit, with road users at risk of a £5,000 fine. This was followed by drink driving, which carries a penalty of £2,500. Beeping aggressively was next,with road users risking a £1,000 charge.
Flashing other motorists to warn them of speed cameras may seem harmless, but drivers are actually staring at a £1,000 charge. Driving using a mobile phone is next, with road users at risk of being hit with a £200 penalty,
Matt Crole-Rees, Motoring Expert at Confused.com car insurance said: “Many drivers have different quirks when it comes to taking the wheel that they feel are innocent. However, in reality, even seemingly small driving habits can come with severe consequences.
“It’s concerning that 62% of drivers don’t know that certain habits can void car insurance completely, potentially leaving them thousands of pounds out of pocket if they need to make a claim.
“Some habits like going on your phone while driving, tailgating, and speeding are actually motoring offences and can land drivers with fines, penalty points, and in some cases driving bans. These factors can also impact how much you pay for your car insurance.”
Beeping aggressively is one of the common habits that could backfire (Image: Getty)
Nearly half (47%) of drivers believe that disruptive habits which compromise safety should come with a fine. Meanwhile, a further 46% think that more needs to be done to stop poor driving habits.
It’s not just financial penalties, with 62% of drivers unaware that certain driving habits can even void their insurance. Matt stressed that road users should alter their driving style to make sure they are always safe behind the wheel.
Matt added: “Drivers should take caution on the roads to stay respectful to other motorists as well as maintaining safety for themselves and other drivers. Remaining cautious
and attentive to other drivers can help to make the roads a better and safer place. Drivers should adopt good habits when behind the wheel to keep everyone safe.”