Warm weather and open roads make summer the perfect time for a caravan or motorhome holiday, but a few common mistakes could turn your trip into a costly one. Specialist motor insurance experts at Keith Michaels have highlighted the summer driving mistakes most likely to catch motorists and the fines that come with them.
Small mistakes, real consequences
Some of the most common summer habits carry fines of up to £100:
- Driving in flip-flops, if loose footwear affects your control of the vehicle.
- Playing music so loud you can’t hear sirens or horns.
- Carrying unsecured luggage, bikes or surfboards that could fall onto the road.
When it gets more serious
Other habits carry considerably steeper penalties, over £1,000:
- Wearing a hat or headwear that blocks your vision or affects your driving.
- Driving with a dirty windscreen, which can seriously reduce visibility in bright sunshine and in serious cases lead to fines of up to £5,000 or a driving ban.
Towing your caravan safely
For anyone planning a caravan or motorhome trip, one rule matters more than most. Exceeding your vehicle’s legal towing limit can reduce control and create a genuine safety risk. If your setup is found to be unsafe, you could face three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500 under Rule 98 of the Highway Code, so it’s always worth double-checking your vehicle’s towing capacity before you set off.
The bigger risks
A handful of mistakes carry the most serious consequences of all:
- Wearing sunglasses at night, up to £2,500.
- Drink driving, up to £2,500, alongside a possible ban or criminal charges.
- Driving with unsecured pets, up to £5,000.
- Driving while impaired by hay fever medication, which carries unlimited fines and, in serious cases, a driving ban or prison sentence.
Plan for a stress-free trip
Whether you’re heading off on a UK road trip or towing your caravan abroad, a little preparation goes a long way. Check your vehicle, secure your load and know the rules before you set off, and you’ll be far more likely to enjoy a trouble-free summer on the road.
Image credits: Pixabay
