Brits are being warned that they could face hefty fines for leaving rubbish in their car. It’s fairly common for people to leave the odd coffee cup or empty bottle in their vehicle, but leaving too much litter can land you in hot water.
If the rubbish affectes your driving, you could be fined up to £5,000 and get up to nine points on your licence. Car cleaning retailer 1Dot said that rubbish flying around a car and distracting a driver could easy lead to a careless driving prosecution.
The latest research shows that 46% of people have eaten behind the wheel, meaning at some point it’s likely they’ve had rubbish lying around in their car. The experts say that litter can obstruct pedals, block visibility and distract drivers.
A rolling bottle could obstruct pushing the pedals down while you’re driving. Equally, a crisp packet can get in the way of a brake and cause your foot to slip.
Meanwhile, leaving an empty coffee cup or sandwhich pocket on your dashboard can block visibility. This could cause drivers to miss a blindspot and crash into another vehicle.
If you’re turning a sharp corner, litter could move around your car. This could distract the driver and obstruct them from changing gear or braking.
All of these scenarios could constitute careless driving. In minor cases, careless drivers can be issued a £100 fixed penalty notice alongside three points on their licence. In serious cases, drivers will be subject to go to court and if found guilty will lead to a £5,000 penalty.
Ash Young, founder of 1Dot, said: “It’s very normal to have the odd snack in the car, and while it’s important to not be distracted while driving, it’s even more important to clean up after yourself to ensure you don’t carelessly drive and have an accident caused by car litter.
“Having a car bin allows you to keep everything in one place and means you don’t risk a bottle flying under your pedals, or worse, a piece of rubbish blocking your driving view.
“So, to save yourself a £100, or worse £5,000 ‘distracted driving’ fine, as well as a potentially fatal car accident, always put your rubbish in the bin or even in your car boot.”
