How your dog could cost you your driving license or get you £5,000 fined
How your dog could cost you your driving license or get you £5,000 fined
- Motorists have been urged to restrain their pets while driving – or face hefty fines
- It could cost you your driver’s license if you don’t obey the highway code
Motorists need to be aware of the one driving law that could see them fined £5,000 – or worse, banned from driving.
With many drivers taking to the streets over the Easter holiday period, motorists need to be aware that allowing your dog to hang its head out of the car window while driving can cost you dearly.
According to used car buying service ChooseMyCar.com, a rule in the highway code means drivers who fail to adequately hold their pet while driving could end up in hot water.
By allowing your pet to hang their head outside of a vehicle, you are demonstrating the fact that the animal is not properly restrained to the car according to the Highway Code.
Not only is this dangerous, but it can also result in the driver being pulled over.
There’s a rule in the Highway Code that says drivers who don’t adequately hold their pet while driving can end up in hot water
ChooseMyCar.com founder Nick Zapolski has urged Brits to properly hold their pooches on any trip, no matter how brief
Rule 57 of the Highway Code clearly states: “When you are in a vehicle, ensure that dogs or other animals are adequately restrained so that they cannot distract you while driving or injure you or yourself if you stop quickly.”
“A seat belt, pet carrier, dog crate, or dog guard are all means of restraining animals in cars.”
And if a driver is stopped and found not to be following this guide, they can face a range of fines.
Drivers can be slapped with a fine of up to £5,000.
They can also get up to nine points on their driver’s license, or worst of all, they can even get a total driving ban – meaning they have to take a mandatory retest to get their license back.
As a result, ChooseMyCar.com founder Nick Zapolski has urged Brits to properly hold their pooches on any journey, no matter how brief.
He added that many drivers are unaware of Rule 57 and therefore risk losing their licenses.
Mr Zapolski said: “It always raises a smile when you see a happy dog with its head hanging out of the window and its ears flapping in the wind, but it’s an obvious way to demonstrate that you’re not following rule 57 – and that could cost you your license.
“Not only that, in an accident, an unbelted dog could cause serious harm to itself and its passengers.
“It’s cheap and easy to get a seat belt for your dog or a dog guard for the trunk – and can save a lot of heartache.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-11941681/How-dog-cost-driving-licence-land-5-000-fine.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 How your dog could cost you your driving license or get you £5,000 fined