Glastonbury Festival drivers warned of £1,000 fines for simple driving mistakes

Motorists heading to Glastonbury this week have been warned that simple driving errors could lead to a huge fine. With around 200,000 festival-goers expected to descend on the five-day event, heavy congestion is anticipated on all nearby motorways and A-roads.

While planning your trip in advance is crucial, it’s also important to check the vehicle for certain key things to make sure it’s up to standard. Motoring experts at National Scrap Car have warned that easy mistakes to make could land drivers in serious legal trouble and hit their wallets.

These include easy-to-overlook issues like a dirty license plate and an overloaded trunk. Motoring expert Dorry Potter said: “Proper preparation and compliance with road laws are essential to prevent accidents and ensure a smooth journey to the festival. Thorough vehicle checks including tire pressure, fluid level and battery health are essential to avoid any breakdowns en route to the festival. festival or any nasty surprises when you leave the site on Monday.”

“Furthermore, it is estimated that 10-20% of all crashes are caused by driver fatigue, with motorways and motorways recording the highest volume of crashes. With festivals taking place in rural settings and revelers traveling long distances, the risks are clear. Make sure you are well rested and not under the influence before getting into your vehicle before or after the festival.”

Here’s a rundown of what could land you in hot water on your trip to Glastonbury this week…

Damn license plates

With the Met Office predicting rain at Glastonbury, motorists are being warned to make sure their number plates are clean. Under the Excise and Vehicle Registration Act 1994, being caught with a concealed number plate could land you with a £100 on-the-spot fine.

If the case goes to court, it could lead to a level 3 fine of £1,000.

Misusing the horn

While traffic jams are expected at the festivals, drivers are reminded that using the horn to express annoyance rather than warn of danger could result in a fine. The Highway Code states that a horn should only be used to alert someone to danger from another vehicle or any other type of danger, not to express anger.

It is illegal to honk your horn on a moving vehicle on a restricted road, essentially a road with street lights and a 30mph limit, between 11.30pm and 7am.

Police can fine drivers for illegal use of car horns. This is usually a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £30.

If drivers challenge an FPN, they can challenge the decision in court – but if they lose, the fine can be increased to up to £1,000.

Packing your vehicle

Festival goers are being warned that overloading their vehicles with tents, extra passengers and food supplies could result in a whopping £300 fine. According to the DVSA’s Road Check guidelines, if your vehicle is found to be overloaded by 15% or more, you can be hit with this penalty.

If your vehicle is 0-10% overloaded, you could face a £100 fine, while 10-15% overloading can result in a £200 penalty.

The maximum load weight depends on the size of your car. For smaller cars such as Renault Clio, Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Polo, the maximum load weight varies from 385 kg to 482 kg.

With four adult passengers, each carrying suitcases, tents and supplies, it’s easy to exceed a 400kg payload.

Flashing lights outside the festival site

Rule 110 of the Highway Code states that you should only turn on your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. You could be fined up to £1,000 if you flash your headlights to show you’re angry, let other drivers pass or try to send any other message.

It’s possible to wear all kinds of footwear to a festival, from sandals to crocs, but driving in shoes or muddy shoes can be dangerous.

According to the police, if you’re caught driving while wearing the wrong footwear after an accident, you could be fined £100 and given three penalty points on your license for ‘driving without due care and attention’.

The case could end up in court, where the penalties could reach a massive £5,000 fine, nine penalty points and a possible driving ban, so it’s very important to wear the right footwear for driving.

Experts advise festival-goers to pack a change of clothes and shoes to leave in their cars so they have something dry and comfortable to drive home in.