FESTIVE drivers have been warned about an obscure winter driving rule which could see them handed a £5,000 fine this Christmas.
You could even face a driving ban if the error is deemed to be serious enough.
Drivers have been warned they could be hit with a £5,000 for carrying a Christmas tree this year[/caption]
With Christmas rapidly approaching, millions across the country will be setting about getting things in order for the big day.
From buying presents to putting up the tinsel, the next few weeks are crunch time when it comes to preparation for the festive season.
One of the most important jobs on the list is getting hold of a Christmas tree to light up your living room and shelter the precious gifts.
Everyone has their own rules for decorating the tree, with some properly bizarre ornaments knocking around.
But when it comes to getting it home, there is a surprisingly strict set of rules from the DVSA.
Incorrectly transporting your foliage could see you slapped with a fine of at least £100 if it’s improperly secured in your motor.
This can also be accompanied by three points on your licence.
And if you’re judged to have been excessively dangerous, the penalty could rise as high as £5,000 and a driving ban.
It all comes down to Rule 98 of the Highway Code, which covers the transportation of any kind of large item on UK roads.
The rule states: “As a driver, you must secure your load, and it must not stick out dangerously.”
There’s also a similar provision for towing the load in a trailer, which states: “Before towing, as a driver, you must not overload your vehicle or trailer.
“You should not tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle.”
Fortunately, motoring experts from Cinch have produced a checklist to tick off to make sure you are keeping to the law when hauling a tree.
You must:
- Stay within the weight limits recommended by your car’s manufacturer
- Secure any sharp edges or loose, heavy parts of your tree (keep it in the netting you bought it in if you can)
- Make sure it’s attached nice and securely, so there’s no risk of it flying off
- Avoid the tree overhanging your car by more than six inches
- Keep your boot closed if you can (if it’s impossible, secure the boot lid and attach a reflective flag to the tree to alter other motorists)
It comes after drivers were urged to avoid four major motorways as up to eight inches of snow are set to blanket the UK.
