Motorists risk £5,000 fine if they're caught vaping behind the wheel
Motorists caught vaping whilst driving face being hit with a staggering £5,000 fine.
Puffing on an vape while you're behind the wheel could land you in trouble as vaping can 'reduce visibility and distract you'.
Experts at bigwantsyourcar.com are now warning drivers that vaping whilst driving could have serious consequences.
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Currently, smoking and vaping whilst driving is not illegal, but doing so can compromise your safety. It is, however, illegal to do either of those things if you have a child under 18 in your car.
IAM RoadSmart, a road safety charity, carried out a poll and found that 57% of smokers with a driving licence admitted smoking or vaping while behind the wheel. Just under one in four (24%) of the smokers said they do so often, and almost half (49%) said they do so only occasionally, reports Bristol Live.
One in ten said they only smoke when they have no passengers and 16% responded that they only vape or smoke on long journeys. Smoking and vaping when driving, even if only done occasionally, can cause serious safety issues and see you landed with a big fine.
The experts at bigwantsyourcar.com cited the Road Traffic Act, claiming that under the act, "anything that obscurers a driver's vision, including vape smoke, can be considered as driving without due care. Drivers may face up to a £5,000 fine and nine points on their licence."
It is imperative drivers "consider the risks associated with vaping while driving," the experts warn. "Not only could it compromise your ability to see the road clearly, but it can also result in severe penalties that affect your driving privileges and your wallet."
"Maintaining clear visibility while driving is vital. Vaping can create a cloud inside the vehicle that might obscure your view, putting you at risk of violating traffic laws and facing substantial fines, but most importantly, putting you and other road users around you in harm's way."
