Revealed - Why drivers could be given a £100 fine for hanging air fresheners in their car
Hanging up items such as furry dice and air fresheners could cost drivers £100 or even invalidate their insurance if they put them on the rear-view mirror.
The Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act warns that a driver is not allowed to use a car if their view of the road is obstructed in any way.
The rule has always been there, but authorities are now ensuring it is being enforced.
Rebecca Ashton, IAM RoadSmart head of driver behaviour, told Mirror Online: “Anything hanging from the rear-view mirror or anything placed on the windscreen could restrict the drivers view, things people use tend to vary from air fresheners and dice hanging from the mirror to fans, large sat-navs and even using the navigation on an iPad.
“Missing something because you had something obscuring your view could potentially be extremely dangerous, good driving involves exceptional observation skills, seeing things early allows you to anticipate and plan how you deal with hazards.
“We would suggest it is placed low on the windscreen, on the right hand side and if possible within the area where the windscreen wipers don’t clear. The main thing to remember is you should always try to avoid the drivers field of vision.”
Although it is not illegal to drive with items such as air fresheners, drivers could have to pay a £100-on-the-spot fine.
The items can block the view of the driver making it a safety hazard and they can even damage the rearview mirror.
Drivers who try to challenge the penalty in court could be given an even higher fine of up to £1,000.
The Mirror Online has also reported that placing a sticker on their windscreen could also get motorists into trouble with the police.
Rules have been tightened after a taxi driver involved in a fatal crash with a pedestrian in 2008 was fined for having a fluffy dice and two air fresheners hanging in front of his eyes.
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The Road Traffic Act states: “No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a road if he is in such a position that he cannot … have a full view of the road and traffic ahead.
“Windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision.”
The hanging items or even using stickers could affect your insurer paying out if there is an accident.
Drivers can also fail their MOT if they have items hanging from their rear-vision mirror as service centres say they won’t approve the car until they are taken down.
