Millions of drivers break Highway Code rule every DAY in winter trying to stay warm in car – know the law & avoid fines
MILLIONS of drivers could be breaking a new Highway Code rule every day in winter while trying to stay warm, leaving them open to hefty fines.
Brits can be charged up to £80 in a crackdown on the highly-polluting error.
Winter weather has blanketed the UK this week, with a cloud of "anticyclonic gloom" holding down temperatures and leading to darker evenings.
Indeed, one Surrey village has seen precisely zero hours of sunshine this month.
With the mercury on the slide, drivers will no doubt be trying all the tricks in the book to stay warm in their cars this winter.
We've already tipped motorists off to a 79p gadget that can keep them toasty, as well as a ten-minute trick to warm up the cabin without wasting petrol.
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But there is one hack which is actually off-limits thanks to an often-forgotten road law dating back almost 40 years.
Many might not realise that sitting with the engine on to power the heater before setting off is actually an offence.
Under the Road Traffic Act, which has been in place since 1988, drivers are not allowed to idle "unnecessarily".
This is backed up in 2022 by rule 123 of the Highway Code, which explicitly bans leaving the engine running while stationary on a public road.
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That provision actually includes idling in traffic jams unless necessary.
If you expect to be stopped for more than a couple of minutes, you have to apply the handbrake and switch the engine off.
Obviously, you can still keep the engine on if the traffic is moving frequently in order to maintain the flow of vehicles.
The rule also forbids leaving a parked car unattended with the engine running.
The ban was implemented to combat pollution and emissions, especially in major cities.
Anyone caught idling can be handed a £20 if they refuse to turn the engine off when asked to do so by an "authorised officer".
This then rises to £40 if not paid within 28 days and again to £80 14 days after that.
However, the starting fine can rise as high as £40 in Brighton and £80 in parts of London, with a similar progression for non-payment.
Experts from commented: "This rule aims to reduce emissions and minimise health risks.
"However, fines may soon increase as councils try to deter idling more effectively.
"A higher penalty would remind drivers of the environmental and health risks associated with idling.
"As autumn settles in, we should all try to avoid idling as it directly impacts our air quality.
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"These emissions contribute directly to climate change and have immediate health consequences.
"While newer vehicles are designed to minimise emissions, it’s always best to switch off your engine when it’s unnecessary to keep it on."