As a driver of a WAV, you have a lot of responsibility, more so than a regular road user. This heightened responsibility can often lead to stress, more stress than the driver of a standard vehicle usually experiences. The last thing you need whilst on the road is to be caught out by some obscure motoring law that you had no idea existed.
Unfortunately, ignorance is not a defence, so, to that end, we have compiled a list of six motoring laws you may have been completely unaware of.
- Don’t allow your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle’s number plates to get too dirty. If your licence plate is dirty enough to obscure the numbers and letters, to the point where a speed camera won’t be able to read them, then you are committing an offence. In the past the police tended to be lenient, but as they now rely on speed cameras to catch offenders, you are unlikely to get away with it.
- Don’t flash your headlights to warn other drivers. Many of us think that warning other drivers about oncoming speed traps is the polite and kind thing to do. But, if you are caught doing it, you can be charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty.
- Don’t eat at the wheel. Obviously we all know that using a mobile phone whilst driving is illegal, but in much the same way, you cannot drive and eat either. The charge usually stems from the fact that, when eating, you do not have full control of the vehicle.
- Don’t drink alcohol in a motorhome. Even if you have stopped and have no intention of driving, having a drink at the end of a long journey could still be an offence. The responsibility lies with you to prove that you had no intention of moving your vehicle whilst unfit to drive.
- Don’t leave your engine running while waiting. Most modern cars automatically switch the engine off when the car is stationary, so as to save fuel. But if yours doesn’t, then you have to remember to do it manually, otherwise you could find yourself receiving a fine. But don’t panic, the exception to the rule is that if you are in a queue, the engine can stay on. But if, for example, you have pulled over and are waiting for passengers, the engine must be turned off.
- Don’t let other people drive uninsured. Sounds obvious, but people forget that not only must the vehicle be insured, the driver must be covered by that insurance. So always remember to double check, if you are lending the vehicle to someone else.
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Lewis Reed Group
With 20 years experience producing and selling wheelchair accessible vehicles in the UK, you can be sure that we can offer excellent customer service with a level of knowledge that is completely unrivalled.