Drivers risk over £21,000 in ‘hidden’ fines for breaking autumn laws

With the UK heading towards the colder times of the year, and with the cost of living still going up, looking after cars has never been more important, according to experts at Go Car Credit. With that in mind, they warned that there are “hidden” fines for things such as forgetting to put the headlights on, or driving with condensation on the windscreen, which could set drivers back around £1,000 to £5,000.Hayley O’Connor of Go Car Credit said: ‘With the changing weather, priority one is to stay safe in challenging autumn driving conditions. However, we also understand that people want to avoid paying unnecessary fines.”If you fall foul of all these laws, it could cost you upwards of £21,000. As such, we’ve created some guidance on how to maintain your car this autumn, to help our customers stay safe and avoid potential fines.’Leaving leaves on your windscreenAutumn leaves can create a variety of hazardous driving conditions but allowing wet leaves to collect on the windscreen without clearing them could land drivers in trouble.READ MORE: Introduction of E10 could make classic cars more difficult to own Drivers warned of ‘hidden’ autumn fines. (Image: Getty)Under Regulation 30 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, drivers are warned they must keep all glass clear of obstruction.If leaves or autumn debris is impeding visibility drivers could be in breach of the law. The potential fine for this is £1,000.Forgetting to put headlights onWhen the clocks go back, it’s common for people to forget to put their headlights on. But with 40 percent of accidents occurring during the hours of darkness, it’s imperative that motorists have optimum visibility whilst driving in the darker autumn months.DON’T MISS Petrol and diesel drivers warned of new Clean Air Zones in 2023 [WARNING] Thousands at risk of fines after having their number plates cloned [FINE] Drivers warned as millions set to avoid MOT test despite fines [INSIGHT]  Car tyres are another common casualty of the changing autumn weather. (Image: Getty) Top 10 most dangerous places to drive in the UK. (Image: EXPRESS)This can lead to damage to windscreen wipers which impacts their ability to clear the screen adequately.Section 40a of The Road Traffic Act: Using a Vehicle in a Dangerous Condition Part II clarifies that drivers must operate the vehicle correctly and this includes accessories like windscreen wipers. The potentail fine for breaking this law is £2,500.Weather worn tyresPolice officers can issue charges of up to £2,500 for driving without due care and attention if the tyres are considered unsuitable for the conditions and three penalty points for each tyre that does not meet road standards.Driving too fast for road conditionsIf motorists lose control of their vehicle due to driving too quickly for the road conditions, police could issue a charge for dangerous driving.This could see motorists fined £5,000 and issued with up to nine penalty points on their driving licence.