Drivers could face a £100 fine for playing Christmas music in your car

A legal expert has revealed that singing along to Merry Christmas Everyone while driving home could land you with a hefty fine.

Driving home for Christmas and blasting your favourite tunes may seem harmless, but it could actually land you with a fine.

As the festive season approaches, drivers have been warned to take extra caution on the roads - and not just with the weather.

From singing along to Christmas music in your car, to adding festive decorations, being a distraction to yourself or other drivers could result in some hefty fines.

Research carried out by Silver Oak Solicitors has revealed that road traffic collisions peak between the months of November to January, with serious accidents four times more common during the festive season.

Experts at Top Rated Law have compiled a list of unusual driving laws that you should remain wary of this Christmas.

Listening to Christmas music could leave you with a £100 fine

While it is tempting to turn the volume up to max and belt out Mariah Carey's smash hit, All I Want For Christmas Is You, it may land you in some trouble.

Top Rated Law explains: "If you’re caught singing along to Christmas music this month, or having it too loud, this could be deemed as a distraction to your driving.

"You could be charged with a £100 fine, and three penalty points to your licence, under rule 148 of the Highway code. Keep in mind when parked up too, as blasting out loud music in a stationary car could land you a noise abatement notice."

Decorating your car could end in a driving ban

A little decoration here and there is fine in the home and other places, but if you plan on decorating your car for Christmas, you have to be careful.

Top Rated Law explains: "Although there are no specific laws against decorating your car for Christmas, you can still be penalised, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

"Decorations including coloured lights could confuse other road users, and come with very strict consequences. If added coloured lights caused an accident, you could face a ‘careless driving’ charge, which could lead to an unlimited fine, and a total driving ban in extreme situations.

"Ribbons, tinsel, stockings and mini trees should also be avoided inside and outside your vehicle, as this could be considered as obstructing your view. Decorations obstructing your dashboard or windows could lead to a £1000 fine and three penalty points on your licence."

Christmas tree transport rules

According to research from the RAC, 75 per cent of drivers are unaware that there are strict rules when it comes to transporting Christmas trees - so don't get caught out.

Top Rated Law adds: "Rule 98 of The Highway Code states that loads on vehicles must be secured safely, and must not stick out dangerously. Be wary of your tree’s distribution and weight, otherwise your vehicle could be classed as being in dangerous condition to drive.

"You could get a fine if caught with a tree hanging out of an open boot, or not securing the tree on top of your roof properly, and you could be charged with being likely to cause danger, careless or inconsiderate driving.

"This could land you three penalty points and an on-the-spot £100 fine if caught. More serious cases could also land you a £2,500 fine and driving ban."

Keeping cosy while on the road could leave you £5,000 out of pocket

As the temperatures drop, it can be tempting to wrap up warm on a frosty winter's day. But, be warned, as if you are impacting your ability to drive, you could be hit with a hefty fine.

Top Rated Law explains: "Due to the fact that scarves, hats, and puffy coats can impact visibility and the ability to use your car's controls, winter clothing could be considered a hazard."

Gloves could also affect your ability to grip the steering wheel or gear stick. In fact, drivers are even warned that breaking this rule could even cost you a £5,000 fine.

Driving home with your pet for Christmas could land you with nine penalty points

As we see the rise of pet owners opting to drive rather than walk in the cold and families travelling with their pets for Christmas, you need to be aware of the rules surrounding this.

According to the Highway Code, drivers must make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving.

Top Rated Law adds: "A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.

You could be charged for driving without due care and attention, which carries a maximum fine of £2,500 and nine penalty points."

Not clearing snow and frost can cost you up to £5,000

If you wake up and there's snow across your car, you may be tempted to just scrape some of it off and hope the rest slides off on the way to work.

However, doing this can be a costly error for UK drivers, and even land you with a hefty fine.

Top Rated Law explains: "It can be easy to miss when rushing out to your morning commute, but it is important to make sure windows are fully de-misted, and to remove any ice or snow from windows and the top of the car as this could fall off and into the path of other road users."

Drivers breaking this law are risking a fine of £60 – rising to £5,000 if their vehicle is deemed dangerous – and three to nine points on their licence.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.