Five obscure driving laws that can land you with a £2,000 fine – as Richard Madeley spotted picking his nose at wheel

DRIVERS should be wary of these five obscure driving rules. These little-known laws can result in fines or points on your licence. Richard Madeley was papped picking his nose at the wheel in Hampstead Credit: Eroteme There are some obscure driving laws that could land motorists with fines or points on their licence Earlier this week, GMB presenter Richard Madeley was spotted picking his nose while out for a drive through Hampstead, North London. There is no suggestion that the presenter was driving carelessly and his driving seemed unaffected by the action. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! However, some motorists may not know that certain common actions could potentially land you in trouble. Motoring expert Michael Bissona, of the International Drivers Association, previously told The Sun that picking your nose could be considered a form of carless driving. He said: “Most people don’t realise that such a seemingly innocuous action could have legal repercussions. “The key thing here is distraction. Even something as tiny as this momentary lapse in concentration could result in a serious accident,” he explained. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, “careless and inconsiderate, driving” is “if a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place”. In Mr Madeley’s case, his driving seemed unaffected by his decision to briefly pick his nose and there is no suggestion he was driving carelessly. Most read in Motors Here are five other little-known driving laws that can lead to fines or points on your licence: Sneezing while driving Sneezing while driving could possibly result in penalties as it can momentarily blind you while travelling. Anyone who has ever had a sneezing fit will know that it’s virtually impossible to keep your eyes open, meaning you could travel several metres down the road without seeing well, and could have the potential to cause an accident. Under rule 144 of the Highway Code, motorists must drive with “due care and attention”, and breaking this rule could land you with a fine or points on your licence. Flashing your headlights to warn other drivers You may feel like you’re doing your part in helping out a fellow driver by warning them of any upcoming speed camera or police vehicle ahead, but the action could potentially be met with a fine of up to £1,000. Rule 110 of the Highway Code says: “Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. “Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.” Splashing someone on the street With the wet weather arriving this week, drivers should refrain from attempts to purposefully splash through puddles when out on the roads. The action could potentially be considered “careless and inconsiderate driving” under the Road Traffic Act 1988, as you are driving “without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place” which could land you with a fine or points on your licence. Keep your registration plate clean and visible at all times Under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, a registration plate “must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye” or “which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device”. If your vehicle has plates covered in substances like snow, mud, dirt or accessories, you should ensure it is cleaned. Parking against the traffic at night Thinking about which direction you leave a vehicle in overnight is probably not a common occurrence, but parking your car the wrong way could have the potential to result in a fine. Rule 248 of the Highway Code states: “You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.” Unlike the back of a vehicle, the front of a car has no reflectors to catch the headlights of oncoming vehicles.