12 Driving Habits That Break the Highway Code
FixMyCar discusses common driving habits that could land you with a fine.
Ellie Dyer-Brown
Friday July 11 2025
8 min read
You’ve probably come across countless headlines warning about little-known driving rules that could leave you facing a hefty fine. But let’s be honest, who really has time to sift through the Highway Code to spot them all?
To save you the trouble, we’ve pulled together a straightforward guide to the most common driving habits that could land you in hot water (without you even realising you’re breaking the rules).
1. Reversing off your driveway
Reversing off your driveway onto a busy road isn’t just a safety risk. If it causes an accident, you could be charged for careless driving, resulting in three to nine penalty points and a fine of up to £5,000.
You MUST NOT:
Drive dangerously
Drive without due care and attention
Drive without reasonable consideration of other road users
2. Letting your dog stick its head out of the window
As charming (and amusing) as it can be to see a dog sticking its head out of the car window, it could get you in trouble because it looks like the animal is not restrained.
“When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly. A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars.”
If your pet is found to have caused or even contributed to a car accident, you could face a fine and points on your licence. It could even invalidate your insurance.
Here are the ten best dog-friendly cars.
3. Ignoring lane closed signs on smart motorways
Smart motorways don't have a hard shoulder. Instead, when a motorist breaks down, a red X appears on overhead signs to close the lane where they are stranded. This protects them from being hit from behind and allows emergency services vehicles to access the breakdown safely.
If you see a red X above a lane, you must move into a different lane.
However, research by IAM RoadSmart has found that there have been more than 53,000 incidents of drivers ignoring the 'lane closed' sign on smart motorways since 2021.
Police forces are authorised to use enforcement cameras to prosecute motorists who drive illegally in a closed lane. If caught, you could receive a fine of up to £100 and be given three points on your licence, or you may receive harsher penalties and be required to attend court.
“You MUST obey all traffic light signals and traffic signs giving orders, including temporary signals & signs.”
4. Using your phone while the engine is running
We all know that using your phone while driving is illegal. But did you know that the law still applies even when the car is stationary?
When the engine is running, your phone shouldn’t be in your hands.
Drivers who are caught using a hand-held device will receive a fixed penalty notice of £200 and six points on their licence. You can get three additional penalty points if you don’t have a clear view of the road ahead or proper control of your vehicle.
“You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone...for any purpose when driving or when supervising a learner driver”, and “You MUST NOT pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.”
5. Driving with a dirty number plate
A car’s number plate provides the police with important information about a vehicle and can flag issues such as a lack of valid road tax and insurance. That’s why it’s illegal to drive with a dirty number plate.
“Lights, indicators, reflectors, and number plates MUST be kept clean and clear.”
Motorists caught with an obscured number plate will often be given an on-the-spot fine of £100.
6. Splashing pedestrians
Splashing pedestrians by driving through puddles is classed as inconsiderate driving, which is illegal under UK law. Rule 144 of the Highway Code and section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988 both emphasise that you must drive with consideration for other people.
Whether you splash a pedestrian deliberately or inadvertently, you are at risk of receiving a £100 fixed penalty notice and three points on your licence. If you are seen to be driving in a way that “amounts to a clear act of incompetence, selfishness, impatience, and aggressiveness”, the maximum fine is £5,000.
7. Sleeping in your car while drunk
Both the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code state that you must not be in control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, if you are in your car while drunk, you can be prosecuted regardless of what you’re doing, because there is no guarantee that you won’t try to drive the vehicle.
8. Driving without enough screenwash
If your screenwash reservoir is empty, you could be charged with careless driving and receive a fixed penalty notice of £100.
“Windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision.”
Similarly, Section 34 of the Road Vehicles Regulations 1986 asserts that vehicles “with a wiper or wipers shall also be fitted with a windscreen washer capable of cleaning, in conjunction with the windscreen wiper, the area of the windscreen swept by the wiper of mud or similar deposit.”
Learn how to check and top up screenwash.
9. Warning other drivers about speed cameras
You might think you’re being helpful by flashing your lights to warn other drivers about a speed camera, but this could land you in hot water with the police.
“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.”
Warning other drivers about speed cameras - whether you do it by flashing your lights, waving your arms or posting on social media - is a breach of section 89 of the Police Act 1996 because it is an offence to obstruct a constable in the execution of duty deliberately.
Obstructing the police could land you with one month’s imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £1,000.
10. Ignoring pedestrians waiting to cross at junctions
The Highway Code was tweaked in 2022 to give pedestrians priority at junctions - drivers should stop for people waiting to cross, not just those who have already stepped onto the road. However, few motorists are aware of this new rule.
“You should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.”
The maximum penalty for this offence is nine points and a £5,000 fine.
11. Middle lane hogging
Middle lane hogging occurs when a driver remains in the middle lane of a motorway, even though the left-hand lane is clear. It happens often enough that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s allowed, but it’s actually classed as careless driving and can earn you an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three points on your licence.
“Keep in the left lane unless overtaking.”
12. Tailgating
Like middle lane hogging, tailgating is a common occurrence on UK roads - but it is illegal. It’s a form of careless or dangerous driving that can result in a fine, points on your licence, a driving ban, or even a prison sentence in severe cases.
“You should leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops”, and “allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on high-speed roads and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and up to ten times greater on icy roads.”
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Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.