Let’s be honest – everyone behind the wheel knows the law when it comes to driving. But you wouldn’t think it to watch some people overtaking – or, worse, undertaking. You don’t need any special training to know how fast you’re allowed to go on residential roads, or that you’re not allowed to hold your mobile to your ear while driving. It’s a good way to end up getting a lot of points on your licence and potentially having to scrap your car.

While those are some of the obvious ones, there are lots of other driving offences that lots of drivers genuinely don’t realise are illegal. In fairness, some of them seem less serious than others, but all will be enough to get you some unwelcome attention from the law. Here’s what to avoid!

Swearing at drivers

We know, we know… it’s undeniably tempting at times, especially if someone has put you or your passengers in danger. But it’s worth biting your tongue because swearing at other drivers technically counts as a public order offence under UK law, and there are plenty of police officers who take it very seriously.

Officers can issue fixed penalty notices or even court summonses if they notice aggressive or offensive language or gestures directed at other road users. At least part of the danger is in escalation – drivers who are subject to that kind of aggression are more likely to be aggressive back, and that’s the kind of situation that can lead to dangerous one-upmanship or confrontations. It can ultimately end in court orders, fines, or even more severe penalties for repeat offenders.

Using a mobile phone with the car engine running

You already know that it’s illegal to use your phone when you’re driving, unless it’s hands-free – and, even then, most police officers would still prefer you didn’t. There are still lots of drivers who don’t know that this law has been tightened even further, and it’s now illegal to even touch your phone while the car engine is running.

Now, the operative phrase there is “while the car engine is running”. In other words, the car doesn’t technically have to be in motion for the action to be against the law – it’s just as illegal to use your phone while stopped at a traffic light as it is to use it while you’re driving at 30mph. And yes, that also applies for adjusting your sat-nav directions.

Essentially, if you think there’s a chance that you might need to interact with your phone at all, you need to either set up hands-free functionality before you set off or pull over safely and turn the engine off. Otherwise, you could find yourself on the hook for a fixed penalty notice and, potentially, even three points on your driver’s licence.

Driving with a dirty number plate

Your number plate serves as a unique visual identifier for your car, which makes it easier to track down if it’s involved in any illegal or dangerous activity. By the same token, obscuring it makes it potentially easier for your car to be involved in something shady, and harder for the police to track it. So, you can see why the authorities take a dim view of dirty number plates, and why it’s a legal requirement to keep them clean.

For that reason alone, it’s a particularly good idea to check yours after adverse weather or rural driving. Mud, snow, or road grime are some of the most common culprits. A quick check when you get in and out of your car each day can save you from the risk of annoyingly high fines.

Driving without enough washer fluid

This is such a small and simple thing that it’s easy to see why so many drivers overlook it. But keeping your fluid topped up is one way to ensure that your windscreen remains clear, so you can properly see the road and react to all its many dangers.

Without enough washer fluid, that makes it very difficult to remove dirt, salt or insect debris, all of which increases the risk of accidents. So, if any traffic officer spots you with a dirty windscreen, and you’re not able to clean it on command, that can potentially lead to on-the-spot fines and even having to find an alternative way home. To avoid that, it’s a good idea to check your fluid levels monthly at the very least. It’s also wise to check just before long journeys, especially during winter where the roads tend to be dirtier.

Sleeping in your car while drunk

It’s no secret that driving the car when drunk is very, very illegal – but surely the same couldn’t apply to just taking a quick little boozy nap in it, if you’ve got no intention of driving. Could it?

Well, yes. From the point of view of the authorities, anyone asleep in the driver’s seat of a car is regarded as legally being “in charge” of the vehicle because - even though they might not be actively driving the car at that moment - they still retain the ability to do so. In short, that means the danger is still there. The legal consequences for taking a nap after a couple of pints could still extend into the territory of fines, licence points, and possibly even court appearances. A high cost for forty winks!

Thankfully, once you know that all the above are illegal, they’re not particularly hard to avoid doing. As well as keeping you safe, these rules mean you can enjoy many years of driving your vehicle.

And when you do finally decide to scrap your car, that’s exactly where EMR Vehicle Recycling can help. With more than 70 years of experience to our name, we’re dedicated to getting you the very best price for your old car. All you need to do is enter your car reg and postcode into the fields on our homepage, and you’ll have an instant online quote before you can say “scrap my car”. Ready to find out what yours is worth?