Splashing pedestrians? Then be prepared to splash the cash with fines of up to £5,000

With Storm Lilian creating weather warnings for wind and rain, drivers have been warned not to splash pedestrians else face fines of up to £5,000 plus penalty points on their licence.

Motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk are urging Brits to drive with caution during the wet and stormy weather.

Splashing pedestrians is actually illegal under section three of the Road Traffic Act, 1988 – and is considered to be driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road’.

The Highway Code also reflects the law by explicitly stating that motorists must not drive ‘without due care and attention’ for pedestrians.

Driving through puddles and splashing other road users may result in a fine of £100 and three penalty points on the licence.  However, in some cases, fines can reach as much as £5,000 for driving without reasonable consideration for others on the road.

Drivers should be sure to navigate carefully when the roads are wet or when bad weather is due, and should use dipped headlights, increase following distances and slow down.

Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “With the storm bringing wind and rain warnings across the UK, drivers must be aware of the rules of the road to help keep everyone safe and avoid mishaps like splashing pedestrians, that could end up costing them thousands or adding points to their licence.

“Motorists need to be extra careful when travelling in the rain, slowing down to allow more time to react to unknown situations and doubling the following distance from the vehicle in front to four seconds, as the vehicle will take longer to come to a stop on the wet road.

“Keep in mind that puddles may be deeper than they initially seem so keep an eye out for standing water on the road edge and be ready to react – it’s also sensible to test your brakes regularly when there is surface water.

“If the car aquaplanes, it’s best to avoid hitting the brake and ease off the accelerator gently with the steering wheel held straight and steady until you can feel contact with the road again.”