UK motorists warned of wearing jeans this summer or risk £1,000 fine

People across the UK have been graced with warm and sunny weather over the past few weeks, making the bank holidays more enjoyable for all.

The Met Office is forecasting good weather and warm temperatures to continue for the next week as summer approaches.

However, experts are warning drivers that they could be handed fines based on the clothes they wear when at the wheel.

When driving, motorists should have full control of the car at all times and should be paying attention to the road ahead of them.

One problem item of clothing could be long, flowy sundresses, as well as baggier bootcut jeans, with the excess material potentially inhibiting the ability to drive.

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While they may be a good way to keep cool in the summer months, the material at the bottom of the dress can get lodged underneath the pedals or even cause feet to get tangled.

In the event that this happens, motorists may lose proper grip on the pedals and as a result, could be driving dangerously.

Andrew Marshall, from CarMoney, issued an urgent warning to motorists about the risks they face when driving this summer.

He said: “If you wear inappropriate clothing that restricts manoeuvring correctly, you could find yourself with a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points on your licence for careless driving.

“If an incident goes to court, the penalty could go up to a £5,000 fine, nine penalty points and even a driving ban.”

Rule 97 of the Highway Code makes drivers aware of what they should do before setting off, including having the correct documentation.

It also states that drivers should ensure that “clothing and footwear do not prevent you from using the controls in the correct manner”.

For motorcyclists, Rule 84 suggests that they should wear suitable clothing – like strong boots and gloves – to help protect them in the event of a collision.

Louise Thomas, motor insurance expert at Confused.com, warned that summer wardrobes could impact those at the wheel and what they can do to avoid any issues.

She said: “There isn’t a law which explicitly states that you can’t wear jeans, skirts or flip flops behind the wheel. 

“But you should always make sure you’re in full control of your vehicle at all times, and what you’re wearing could impact this.

“That’s why it’s important to be aware of all the smaller driving rules you may not know.”