Did you know that playing music while driving could land you a £5,000 fine? 

Well you’re not the only one if you didn’t, as supposedly over half of all UK adults are unaware of this genuine driving law.

I’ll be honest, until I looked into it, I didn’t know the exact driving rules we should be following, which is why I thought I’d put it out here and share it in our blog. 

How many of you listen to music while driving? 

Statistics show around two thirds (64%) of us always listen to music whilst out on the road. I nearly always have the local radio station radio on and occasionally, now the sunshine is making a more regular appearance, I’ll play an uplifting summer tune and enjoy the drive wearing my shades on and with the wind in my hair.

Rule 148 of the Highway Code, in the General Advice section, states that playing loud music is deemed a distraction when driving and could land you with an £100 fine and three points on your licence. It is based around safe driving, the need for concentration, avoiding distractions and whether the volume masks other sounds.

When your music is so loud that you cannot hear potential hazards around you, drivers could be seen to be putting others at risk and this is when you could be charged with dangerous driving. So be aware, as a dangerous driving charge could land you with a £5,000 fine and possibly even a driving ban.

The other thing to be aware of is the ability for other road users to digitally record you in the act, through a dash cam or helmet cam for example. 

Warwickshire Police launched Operation Snap in 2019 to keep our roads safer. It enables members of the public to report and submit digital footage showing potential moving traffic offences. So I’m sorry to disappoint, but driving down the high street with your music blasting through your new sub-woofers with your windows down, might not be the best way to listen to your favourite tunes.

Did you know, that in addition to these rules and guidance about listening to your music, the Highway Code also recommends that you find a safe place to stop if you want to put music, the radio or a podcast on? 

Since 1st April 2021, strict new rules came into place regarding the use of your mobile phone when driving, if you didn’t already know, it is now illegal to hold your phone while driving for any reason. You could risk a £200 fine and six penalty points for holding your phone while driving … and that also includes while you’re going through a drive-through! You might want to reconsider using Apple Pay via your phone.

According to AskThePolice: “It is not an offence in itself to listen to music on a mobile device whilst driving or cycling. However, listening to music can be distracting, especially if it is not be possible for the individual to be fully aware of their surroundings.”

“You need to be able to bring to bear all the senses you can whilst driving, and being able to hear is important in enabling you to be in proper control of your vehicle in traffic. Obviously, some people have the disadvantage that they cannot hear too well (or not at all), but the rest of us should not deliberately mask our senses and put ourselves at the same disadvantage.” 

“A person using a device playing loud music, may, therefore, be deemed not to have proper control of their vehicle or to be driving without reasonable consideration for others, both of which are relatively serious offences.”

The same would go for wearing headphones whilst driving. If your headphones prevent you hearing any external noise you will not be fully aware of your surroundings. This may also be deemed to be driving dangerously, resulting in a potential fine and points added to your licence.

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