In this viral TikTok video with over 17.9 million views (and counting), a consumer has adorned their automobile with fairy lights within the spirit of Christmas. Many customers are loving the thought and have began modifying their automobiles to show their very own festive lights.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at main UK lease agency Choose Automobile Leasing, has weighed in on this pattern to focus on what precautions folks ought to take in the event that they want to beautify their automobiles, and whether or not such a modification is authorized within the UK.
Is it unlawful to decorate my automobile with fairy lights?
There isn’t a particular regulation that prohibits the usage of fairy lights on the outside of your car; nevertheless, some modifications are unlawful, and the legality of the lights is set by how they’re used.
Including LED fairy lights would fall below beauty modifications, that are modifications made purely for aesthetic functions. These sometimes embody tinted windscreens, customized paintwork, or wheel equipment. Such modifications are an effective way to make your automobile distinctive and stand out.
Nevertheless, since fairy lights emit a spread of colors, this could be a authorized gray space. It’s unlawful to drive with extra blue or crimson lights until your automobile is an emergency car. As fairy lights can emit these colors, it’s possible you’ll be stopped by the police and obtain both a warning or a penalty, at their discretion.
For security and to keep away from penalties, it’s strongly suggested to chorus from placing fairy lights in your automobile altogether. Whereas it could be acceptable to make use of them when the automobile is parked at dwelling and pose no threat to different street customers, it’s best to keep away from their use completely to stop any potential hurt or points they could trigger.
What does the regulation say?
Whereas there aren’t any particular legal guidelines governing fairy lights on automobiles, the next legal guidelines and issues below the Freeway Code and different rules might apply:
Careless or harmful driving
The Highway Site visitors Act 1988 states that driving with out due care or in an unreasonable method can lead to penalties. If fairy lights impair your imaginative and prescient or distract you or different drivers, this can be thought-about careless or reckless driving.
Distractions
Rule 148 of the Freeway Code advises drivers to keep away from distractions whereas driving. Not too long ago, police have cracked down even more durable on distracted driving with new AI cameras that detect telephone use.
Fairy lights might be thought-about a distraction. If an accident happens whereas the car is provided with fairy lights, the driving force could also be held responsible for damages in addition to violating this rule.
Impression on different street customers
The Highway Automobile Lighting Rules 1989 govern the use, positioning, and performance of lights on automobiles. Their objective is to make sure street security by standardising car lighting to cut back accidents attributable to poor visibility or confusion. Utilizing fairy lights whereas driving may breach these rules.
Vivid or flashing lights might distract different drivers or pedestrians, resulting in potential violations of each the Lighting Rules and the above-mentioned careless driving guidelines.
Insurance coverage Impacts
Even small modifications to your automobile can affect insurance coverage prices, as suppliers classify all modifications as modifications, even non permanent ones like fairy lights.
Key issues:
- Failure to Declare: If you’re concerned in an accident and your automobile has fairy lights, your insurer might argue that you simply did not declare the modification. This might invalidate your coverage.
- Negligence: Insurers may declare negligence in your half for utilizing distracting or unsafe decorations, doubtlessly holding you partially liable in an accident.
- Elevated Premiums: If fairy lights enhance the danger – by distracting drivers, impairing visibility, or inflicting a fireplace hazard – your insurer might increase your premium.
- Refusal of Protection: Some insurers might refuse to cowl automobiles with exterior ornamental lights altogether.
Whereas driving with fairy lights could be a enjoyable technique to have a good time the festive interval, it’s necessary to contemplate the potential dangers to your self and different street customers. At all times guarantee your decorations adjust to the regulation, don’t distract different drivers, and verify together with your insurer to keep away from any disagreeable surprises.
