DVLA driver warnings – How YOU could face a £1,000 fine for failing to report any one of 182 common medical conditions
DRIVERS could face a fine of up to £1,000 if they fail to disclose an existing medical condition.
Around a million motorists are estimated to be on the road with a health issue they haven't flagged to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
According to the DVLA, you must tell them if you're suffering with any of .
And the list doesn't just run to a few simple things, it's an extensive A to Z of diseases, syndromes and ailments.
It's also packed with common conditions such as diabetes, depression and high blood pressure included.
Read our DVLA warnings live blog below for full list of laws as well as other updates and tips...
Driving in fog tips from the Met Office
The Met Office have release top 5 tips when driving in foggy conditions as it is expected that much of the UK will see fog tomorrow morning.
Tip 1 – Make sure you’re familiar with how to use your front and rear fog lights.
Tip 2 – Do not use full beam lights as the fog reflects the light back reducing visibility.
Tip 3 – Follow the ‘two-second rule’ to leave sufficient space between you and the car in front.
Tip 4 – Ensure the heater is set to windscreen de-misting and open up all vents.
Tip 5 – If visibility is very limited, wind down your windows at junctions and crossroads to allow you to listen for approaching traffic.
How much is the fine for having a dirty licence plate?
Police are cracking down on drivers who have dirty or obstructed number plates on their cars.
Number plates are important, as they let the owner and the police know when and where the vehicle is registered.
Drivers with dirty licence plates or ones that are hard to read may face a fine of up to £1,000.
The fine is to act as a deterrent and a reminder to drivers in the UK to check their licence plates on a regular basis.
The little-known driving licence trick that could save YOU money
DRIVERS could be saving £2.3million each year if they renewed their licences online rather than posting their applications.
The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency has revealed that almost a quarter of the two million applications they received were sent by post or the Post Office.
British motorists submitted the documents between April 2020 and March 2021, without realising that they could apply online.
On the official Gov.uk website renewing a photocard driving licence costs just £14 and their new one is sent out within five days.
But posting your application to the DVLA costs £17 and will take longer to process, especially with a third of DVLA staff continuing to work from home.
Julie Lennard, chief executive of the DVLA, said: “Our online services are the quickest and easiest way to deal with DVLA, and customers usually receive their driving and vehicle documents in just five days.”
She explained that there are a number of fake sites online which charge more than the £14 offered by the Gov.uk service.
Check your eyesight
The clocks went back an hour early last month, which means there will be less daylight.
That will mean that for many, driving in the dark back and forth from your commute to work will be the norm during the winter months.
The DVLA took to Twitter earlier this month to remind drivers that they need to take a 20metre number plate vision test to see if their sight is up to scratch.
You must be able to read – with or without glasses or contact lenses on – a car number plate made after September 1, 2001 from 20 metres away.
If you do not meet the minimum eyesight requirements, you could face a £1,000 fine or a driving ban.
A £30 fine you could avoid
BRITS could be slapped with a £30 fine for driving with fog lights on under a surprising rule.
Motorists may think they know the do’s and don’t’s of how to use their lights, but it seems this rule in the Highway Code is often overlooked.
Drivers could face a brush with the law if they use their fog lights when they aren’t needed, as they can dazzle other road users and obscure your brake lights.
It could cause havoc on the roads and see you pulled over by the police if you fail to comply with the rule.
You could then face points on your license and a fine of up to £30 if you use the high visibility lights when cops don’t deem it foggy enough.
Rule 236 of the Highway Code states: “You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights.
“You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.”
Can you use your mobile phone as a sat-nav?
For new drivers who have had a licence for less than two years, the penalty under the harsh law is a driving ban.
So texting, answering calls and flicking through the playlist on your smartphone is a complete no no.
Harsh penalties also apply to offenders who face fines of £200 and six points on their licence following the introduction of tougher laws.
But a lot of people are confused as to whether they can use the map apps on their phones as sat-navs in the car.
The answer is yes, you can, as long as you follow some simple rules.
DVLA and your health conditions
According to the DVLA, you must tell them if you’re suffering with any of .
And the list doesn’t just run to a few simple things, it’s an extensive A to Z of diseases, syndromes and ailments.
It’s also packed with common conditions such as diabetes, depression and high blood pressure included.
Failing to report to the DVLA could see you slapped with a £1,000 fine and invalidate your insurance – and even lead to prosecution if you have a crash.
Warning to check your license - has it expired?
In order to drive legally, you must have a driving licence - but they only last for 10 years.
During the Covid crisis, drivers were granted a breather and given an extra 11 months on driving licences that expired between February 1 and December 31, 2020.
That means if your licence was due to expire on December 31, 2020, you'll have until November 30 - a matter of weeks - to renew it.
But as two fifths of Brits don't know their driving licence must be renewed every 10 years, it could mean thousands of drivers could be on the road with an expired licence.
Co-op Insurance recently revealed that 450,000 driving licences have already expired after the extension ran out for thousands of drivers earlier this year.
Explained: ULEZ changes
Last month, the London Ultra-Low Emission Zone boundary vastly expanded, meaning drivers of older cars and vans will have to pay a £12.50 charge for every day they enter the area.
It now covers everywhere inside the North and South Circular roads, a huge residential area - and if motorists don’t pay the daily charge, they’ll be hit with a £160 fine.
The ULEZ charge applies to any diesel car or van that doesn’t meet the Euro 6 exhaust standard.
That is basically any vehicle older than September 2015, although some Euro 6 cars were on sale before that.
For petrol cars, only older vehicles get hit as the cut-off is pre-Euro 4 - those newer than 2005 escape the charge.
Classic cars are free if they are more than 40 years old and the charge even covers motorbikes pre-Euro 3, which is 2007.
The charge doesn’t apply on December 25, but otherwise it is 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Six DVLA warnings drivers need to know about this winter
Driving can be trickier during poorer weather, and the DVLA has warned Brits about a number of risks to avoid as the nights draw in.
A number of new laws and changes will be rolling out over the coming months, which drivers need to get clued up on.
We outline what drivers need to know about this winter while out on the road.
- New towing a trailer rules
- Expired driving licence warning
- ULEZ changes
- Checking eyesight
- Putting your lights on
- Warnings over ice
Read the article in full here.
Is it illegal to drive with your car interior lights on?
It's a common myth than having the inside lights on when driving could land you in trouble.
You might have been told that having the interior lights of a car on when the vehicle is moving is illegal and could get you a fine or points on your licence.
But this is actually one of the biggest motoring myths out there.
There is actually no specific law that says you can't have the lights on in your car when you're behind the wheel.
According to the AA, this is something which a lot of people think is fact but there's no actual law against it.
Keeping up to date with the latest road rules is important if you want to avoid an unexpected fine.
You must know: Sunday and Bank holiday parking
Some drivers may mistakenly believe they can park anywhere on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.
But experts warn that restrictions can still apply depending on local signs.
There have been reports of people getting parking fines on Boxing Day.
Comparison website Confused.com said: “Regardless of whether it’s a Bank Holiday when traffic may be quieter, you still need to adhere to parking signs and observe waiting restriction signs.
“If a parking sign says no parking between Monday and Saturday, 8am to 6pm, then even if it’s a Bank Holiday Monday, you still cannot park there.”
DVLA need to know your 'notifiable' health conditions
According to the DVLA, you must tell them if you’re suffering with any of .
And the list doesn’t just run to a few simple things, it’s an extensive A to Z of diseases, syndromes and ailments.
It’s also packed with common conditions such as diabetes, depression and high blood pressure included.
Failing to report to the DVLA could see you slapped with a £1,000 fine and invalidate your insurance – and even lead to prosecution if you have a crash.
Man charged £570 for a day’s parking after machine says he’s been there since JULY
A MAN has been charged £570 for a day's parking after the machine told him he had been there since July.
Dino Vescera parked at Bletchley railway station on Friday at 10am and returned to pay for his day-long stay on Saturday at 12:15am after a trip to London.
He entered his registration into the ticket machine to pay and was shocked to see the payable amount flash up as £573.
The screen reportedly said he had entered the car park on July 25, at 6.57pm, which he says he had not.
Dino told : "I did a double take and thought this must be a prank or I am losing my eyesight.
“I know car parks can be expensive, but the charge is a bit drastic, is it not?"
He re-entered his correct details on a second machine and was once again perplexed as to why it showed him the same overdue balance as £573.
How much does it cost to get a clamp removed?
But the cost can vary widely.
It becomes more expensive if you haven't paid your road tax.
In which case, the fee may be as hefty as £200.
How do I get a clamp released?
In most cases, you should just follow the instructions left on a note on your car.
The authority will declare the fee you must pay to get the clamp released.
If your car isn't taxed, the DVLA may decide to take it to a pound. If your car has been removed, contact the local police force on 101 or at the nearest station.
What happens if my car is clamped?
Cars are clamped usually because they are parked improperly on public parking land, or they are untaxed and on a public road.
But if you have been clamped in a privately owned car park, you have been illegally targeted. Clamping on private land was outlawed in 2012.
In this situation, demand the clamp is removed — even if you have parked improperly. You may still have to pay a penalty.
However, if you have made an error with your parked in an area governed by a local council, it can legally clamp the car. It's often the case if the parking poses a risk to other road users.
The DVLA uses automatic number plate readers to recognise untaxed cars on our streets.
If you have been clamped legally, follow the instructions attached to the vehicle. You will need the reference number to quote, and there is usually a telephone number to call.
What is the legal way to use a sat-nav system on your phone?
Invest in a holder or cradle, so that you are not handling the phone when you drive and make sure you have put your destination in before you set off.
A spokesman for the AA said: “"It should be programmed with the route before you set off.
"If you need to re-programme the route then pull over and stop somewhere safe to do it."
Despite using a sat-nav is not currently against the law, if police think you are distracted or not in control of your vehicle you will be stopped and issued with a penalty or prosecuted in the event of an accident.
Use of the sat nav is also part of the driving test - following an overhaul in 2017.
Can you use your mobile phone as a sat-nav?
For new drivers who have had a licence for less than two years, the penalty under the harsh law is a driving ban.
So texting, answering calls and flicking through the playlist on your smartphone is a complete no no.
Harsh penalties also apply to offenders who face fines of £200 and six points on their licence following the introduction of tougher laws.
But a lot of people are confused as to whether they can use the map apps on their phones as sat-navs in the car.
The answer is yes, you can, as long as you follow some simple rules.
What about registrations before September 2001?
From 1983 onward, licence plates used a leading letter to represent the year of first registration.
The letter "A" was used at the front of the plate in 1983, progressing through the alphabet, finishing with "Y"; at the end of August 2001.
There were hundreds of region codes using a combination of a leading letter and a second to identify where the car was from.
Prior to 1983, the same system was used, but with the year letters at the end of the plate rather than the beginning.
Is any of a number plate random?
The final three letters of the number plate tend to be a random combination that make the registration unique.
But it's not uncommon for cars with neighbouring letter sequences to be from the same manufacturer, due to batch allocation of new registrations to dealers by the DVLA.
The letters "Q" and "I" are excluded from the random sequence, along with any phrases that are deemed offensive.
Using the current scheme, there will be sufficient combinations to last until the end of February 2051.
How can you tell how old your car is using your licence plate?
The two numbers in the middle of your plate identifies how old the car is.
The DVLA issues two lots of number plate combinations each year, on March 1 and September 1.
All plates issued between March 1 and the end of August will use the same two numbers as the year they are registered.
For example, a car registered from March-August 2021 would have "21".
For cars registered between September 2021 and the end of February 2022, it will be the year - 21 - plus 50, which would make it 71.
The new system began in 2001 with registrations 01 and 51.
What do the letters on a licence plate mean? (Continued...)
A - Anglia
B - Birmingham
C - Cymru
D - Deeside
E - Essex
F - Forest and Fens
G - Garden of England
H - Hampshire and Dorset
K - No official region
L - London
M - Manchester and Merseyside
N - North
O - Oxford
P - Preston
R - Reading
S - Scotland
V - Severn Valley
W - West of England
X - Denotes personal export
Y - Yorkshire
What do the letters on a licence plate mean?
When the issues a car registration plate, they actually follow a very distinct system.
The first section of a number plate is the local memory tag - the first two letters of the plate identifies where the vehicle was registered.
The first letter stands for the local area, for example E denotes Essex, while L stands for London.
The plate's second letter then identifies at which DVLA office in that area the registration took place - multiple letters can signify the same DVLA office.
The letters I, Q and Z are not used as local office identifiers, while Z can be used only as a random letter.
Car modifications (Continued...)
Drivers can tint their windows – but only to a certain degree, as they need to ensure a clear view of the surroundings.
And although it might be tempting to add a loud exhaust to show off your engine power, it cannot exceed 74 decibels or it is classed as illegal.
Spoiler upgrades to streamline your car can also land you a fine if they are not safely secured to the car, obstruct your view, or if it has sharp edges.
Using Nitrous Oxide gas to power your engine is also illegal as it can wreak havoc on your engine – and even cause it to explode.
These modifications will also have an impact on your car insurance, so make sure you inform and double-check with your provider before you carry out the adjustments.