SMOKE SCREEN
Cops issue urgent warning to drivers as anyone caught vaping in cars could be slapped with ‘significant’ fine
It could also get you a nine-point penalty on your license
COPS have warned drivers they could risk paying a hefty fine for vaping in cars.
Motorists who puff away while driving could breach the Road Traffic Act - and be slapped with a £5,000 penalty.
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Experts have said vaping inside a car can significantly "impair visibility" for the driver - and doing so may lead to serious legal issues.
While vaping and driving is not illegal and there are no motor laws banning the act, drivers could still have to fork out thousands of pounds if they are found distracted because of the smoke.
A clear, unobstructed view of the road is a fundamental requirement for safe driving.
However, many drivers may not realise that their vaping habits could be impairing their visibility and inadvertently breaking the law, potentially leading to a hefty fine.
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The temporary visual impairment can be enough to obscure crucial details on the road and can lead to dangerous situations, accidents, or even fatalities.
Surrey and Sussex Policing Unit said the distraction caused by vaping while driving can have "dire" consequences.
They added: " All it takes is a moment to become distracted and potentially cause a crash or, even worse, a fatality
“There are no laws prohibiting vaping. However, you need to be in full and proper control of your vehicle at all times. Firstly, any person who is distracted in any way could be guilty of an offence – whether that be smoking, vaping, eating, etc.
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“In investigations that we conduct, any distraction would need to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis."
Laws under the Road Traffic Act state that if a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without “due care and attention” or reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place, they are guilty of an offence.
And anything that covers a driver's vision, including vaping or cigarette smoke, can lead to prosecution.
Swansway Motor Group previously explained that drivers need to be aware that vaping in the car could lead them to pay a fine of £5,000 and nine points on their license.
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