In this viral TikTok video with over 17.9 million views (and counting), a person has adorned their automotive with fairy lights within the spirit of Christmas. Many customers are loving the thought and have began modifying their vehicles to show their very own festive lights.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at main UK lease agency Choose Automotive Leasing, has weighed in on this development to spotlight what precautions individuals ought to take in the event that they want to beautify their vehicles, and whether or not one of these modification is authorized within the UK.
Is it unlawful to decorate my automotive with fairy lights?
There is no such thing as a particular legislation that prohibits using fairy lights on the outside of your automobile; nevertheless, some modifications are unlawful, and the legality of the lights is set by how they’re used.
Including LED fairy lights would fall beneath 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 automotive distinctive and stand out.
Nonetheless, since fairy lights emit a variety of colors, this could be a authorized gray space. It’s unlawful to drive with extra blue or pink lights except your automotive is an emergency automobile. As fairy lights can emit these colors, you could 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 automotive altogether. Whereas it might be acceptable to make use of them when the automotive is parked at residence and pose no threat to different street customers, it’s best to keep away from their use completely to forestall any potential hurt or points they might trigger.
What does the legislation say?
Whereas there are not any particular legal guidelines governing fairy lights on autos, the next legal guidelines and issues beneath the Freeway Code and different laws could apply:
Careless or harmful driving
The Street Visitors Act 1988 states that driving with out due care or in an unreasonable method may end up in penalties. If fairy lights impair your imaginative and prescient or distract you or different drivers, this can be thought of careless or reckless driving.
Distractions
Rule 148 of the Freeway Code advises drivers to keep away from distractions whereas driving. Lately, police have cracked down even more durable on distracted driving with new AI cameras that detect cellphone use.
Fairy lights may very well be thought of a distraction. If an accident happens whereas the automobile is provided with fairy lights, the driving force could also be held accountable for damages in addition to violating this rule.
Impression on different street customers
The Street Automobile Lighting Laws 1989 govern the use, positioning, and performance of lights on autos. Their objective is to make sure street security by standardising automobile lighting to cut back accidents attributable to poor visibility or confusion. Utilizing fairy lights whereas driving may breach these laws.
Vivid or flashing lights could distract different drivers or pedestrians, resulting in potential violations of each the Lighting Laws and the above-mentioned careless driving guidelines.
Insurance coverage Impacts
Even small modifications to your automotive can influence 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 automotive has fairy lights, your insurer could argue that you simply didn’t declare the modification. This might invalidate your coverage.
- Negligence: Insurers may declare negligence in your half for utilizing distracting or unsafe decorations, probably holding you partially liable in an accident.
- Elevated Premiums: If fairy lights enhance the chance – by distracting drivers, impairing visibility, or inflicting a fireplace hazard – your insurer could elevate your premium.
- Refusal of Protection: Some insurers could refuse to cowl autos 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 vital to think about the potential dangers to your self and different street customers. At all times guarantee your decorations adjust to the legislation, don’t distract different drivers, and verify along with your insurer to keep away from any disagreeable surprises.
