In this viral TikTok video with over 17.9 million views (and counting), a person has adorned their automobile with fairy lights within the spirit of Christmas. Many customers are loving the concept 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 spotlight what precautions individuals ought to take in the event that they want to embellish their automobiles, and whether or not the sort of modification is authorized within the UK.
Is it unlawful to decorate my automobile with fairy lights?
There is no such thing as 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 underneath 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.
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 purple lights until your automobile is an emergency car. 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 automobile altogether. Whereas it could be acceptable to make use of them when the automobile is parked at dwelling and pose no danger to different highway customers, it’s best to keep away from their use solely to forestall any potential hurt or points they might 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 underneath 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 can lead to 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 car is supplied with fairy lights, the motive force could also be held accountable for damages in addition to violating this rule.
Impression on different highway customers
The Street Automobile Lighting Laws 1989 govern the use, positioning, and performance of lights on automobiles. Their objective is to make sure highway security by standardising car lighting to cut back accidents brought on by poor visibility or confusion. Utilizing fairy lights whereas driving might breach these laws.
Vibrant 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 automobile can affect insurance coverage prices, as suppliers classify all modifications as modifications, even short-term ones like fairy lights.
Key issues:
- Failure to Declare: If you’re concerned in an accident and your automobile has fairy lights, your insurer could argue that you simply didn’t declare the modification. This might invalidate your coverage.
- Negligence: Insurers might 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 danger – by distracting drivers, impairing visibility, or inflicting a fireplace hazard – your insurer could increase your premium.
- Refusal of Protection: Some insurers could refuse to cowl automobiles with exterior ornamental lights altogether.
Whereas driving with fairy lights could be a enjoyable option to rejoice the festive interval, it’s essential to contemplate the potential dangers to your self and different highway customers. At all times guarantee your decorations adjust to the regulation, don’t distract different drivers, and test along with your insurer to keep away from any disagreeable surprises.
