Little-known rule parents need to be aware of after having baby as it could void your car insurance and risk £5,000 fine
PARENTS have been warned about a little-known rule they need to be aware of after having a baby as it could void your car insurance and risk them being hit with a £5,000 fine.
Many new parents put up a ‘baby on board’ sticker in the back of their car to alert other drivers.
However, while doing that can be important, where it is placed though matters a great deal.
If they are in the wrong spot they can block your view and make driving unsafe.
Motoring expert Darren Miller, from BigWantsYourCar.com, has warned thought that this could actually lead to your car insurance becoming void if it is considered a change to the vehicle.
He said: “Insurance companies might see these stickers as changes or distractions, raising your risk on the road, especially if a sticker on the back window blocks your view.
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"Having something blocking your view while driving could slow how quickly you react to things happening on the road, potentially leading to an accident.
“Good driving is all about noticing things early so you have time to react properly to any dangers.
“It's important to keep your view clear to stay safe.”
Mr Miller stressed it was “super important” to be able to see clearly for safe driving.
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He advised that if you wanted to put stickers up or hang something from your rear-view mirror, to make sure they don’t get in the way of seeing outside.
A sticker, like a ‘baby on board’ one, can lead to huge fines as well as other penalties.
If the police think a sticker is blocking your view, they can slap you with an immediate £100 fine.
Mr Miller said: “This could increase to up to £1,000 and three points on your licence if you end up in court.
“In really serious situations, you could be charged with dangerous driving, which might mean a fine up to £5,000, so it’s really important to put these items in the right place to stay out of trouble."
The warning comes after the UK's car crash hotspots were revealed, as a popular seaside town dubbed the "most dangerous".
Elsewhere, motorists could be threatened with a "lifetime driving ban" for a common offence under new proposals by campaigners.
Drivers have also been warned that getting behind the wheel with a common illness could land them a £1,000 fine and points on their licence.
