Air fresheners costing motorists £2500

Drivers have been warned not to hang air fresheners from their rear-view mirror or face hefty fines and serious penalties

Motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have warned Brits they could be slapped with a £2500 fine and driving disqualification if an air freshener obstructs their view.

Failure to keep the air freshener out of the ‘red zone’ affecting the driver’s view will result in penalty points or even a charge of careless driving.

It is against the law to drive a motor vehicle on a road if the driver doesn’t have a full view of the road and traffic ahead under the 1986 Road Vehicles Regulations.

Failure to have a full view of the road and traffic ahead could see drivers hit with a  £1000 fine, a discretionary disqualification and three points on their license.

Fines for drivers of goods and commercial vehicles, such as bus and coach drivers, can be even higher, rising to £2500.

In more serious cases, motorists could even be found guilty of careless or inconsiderate driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

This offence is committed when the defendant’s driving falls below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver, which includes a driver being avoidably distracted.

Drivers have been advised to consider getting rid of air fresheners hanging from the rearview mirror because if placed incorrectly they may be breaking the law and subject to penalties.

The obstruction could also reduce visibility putting drivers and other road users at greater risk of being involved in an accident.

Other items which could cause obstruction include sat navs, dash cams, stickers, decorations like fluffy dice and even dirty windscreens.

Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: “Many seemingly innocent driving acts can get drivers into trouble so it’s worth knowing the law and taking steps to be on the right side of it.

“While having an air freshener hanging in the car isn’t explicitly illegal, it is against the law to not have a full vision of your surroundings and this kind of obstruction can block out part of the view ahead.

“It is also an offence to be driving while distracted, so if the air freshener is affecting the driver efficiently assessing their surroundings for potential hazards and this results in an accident they could be charged with a distracted driving offence.

“With the cost of living crisis affecting Brits, the last thing they need is a hefty fine for a preventable mistake.

“It is worth noting that this applies to everything that could cause a potential obstruction, such as satnavs and dashcams, so it is important that drivers carefully position car accessories.

“Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and it is very easy to miss pedestrians and other road users without an entire field of vision.

“If having a fruity-smelling car is important to you, consider hanging it on the back of a headrest or simply put it in the cupholder.

“To be safe, avoid hanging an air freshener or any decoration like fluffy dice or car charms  from the front-rear mirror.”