In this viral TikTok video with over 17.9 million views (and counting), a consumer 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 Automotive Leasing, has weighed in on this development to focus on what precautions folks ought to take in the event that they want to enhance their automobiles, and whether or not this kind of modification is authorized within the UK.
Is it unlawful to decorate my automobile with fairy lights?
There isn’t 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 decided by how they’re used.
Including LED fairy lights would fall below beauty modifications, that are adjustments 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.
Nevertheless, since fairy lights emit a spread of colors, this could be a authorized gray space. It’s unlawful to drive with extra blue or crimson lights except your automobile is an emergency car. As fairy lights can emit these colors, chances are you’ll 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 residence and pose no threat to different street customers, it’s best to keep away from their use fully to stop 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 concerns below the Freeway Code and different laws could apply:
Careless or harmful driving
The Highway 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-about careless or reckless driving.
Distractions
Rule 148 of the Freeway Code advises drivers to keep away from distractions whereas driving. Just lately, police have cracked down even tougher on distracted driving with new AI cameras that detect telephone use.
Fairy lights could possibly be thought-about a distraction. If an accident happens whereas the car is provided with fairy lights, the motive force could also be held responsible for damages in addition to violating this rule.
Affect on different street customers
The Highway Car Lighting Rules 1989 govern the use, positioning, and performance of lights on automobiles. Their goal is to make sure street security by standardising car lighting to scale back accidents brought on by poor visibility or confusion. Utilizing fairy lights whereas driving may breach these laws.
Vibrant or flashing lights could distract different drivers or pedestrians, resulting in potential violations of each the Lighting Rules and the above-mentioned careless driving guidelines.
Insurance coverage Impacts
Even small adjustments to your automobile can affect insurance coverage prices, as suppliers classify all adjustments as modifications, even short-term ones like fairy lights.
Key concerns:
- Failure to Declare: In case you are concerned in an accident and your automobile has fairy lights, your insurer could argue that you just didn’t declare the modification. This might invalidate your coverage.
- Negligence: Insurers may declare negligence in your half for utilizing distracting or unsafe decorations, doubtlessly holding you partially liable in an accident.
- Elevated Premiums: If fairy lights improve 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 have fun the festive interval, it’s vital to think about the potential dangers to your self and different street customers. All the time guarantee your decorations adjust to the regulation, don’t distract different drivers, and examine together with your insurer to keep away from any disagreeable surprises.
