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 using fairy lights on the outside of your automobile; nonetheless, 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 usually embrace tinted windscreens, customized paintwork, or wheel equipment. Such modifications are a good way to make your automobile distinctive and stand out.
Nevertheless, since fairy lights emit a variety of colors, this generally is a authorized gray space. It’s unlawful to drive with extra blue or pink lights until your automobile is an emergency automobile. As fairy lights can emit these colors, you might 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 might be acceptable to make use of them when the automobile is parked at house and pose no danger to different highway customers, it’s best to keep away from their use solely to stop any potential hurt or points they might trigger.
What does the regulation say?
Whereas there are not any particular legal guidelines governing fairy lights on automobiles, the next legal guidelines and issues below the Freeway Code and different laws might apply:
Careless or harmful driving
The Street Site 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. Not too long ago, police have cracked down even more durable 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 automobile is provided with fairy lights, the driving force could also be held answerable for damages in addition to violating this rule.
Impression on different highway customers
The Street Car Lighting Rules 1989 govern the use, positioning, and performance of lights on automobiles. Their function is to make sure highway security by standardising automobile lighting to cut back accidents attributable to poor visibility or confusion. Utilizing fairy lights whereas driving may breach these laws.
Vibrant or flashing lights might 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 non permanent ones like fairy lights.
Key issues:
- Failure to Declare: If you’re concerned in an accident and your automobile has fairy lights, your insurer might argue that you simply did not 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 enhance the danger – by distracting drivers, impairing visibility, or inflicting a hearth hazard – your insurer might increase your premium.
- Refusal of Protection: Some insurers might refuse to cowl automobiles with exterior ornamental lights altogether.
Whereas driving with fairy lights generally is a enjoyable approach to rejoice the festive interval, it’s vital 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 verify along with your insurer to keep away from any disagreeable surprises.
