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 vehicles to show their very own festive lights.
Graham Conway, Managing Director at main UK lease agency Choose Automotive Leasing, has weighed in on this pattern to spotlight what precautions folks ought to take in the event that they want to beautify their vehicles, and whether or not the sort of modification is authorized within the UK.
Is it unlawful to decorate my automobile with fairy lights?
There isn’t any particular legislation that prohibits the usage of fairy lights on the outside of your car; nonetheless, 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 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 generally is a authorized gray space. It’s unlawful to drive with further blue or pink 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 might be acceptable to make use of them when the automobile is parked at dwelling and pose no danger to different street customers, it’s best to keep away from their use fully to forestall any potential hurt or points they might trigger.
What does the legislation say?
Whereas there aren’t any particular legal guidelines governing fairy lights on autos, the next legal guidelines and concerns underneath the Freeway Code and different rules could apply:
Careless or harmful driving
The Highway 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 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 tougher on distracted driving with new AI cameras that detect cellphone use.
Fairy lights might be thought of a distraction. If an accident happens whereas the car is supplied with fairy lights, the motive force could also be held responsible for damages in addition to violating this rule.
Influence on different street customers
The Highway Car Lighting Rules 1989 govern the use, positioning, and performance of lights on autos. Their objective is to make sure street security by standardising car lighting to scale back accidents attributable to poor visibility or confusion. Utilizing fairy lights whereas driving might breach these rules.
Shiny 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 non permanent 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 did not 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 hearth hazard – your insurer could elevate your premium.
- Refusal of Protection: Some insurers could refuse to cowl autos with exterior ornamental lights altogether.
Whereas driving with fairy lights generally is a enjoyable method to rejoice the festive interval, it’s necessary to contemplate the potential dangers to your self and different street customers. All the time guarantee your decorations adjust to the legislation, don’t distract different drivers, and verify together with your insurer to keep away from any disagreeable surprises.
