Bonfire Night 2015

It’s that time of the year again, the days are getting colder and we’re barely seeing daylight, all the Christmas adverts are scheduled and Bonfire night is in just a few days’ time!

From all of us at Geoffrey Miller Solicitors, we hope you have a lovely bonfire night. However, please be aware that driving on bonfire night is different than any other time of the year, as your vision may be obscured by smoke (and usually bad weather!!) which makes driving even more hazardous than it usually is in winter. The morning after is usually just as bad with a thick fog leftover from all of the bonfires and fireworks.

Here are our top tips to ensure you stay safe this Bonfire Night:

1. Make sure you know which lights to use and how to use them. You should always use dipped headlights in misty and foggy conditions and only use your fog lights if visibility is less than 100 metres. Don’t forget to turn your lights off when visibility improves!
2. Make sure you keep your windscreen and wing mirrors clean at all times and that your screen wash is kept topped up in the event some debris or dirt does fly onto your window. Also use your demisters to ensure a clear view.
3. Always drive at a consistent speed to ensure you can slow down or brake early enough to avoid any hazards. Fog can come in different densities, so only increase your speed when you’re confident the fog has cleared completely, and don’t speed up to avoid anyone tailgating you, maintain your consistent speed to avoid dangerous situations.
4. Visibility is greatly reduced in dark alone, let alone when you add smoke and fog in the mix. This can make it even harder to spot motorbikes and cyclists. Therefore, be extra vigilant in looking out for pedestrians and cyclists.
5. If your visibility is very restricted, a top tip is to roll your window down at junctions to allow you to listen for approaching traffic.

By choosing not to follow these tips you may be at risk of charges of driving without due care and attention, careless driving or even in some extreme cases dangerous driving which could result in a driving disqualification. If you have any queries about any of these offences or any other motoring offences, please visit www.motoroffence.co.uk or call the Geoffrey Miller Team on 0800 1389 123.