Drivers warned over winter mistake that could lead to a whopping £10,000 fine

DRIVERS have been warned over common winter mistakes that could lead to a whopping £10,000 fine and 12 points on their licence.

Meteorologists are advising that temperatures will drop soon, meaning drivers will need to pay more attention to the road.

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Law firm Lawtons Solicitors has offered drivers a list of necessary checks this winter.

It has warned that drivers who don’t make them could be slapped with a fine of up to £10,000.

According to a Green Flag report on safe driving, a fifth of drivers stated that they have knowingly driven an unroadworthy vehicle.

A quarter of motorists said that they perform safety checks just once a year on their cars.

One of the most important checks is tyres, because drivers with a tyre below 1.6mm can be slapped with a hefty £2,500 fine and three points.

If all four tyres are in this state, the fine increases to £10k and the points to 12.

Experts recommend changing your tyres if the tread is below 3mm.

It is also advisable to check your lights work properly – if the police catch you with the headlight, the rear light indicator or reversing light broken, it can cost the driver a fine of between £50 and £1000.

Neil Worth, chief executive at GEM Motoring Assist advised: “Don’t let the weather catch you by surprise.

“Take a few simple preventative maintenance steps to give yourself the best chance of ensuring you won’t be stranded out in the cold.”

And Rebecca Ashton from the charity IAM RoadSmart wants to remind drivers that it is vital to catch little problems now.

“Doing so now will stop them from turning into more serious ones further down the road,” she said.