Urgent warning drivers could be hit with £5k fine for common driving mistake

DRIVERS have been warned they could be hit with a giant fine for carrying out a common behaviour behind the wheel.

The insight comes as countless Brits begin to enjoy long summer road trips up and down the country.

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For many, this will involve stopping for food and eating while driving – an act that can actually carry a pricey punishment.

Motor Insurance Expert at Confused.com, Louise Thomas, explained how this could land drivers in trouble.

“As eating often requires the use of your hands, you could land yourself a fine of up to £5,000 and points on your licence,” she said.

“This is because you would be driving without due care and attention in the case of an accident.”

Drivers could also be hit with up to nine points for breaking the same offence.

Similarly, despite using a smart phone while driving usually being forbidden, the laws for paying at a drive-thru have been tweaked.

“According to mobile phone laws, you can pay with your mobile phone but shouldn’t use it for any other reason while waiting in a drive-thru queue,” Ms Thomas said.

“This law is specifically for any activity where you’re holding your phone.”

In fact, scrolling on a phone at a drive-thru can lead to a £200 fine and six points on your licence or even disqualification if you’ve only passed your test in the past two years.

Ms Thomas said drivers are best served by rehashing their knowledge of road rules before setting off on any trip.

“Driving in the summer can often lead to more road accidents due to multiple factors,” she said.

“If the worst were to happen and you break a traffic offence that causes an accident, your insurer may not pay out.

“For peace of mind, you should always check your car insurance policy before setting off for any journey this summer.”