According to little-known legislation, drivers can be penalised £2,500 if they sleep in their car. And the penalties aren't limited to a hefty fine; they can also involve licence points being docked or incarceration.
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Sleep carefully
According to the Road Traffic Act of 1998, a motorist who is under the influence of alcohol can be penalised, whether or not the car is being driven. Anyone planning on sleeping off a boozy night in their car should proceed with caution. Driving while intoxicated is a severe offence that can have fatal consequences for you, your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. The regulation, which is integrated into the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act, states that you can be charged if you are drunk in your car, even if you don't intend to drive. Thus, you could end up in hot water with the cops if you doze off.
A £2,500 fine, 10 licence points, or imprisonment may be imposed. It comes as the UK has implemented several new Highway Code provisions this year. Another guideline stipulates that a person should not overtake other motorists on the road and that violating this rule can result in a £100 fine. The Highway Code reads in Rule 248:
You must not park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.
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The reason why
The rule is in place because there is no guarantee that a person will not attempt to drive while still intoxicated when they wake up. Depending on how much alcohol you've consumed, you may need to spend the night in a hotel to recover. Other options include asking a friend or family member for a ride home or attempting to hail a taxi. Drunk driving rules include, the no-sleeping-drunk rule and a recent campaign were launched to try to reduce the damage that drunk driving causes on our roads.
It was created by THINK! and is aimed at young males, who are the most common intoxicated drivers. Liz Brooker MBE, Chair of Road Safety Great Britain, told My London:
Road Safety Great Britain fully supports the THINK! Pint Block campaign. Someone who gets in their car after drinking is a risk to themselves, and all others on the road, including their friends.
This campaign highlights the role everyone has to play in reducing the number of people who drive, using the power of friendship to encourage safer driving and the need to protect those we care about.
