£100 warning to drivers reaching for common device in car

The police could take a dim view of smoke clouds obstructing a driver's vision and issue on the spot fines

Drivers have been warned about reaching for a common device in their car. Motorists are always encouraged to maintain their full attention on the road at all times.

With the threat of accidents and crashes posing a risk to road-users, it's important drivers do not become distracted behind the wheel. We all know that using a mobile phone behind the wheel is illegal - but drivers have been warned about wielding another popular device.

Over the past decade, a popular habit that has grown among people in the UK is vaping. The rules around vaping can be slightly confusing.

READ MORE: £200 warning to all drivers over common mistake at traffic lights

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Drivers may be tempted to reach for their vape whilst on the road but it could land drivers in hot water. A warning has been issued by nicotine expert Markus Lindblad from Northerner. He revealed that the creation of smoke clouds from vaping could land them in trouble.

He said: "When the rules were implemented, vapes weren’t around, so whilst the rules don’t specifically state that it’s illegal to vape in the car, it does state that anything that’s seen to be restricting a driver's view, such as smoke clouds, can be liable for enforcement. If you’re driving and the police notice you’re vaping, you can be fined up to £100 on the spot.

"However, depending on the seriousness of the case, if you’re caught vaping and end up in an accident, then you could be facing a fine of up to £5,000, nine penalty points, and even a court-imposed driving ban. There are no laws to say passengers aren’t allowed to vape in the car.

"However, they should ask the driver permission first so they are able to assess the situation to avoid it affecting their visibility in any way. It’s probably advised that anyone vaping in the car should make sure that the driver's visibility isn’t affected by the smoke clouds and that windows can also be opened too."