If you are singing at the top of your lungs whilst ‘driving home for Christmas’ then you might want to turn it down a notch as it could land you a £5,000 fine.
According to a report in the Daily Mirror, if you are distracted from driving then you could be classed as ‘driving without due care and attention’ or even be considered ‘dangerous driving’, with the severest penalty up to £5,000 and nine points on your licence.
"Listening to music in your car is one thing, but if you’re singing loudly, dancing in your seat and generally getting into the groove, then you’re at risk of being distracted from the job at hand - which is keeping your eyes on the road,” said Mark Tongue from Select Car Leasing.
"If there’s evidence - either dashcam footage or testimony from a police officer - that you were dancing and singing prior to an accident, you could ultimately be prosecuted for dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention.
"And the penalties can be severe - up to a £5,000 fine and nine points on your licence in the most serious of circumstances.
"You've also got to consider the implications of having your music too loud.
"If you’re drowned in sound, you may not be able to hear emergency vehicles approaching or other drivers’ warning horns."
Though it would have to be a fairly scrooge-like police officer to pull you over while singing, spare a thought for the folks of Bradford after their local authorities were given the right to fine drivers under a Public Space Protection Order and that includes playing loud music.