Common habit could land some drivers with a £5,000 fine

Drivers with a common habit have been warned they could face a £5,000 fine. UK motorists who vape inside their car could be hit with the fine as we head towards Christmas and the temperatures drop.

Markus Lindblad, from the tobacco-free nicotine alternative retailer Northerner, urged Brits to avoid vaping in their car. He said: "When the weather is colder, you may be tempted to vape in the car instead of standing out in the cold."

Previously shedding light on the legalities of vaping while driving, 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."

And warning drivers about the risks, he said: "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."

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On whether passengers can vape, he added: "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."

The AA highlighted the importance of avoiding distractions such as smoking while driving, referencing Rule 148 of the Highway Code. The AA further explained that in England, company vehicles must be smoke-free if they carry members of the public or employees, and in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it's illegal to smoke in any work vehicle unless it's a personal car.

Additionally, the AA mentioned that the Children and Families Act 2015 made it an offence to smoke in cars with children present, but clarified that these rules do not extend to e-cigarettes. They also noted that failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free private vehicle in England and Wales could lead to a fixed penalty notice of £50.