Glastonbury Festival drivers warned they could be fined £1,000 for common mistake

Motorists heading to Glastonbury this week have been warned that simple driving errors could result in a hefty fine. With around 200,000 festival-goers expected to descend on the five-day event, heavy congestion is anticipated on all nearby motorways and A-roads.

While planning your journey in advance is crucial, it's also important to check your vehicle for certain key things to ensure it's up to standard. Motoring experts at National Scrap Car have cautioned that easy-to-make mistakes could land drivers in serious legal trouble and hit their wallets hard.

These include easily overlooked issues such as a dirty number plate and overloading your boot. Motoring expert Dorry Potter said: "Proper preparation and adherence to traffic laws are crucial to prevent accidents and ensure a smooth journey to the festival. Thorough vehicle checks including tyre pressure, fluid levels and battery health are essential to avoid any breakdowns en route to the festival or any nasty surprises when leaving the site on the Monday."

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"Additionally, 10-20% of all crashes are estimated to be caused due to driver fatigue, with motorways and dual carriageways experiencing the highest volume of crashes. With festivals happening in rural settings, and with partygoers travelling long distances the risks are clear. Make sure you're well rested and not under the influence before getting in your vehicle ahead or post the festival."

Here's a list of things that could get you in trouble on your way to Glastonbury this week..., reports Bristol Live.

Dirty number plates.

With the Met Office forecasting rain at Glastonbury, drivers are being advised to ensure their number plates are clean. Under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, if you're caught with an obscured number plate, you could be hit with an immediate £100 fine.

If the case is taken to court, this could escalate to a level 3 fine of £1,000.

Improper use of your horn.

While traffic congestion is anticipated at festivals, drivers are reminded that using your horn out of frustration, rather than to signal danger, could lead to a fine. The Highway Code stipulates that a horn should only be used to warn someone of danger from another vehicle or any other type of hazard, not to vent anger.

It's against the law to use a car horn on a moving vehicle on a restricted road, essentially a road with street lights and a 30 mph limit, between the hours of 11:30pm and 07:00am.

Police can issue drivers with a fine for the illegal use of car horns. This is typically a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £30.

If drivers contest an FPN, they can challenge the decision in court - but if they lose, the fine can be increased up to as much as £1,000.

Overloading your vehicle.

Festival enthusiasts are being cautioned that overpacking their vehicles with camping gear, extra mates and dietary provisions could land them a hefty £300 fine. The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency's road-side check up guidelines reveal, if any vehicle is discovered to be overloaded by 15% or more, the driver could confront this hefty penalty.

A fine of £100 could be charged if your vehicle is overweight by a margin of 0-10%, while overloading between 10-15% could lead to a £200 fine.

Payload weight restrictions depend on your motor's size. For compact cars like Renault Clio, Fiat 500, and Volkswagen Polo, the maximum payload limits typically range from 385kg to 482kg.

Weight escalates easily with four grown-up passengers, each laden with suitcases, camping gear and provisions - a 400kg payload limit can be surpassed without difficulty.

Flashing headlights outside festival venues.

Rule 110 of the Highway Code states flashing headlights should only be used to alert fellow motorists of your presence. A steep fine of up to £1,000 could be levied at those found using their headlights to express annoyance, let other drivers pass, or convey any other form of communication.

At music festivals, it's likely you'll be sporting various types of footwear, ranging from wellingtons to crocs but driving in muddy wellies or shoes could be perilous.

The police warn, drivers caught operating their vehicle wearing inappropriate footwear following a collision could face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence for "driving without due care and attention".

The case could potentially escalate to court, where the penalties could increase to a hefty £5,000 fine, nine penalty points, and a potential driving ban. Therefore, it's crucial to wear suitable footwear while driving.

Experts recommend that festival attendees pack an extra set of clothes and shoes in their cars to ensure they have dry and comfortable attire for the drive home.