With the latest changes to the Highway Code coming into force at the end of January highlighting the change in the hierarchy of road users in which someone who poses a risk to others has a higher level of responsibility.

With this in mind, the car finance experts CarMoney are warning motorists to be mindful of an everyday driving habit that may come with an unexpected fine:

Stopping beyond the white line at traffic lights – £100 + 3 penalty points

A simple mistake of stopping beyond the Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) could land drivers with a £100 fine plus three penalty points on their licence. The white line box indicates a reserved space for cyclists to be visible and ahead of cars and motorcycles, but many motorists creep into this box, risking a fine. To avoid this, be mindful of stopping at a red light behind the first white line and giving space to cyclists in front.

Other unexpected offences that can catch out drivers include:

Using phone to change playlist whilst driving – £200

Aimed at preventing dangerous driving, new laws will ban drivers from using their phones to change music streaming playlists, take videos and pictures. Although using a phone whilst driving for phone calls was banned in 2003, this new rule may still affect ‘hands-free’ device usage if motorists are found to be driving recklessly.

Throwing a cigarette out of a car window – £100

Whether the car is moving or not, the “incorrect disposal of a cigarette” out of the window is classed as littering and may come with a fixed penalty notice of £50-100 for caught offenders. Whilst smoking and driving is not an offence in itself if in a vehicle with passengers over the age of 18, the fine was introduced to curb the negative impact of cigarette butts on the environment and to be in line with current littering laws. Avoid smoking whilst driving to reduce the risk of a littering fine.

Having a dirty number plate – £1,000

It’s easily done, especially in the winter months, with dirt build-up from wet roads but a dirty number plate can result in a £1,000 fine. Having an “unreadable” number plate goes against the Highway Code, which states that “lights, indicators and number plates must be kept clean and clear”. So keep your plates wiped clean after journeys on dirty roads.

Marketing & Partnerships Manager at CarMoney Andrew Marshall says “More and more drivers are being caught out on the roads by unexpected fines. The new changes to the Highway Code will place more responsibility on road users and it will be a criminal offence to disobey them. More publicised offences, such as making phone calls whilst driving, are already deemed unacceptable in our society but simple things such as throwing a cigarette out of a window are what we see on journeys every day, and often without consequence. We are reminding road users to be considerate of other road users and obey driving laws for their own safety and the safety of others whilst travelling.”