For many first-time drivers, there's no better feeling than spinning around in your Renault Megane Classic, singing Celine Dion's Think Twice at the top of your lungs.
But amateur singers might want to take note, as it's been revealed that motorists could face being fined £5,000 for playing loud music or singing while on the road.
Advert
Who knew?
According to experts, having your own in-car karaoke or disco could land you with a 'driving without due care and attention' or 'dangerous driving' charge.
And should you find yourself in an accident for that reason, you could be hit with nine penalty points on your licence as well as the hefty fine.
Mark Tongue, director of hire firm Select Car Leasing, warned drivers to remember the rules of the road and said that the fine also applies to sporting fans celebrating in their car, who could potentially not be aware of the traffic around them.
He told The Mirror: "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.
"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."
Emma Patterson, principal solicitor at motoring law specialist Patterson Law, told the publication that fellow road users are more likely to report them than the police.
The solicitor also added that motorists could face three different charges should they be reported for either singing or listening to music loudly, which include dangerous driving, careless driving and not being in proper control of a vehicle.
The warning comes in the wake of a new trial in Bradford, which could see drivers fined £100 for anti-social vehicle use, including playing music too loudly, a danger to other road users, shouting, swearing or making sexual suggestions.
Advert
The trial was announced in March and came into effect later this year.
The move comes after a public consultation found two third of residents in Bradford felt unsafe on the roads, citing noise nuisance as a contributing factor.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock