Highway Code: £5,000 air conditioning warning to drivers
The forecaster has revealed temperatures of 24C or 25C are forecast on Monday (April 28), and they will rise each day until a peak on Wednesday (April 30) or Thursday (May 1) of 28C, with a small chance of seeing 29C.
Temperatures will be 'markedly higher' than what they should be for this time of year, as at the end of April it is usually about 12C in the North and 16C in the South, so some areas could be more than 10C higher than the average.
As the warm weather arrives, drivers have been warned that failing to use air conditioning or open windows during hot weather could violate the Highway Code.
Rule 237 of the Highway Code requires vehicles to be well-ventilated to prevent driver drowsiness.
The reason for the rule is to avoid drowsiness when in control of a vehicle, should drivers ignore the guidance and subsequently lose control of their vehicle they risk a fine of up to £5,000 in the most serious cases.
Experts at Swansway Motor Group said: 'Breaking Rule 237 could result in an on-the-spot fine if you are deemed to be driving carelessly or involved in an accident due to poor ventilation. An overheated car can cause drowsiness, putting the driver in an unsafe driving state.
"Drivers must have complete control over their vehicles at all times and in hot weather, keeping the vehicles well-ventilated can help to combat any mistakes being made behind the wheel.
"Failure to stick to this can lead to drowsiness at the wheel and, in extreme cases, a £1,000 fine for careless driving. If this leads to an accident where someone is seriously injured, the punishment could increase to a £5,000 fine and nine penalty points on their licence.
"Good ventilation is important for staying alert and driving safely. Without enough airflow, a car's interior can heat quickly, causing driver fatigue and slower reaction times."
'Prison' warning over failure to follow Highway Code
Although some rulings under the Highway Code may seem extreme to many, the government warn they are legal requirements and failure to follow them could see drivers sent to prison.
They say: 'Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence.
'You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison.'
Highway Code rules are not laws, however many rules included do cross over into legal requirements, so it is important that you follow the guidelines.
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