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Every driver in Britain warned of £5K fine THIS WEEKEND over common mistake – how to avoid penalty

Every driver in Britain warned of £5K fine THIS WEEKEND over common mistake – how to avoid penalty

The Irish Sun3 days ago

BRITS are being warned that a simple driving mistake could cost them £5,000 over the weekend.
The warning comes as the UK braces for a
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An urgent warning has gone out to drivers ahead of the weekend
Credit: Alamy
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Wearing sandals whilst driving the car could lead to a hefty fine
Credit: Getty
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The news comes as the UK braces for a heatwave
Credit: Alamy
The
Rule 97 of
This includes being dressed appropriately.
In the summer months, millions of Brits swap their trainers for
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Any
If you are found to be 'driving without due care and attention', you face an on-the-spot £100 fine.
Three points could also be added to your license.
If the matter escalates to court, you could face fines of up to £5000.
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Speaking to the Express, John Wilmot, CEO and founder of LeaseLoco said: "It's easy to overlook how your choice of clothing or footwear can affect your driving, especially in hot weather, but even something as simple as a pair of flip-flops or a long skirt can reduce your control of a vehicle.
"If this leads to an accident or you're stopped by police, you could face serious consequences.
The Secret Behind Green Road Signs 🚦
'So we're urging all drivers to think practically before getting behind the wheel this spring and summer - your outfit shouldn't compromise your safety or anyone else's."
The news comes after
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The country is bracing for highs of 29C today, with the East of England likely facing the hottest temperatures.
In some areas, meteorologists have forecast highs of 33C and have said the heatwave will continue through to the end of the week.
A heatwave is when temperatures exceed thresholds in a certain area for over three days.
Across the north and west of the UK, this is 25C and in the Home Counties and London it is 28C.
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Wearing flip-flops in cars
Wearing flip-flops in the car isn't technically illegal, but it still could lead to you being fined.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that you must be adequately prepared to drive.
This includes having enough petrol and wearing appropriate clothes.
Wearing flip-flops can count as being inadequately prepared since it could interfere with your ability to use the pedals.
That could lead to a £100 fine and 3 points on your license.
If the case escalates to court, then the fine could rise to £5000.

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Fears for 2026 World Cup as extreme weather threatens game delays, ruining the football and forcing fans to leave early
Fears for 2026 World Cup as extreme weather threatens game delays, ruining the football and forcing fans to leave early

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Fears for 2026 World Cup as extreme weather threatens game delays, ruining the football and forcing fans to leave early

FEARS are growing over the 2026 World Cup as extreme weather wreaks havoc. Four Club World Cup matches have been hit by delays within the first five days of the tournament being played across the United States. 11 Extreme weather has disrupted the opening week of the Club World Cup Credit: AP 11 There are fears the thunderstorms and heat could be repeated during the 2026 World Cup Credit: Reuters 11 Fans have repeatedly been ushered out of the stands Credit: Getty And with a heatwave including temperatures as high as 41C set to hit next week, further problems are expected - with fans and players alike at risk. Now there is an increasing concern about the impact it could have on next summer's World Cup - hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. CLUB WORLD CUP CHAOS So far at the Club World Cup, the matches have been delayed due to thunderstorms. Mamelodi Sundowns vs Ulsan HD was the first fixture to be impacted with kick-off delayed by more than an hour. READ MORE FOOTBALL Then the Both Benfica vs Auckland and Mamelodi vs Ulsan were in Orlando. Most read in Football And although no World Cup matches are being staged in the city, there are seven scheduled for Miami - three hours' drive south in Florida. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS That may well include some England games as Miami is in the eastern region for the 2026 event. Similarly, Cincinnati is not on the list of host cities for next summer - but surrounding places such as Kansas City, Atlanta and Toronto are. Club World Cup clash takes over three hours to complete due to poor weather conditions at the TQL Stadium And New Jersey, the Again, like Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, the MetLife Stadium is within the eastern region England are set to be part of - along with nearby Boston and Philadelphia. Crucially, the Due to the time difference, to make sure European fans get to watch their teams play, many of their matches will be scheduled at lunchtime and in the afternoons - the hottest parts of the day. IMPACT ON PLAYERS... Of course, the extreme weather - both heat and storms - is leaving many players and referees at risk of heat stroke, exhaustion, dehydration plus other health issues and injuries. Atletico Madrid star Marcos Llorente said it was "terribly hot" when his side lost 4-0 to PSG in Los Angeles when it was 32C. By next week, players could be forced to take to the field in temperatures 9C hotter. Environmental physiologist and heat stress in sport expert at the University of Roehampton Dr Chris Tyler told the "Such conditions will be commonplace with many of the fixtures scheduled for before 5pm to maximise TV audiences. "Extreme heat could become the tournament's most formidable opponent." 11 Many players pour water on their faces to cool down Credit: Reuters 11 Crazy storms and rain have forced four matches to be delayed Credit: Getty 11 A heatwave with temperatures of 41C is on the way Credit: Reuters 11 Spectators are at risk of falling ill by sitting in direct heat Credit: Getty Fossil Free Football - a campaign group highlighting the impact of the climate crisis on the beautiful game - added: "Particular concern is for the fixtures in the no-shade stadium in Charlotte where a heat index of 38C (Real Madrid v Pachuca) and 41C (Benfica v Bayern) is forecast for the next two matches. "This underlines the dangers facing players and fans at this tournament and in 2026. Fifa have done very little to allay safety concerns." Maresca said: "It's not easy because of the temperature. We're going to try to rotate players." ...AND ON FANS... It is not just those on the pitch at risk, either. Fans being in stadiums when torrential rain falls or the sun is beating down could also find themselves in difficulty. Reports claim spectators at the Club World Cup have been forced to leave the stands during matches due to the heat. They also found long queues and restricted water availability at stadiums - even despite shoddy, low attendances. Sporting events are seemingly seeing play stopped to tend to fans taken ill in the crowd - with many of those due to heat-related incidents. This week at Queen's, ...AND ON BROADCASTERS The TV companies from around the globe have But matches at risk of being delayed could be a nightmare for broadcast executives - and fans trying to watch the action at home. That is because if a match has to be stopped for a lengthy period, it might not finish in time before the next match kicks off due to the frantic schedule. 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Map reveals UK's 10 most stressful junctions including a high-accident intersection & infamous ‘Magic Roundabout'
Map reveals UK's 10 most stressful junctions including a high-accident intersection & infamous ‘Magic Roundabout'

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Map reveals UK's 10 most stressful junctions including a high-accident intersection & infamous ‘Magic Roundabout'

The UK's most stressful junctions have been ranked and rated - each infamous for causing numerous problems for motorists. 3 London's Hanger Lane Gyratory tops the list as the UK's most stressful junction, with its complex layout and high accident rate Credit: Alamy 3 Swindon's Magic Roundabout is a multi-mini roundabout system that confuses many but surprisingly boasts a strong safety record Credit: Getty 3 Drivers can navigate the Magic Roundabout's central island in an anticlockwise direction, adding to its unique complexity Credit: Alamy These responses were then used to build a unique 'Stress Score' out of 100 - helping reveal the road layouts that most vehicle owners would rather avoid. London's mind-boggling Hanger Lane Gyratory came on top as the most stressful to navigate. The gyratory - which is essentially a large, circular intersection - is located in the north of the Ealing borough in West London and serves as a major junction where the A40 (Western Avenue) and the A406 (North Circular Road) intersect, with the A40 passing underneath in a tunnel. It also connects to Ealing Road towards Wembley. Read more Motors News Outrageously complex, the confusing layout boasts a high accident rate and often causes a bottleneck for traffic At peak times, it's known to take on some 10,000 vehicles per hour - making it not only very busy but also quite intimidating. The infamous Magic Roundabout in Swindon followed closely behind in second place. A multi-mini roundabout system, the roundabout - which gets its name from the popular British children's television show, "The Magic Roundabout" - is made up of five mini roundabouts arranged in a circle around a central island. Most read in Motors Though the mini roundabouts are all driven in a standard clockwise movement, it is possible to navigate the central island in an anticlockwise direction. But despite being wildly confusing, the Magic Roundabout boasts a surprisingly good safety record - with only 14 serious accidents and approximately 100 minor incidents over the last 25 years. Chilling moment thieves steal car with wireless device in seconds as new doc reveals how Brit motors end up in Lithuania UK's top 10 most stressful junctions Hanger Lane Gyratory - London (Stress Score: 44/100) Magic Roundabout - Swindon (Stress Score: 42/100) Cromer Road & Boundary Road Junction - Norwich (Stress Score: 40/100) The Crooked Billet Interchange - Waltham Forest (Stress Score: 38/100) Ynysforgan Roundabout - Swansea (Stress Score: 38/100) Black Cat Roundabout - Bedfordshire (Stress Score: 38/100) Larne Road Roundabout - Ballymena (Stress Score: 36/100) Shalesmoor & Netherthorpe Road Roundabout - Sheffield (Stress Score: 36/100) Springwell Road & Queen Alexandra Road Junction - Sunderland (Stress Score: 35/100) Sheriffhall Roundabout - Edinburgh (Stress Score: 35/100) TRAVELLING PAINS Scrap Car Comparison not only ranked the most stressful junctions in the UK but also created a global leaderboard, ranking some of the world's most anxiety-inducing intersections. For globe-trotting drivers, it might be best to avoid the Meskel Square Roundabout in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which picked up a Stress Score of 56 out of100. Meskel Square lacks basic road markings and formal traffic control, relying instead on driver intuition… and honking. Despite appearances, it's functional for locals but is known for being deeply unnerving for outsiders. The Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange in Los Angeles, a towering 8-level highway structure, came in close behind in second place with a score of 51/100. This score was matched by Paris' Arc de Triomphe roundabout, known for its 12 converging avenues and reversed right-of-way rules. Indeed, Europe features heavily in the rankings - with five of the top ten most stressful junctions located across the continent - with Paris, Rome, Madrid and London all making the list. 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World's top 10 most stressful junctions Meskel Square Roundabout - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Score: 56) Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange - Los Angeles, USA (Score: 51) Arc de Triomphe Roundabout - Paris, France (Score: 51) Newark Airport Interchange - Newark, USA (Score: 48) Place de la Bastille Roundabout - Paris, France (Score: 48) Shibuya Crossing Intersection - Tokyo, Japan (Score: 47) Piazza Venezia Roundabout - Rome, Italy (Score: 45) Plaza de Cibeles Roundabout - Madrid, Spain (Score: 45) I-5/I-8 Interchange - San Diego, USA (Score: 45) Hanger Lane Gyratory - London, England, UK (Score: 44)

I'm a royal gardener, important task will help your plants adapt to the heat and when it's time for the ‘Chelsea chop'
I'm a royal gardener, important task will help your plants adapt to the heat and when it's time for the ‘Chelsea chop'

The Irish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

I'm a royal gardener, important task will help your plants adapt to the heat and when it's time for the ‘Chelsea chop'

IT'S not just us humans that need to adapt to the warmer weather, the plants in your garden will need to adjust too. With temperatures soaring across the UK this weekend, former royal gardener Jack Stooks has opened up to Advertisement 1 Jack Stooks who previously worked for the King shares his top tips Credit: Getty Jack - who previously worked for King Charles at Highgrove for over two decades - also shares insight into the 'Chelsea Chop' method, and why it's important for maintaining plants. Read on to discover how to get your garden summer-ready… Plant feeding In June, much of the focus will be on staking plants and keeping them well watered. You might also start feeding your pot plants around this time, as you'll likely notice things beginning to grow in the pots. Advertisement Read More on Gardening When to water As we've had fairly dry weather in recent weeks, it's important to water your garden either in the mornings or evenings. The plants aren't yet at the stage where you're supporting them with stakes - for example, all the roses in my garden are still quite low - so they may struggle in the heat. I'd avoid overwatering, as the goal is to help the plants adapt to having less water. That said, you still need to water them, otherwise they'll just die. The main priority is making sure everything is well watered. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Exclusive The 'Chelsea Chop' Around this time of year is normally what gardeners refer to as the Chelsea Chop, which is when certain herbaceous plants get a little bit big and you have to chop them down. This helps them come back a lot bushier and helps to control the size of the plant, shape, and flowering time. 6 ways to get rid of slugs and snails In weather like this, it's often not necessary, as the plants haven't grown as much - but it an important task to be aware of. Gardening mistakes that could get you fined Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking. While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues. Tree removal and pruning : If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research. The gardening experts reveal: 'If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. " While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it. 'But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn. The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO. You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer. Property boundaries and fences : One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing. To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries 'Most of the time, it's easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side," they add. 'Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance. "Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height. "Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn't have a problem.' Garden structures and additions : A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade. But if it obstructs your neighbour's view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures. 'If you're not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you're planning and, if there's an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance," advise the gardening experts. Overhanging branches and plants : 'When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour's tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance," reveal the pros. However, it's important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing. You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don't have permission to enter your neighbours garden.

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