21 February 2023 , 10:55
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Drivers who run out of fuel and obstruct traffic have been warned they could be slapped with a £100 fine and points on their licence.
Electric car owners also risk being caught out if their battery runs flat and they block a road.
The AA says it attended more than 10,500 breakdowns last year where motorists had run out of fuel or electrical charge.
Running out of fuel or charge isn’t in itself an offence, but the police can fine you if you obstruct traffic.
As well as the £100 on-the-spot fine, drivers could end up seeing three points added to their licence.
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Rule 97 of The Highway Code states: "Before setting off. You must ensure – that you have sufficient fuel for your journey, especially if it includes motorway driving."
If there is a road accident, and an obstruction in the road caused by someone running out of fuel is deemed to be the cause, the fines can be much greater.
Motorists charged with careless driving can be fined £5,000 and up to nine penalty points.
As well as having the potential to cause an accident, running out of fuel is also bad for your car.
If you run out of petrol, your fuel pump can suck in the dirt on the bottom of the tank, clogging it and leading to an expensive replacement.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “There can be some genuine reasons for running out of fuel such as a faulty gauge or undetected fuel leak.
“On occasions cars may get stuck in jams for hours due to bad winter weather or miles of disruption leading to Channel ports which could result in running out of fuel.
“Hence we advise to always have at least one quarter of a tank of fuel. Likewise, some EV drivers might run low or out of charge if several chargers aren’t working.
“One would hope that police officers would be reasonable in those circumstances.
“But where drivers negligently run on fumes, leaving themselves and others in danger on the road, the weight of the law can be brought to bear on them. Don’t be a fuel gambler by running on fumes.
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“Most of the out-of-fuel cases the AA sees are a result of driver misjudgement, and the police have the power to give a warning or a penalty if it is deemed to be careless driving or causes an obstruction.”