Patriotic England fans are risking a £5,000 fine when belting out England anthems during the Euros. The warning was issued by car hire firm Lotus Car Rental ahead of England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland this Saturday.
It’s because if you’re belting England anthems loudly and dancing in your seat, you’re at risk of being distracted from keeping your eyes on the road.
Should there be evidence such as dashcam footage or from a police officer that you were dancing and singing prior to an accident, you could be prosecuted for dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention. The penalties can be severe, with a fine of up to £5,000 and nine points on your licence in the most serious cases.
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CEO of Lotus Car Rental, Alexander Haraldsson, has urged the nation to cheer on the Three Lions without compromising on road safety: “As we saw during the last Euros, the outpour of support from England fans across the country was incredible and as we progress through the knockout stages of the World Cup, the excitement is intensifying.
“While it may be tempting to increase the volume of your favourite England tracks in the car it is crucial to ensure you are fully focused on the road when driving. By maintaining your concentration you’ll avoid increasing the chance of an accident, as well as a hefty fine.
“Although you cannot be pulled over for playing loud music, if police officers believe it is causing a distraction such as blocking out audible safety warnings from other road users like their horns or an ambulance siren then they can penalise you.” England are playing Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals on Saturday, July 6, with kick-off at 5pm.
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