Drivers have been warned they could be fined a minimum of £100 if they travel with too little amount of fuel.
Last year, the AA responded to more than 10,500 breakdowns due to fuel or electrical charge shortages in vehicles.
Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers should check their fuel count before the start of the journey to avoid running out on the roads, especially if it includes being on the motorway.
While running out of fuel isn’t illegal under current legislation, drivers can be fined a minimum of £100 and receive three penalty points if their car causes an obstruction on the road due to an avoidable breakdown.
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Rule 97 of the Highway Code states that drivers should check their fuel count before the start of the journey
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However, if the vehicle causing an obstruction is found to be at fault for a collision, the penalty could be more serious.
Edmund King, president of the AA, acknowledged that there can be some genuine reasons for running out of fuel such as a faulty gauge or undetected fuel leak.
Cars may also get stuck for hours due to bad winter weather or miles of disruption which could result in running out of fuel. Similarly, some electric vehicle drivers might run low or out of charge if several chargers aren’t working or they are in standstill traffic for prolonged periods.
In these cases, King said he hopes that police officers would be reasonable, 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.
He said: “Don’t be a fuel gambler by running on fumes. Most of the out-of-fuel cases the AA sees are a result of driver misjudgement.”
When a vehicle, especially a diesel, runs out of fuel, it could lead to engine running faults further down the road.
King explained how modern diesel fuel systems rely upon the lubricants contained within the fuel to grease the surfaces of components such as the fuel pump and injectors.
However, once these have been run dry, their surfaces can become scored and cause issues weeks or months later.
He warned: “The police have the power to give a warning or a penalty if it is deemed to be careless driving or causes an obstruction. If you are running low, you can use the AA route planner to find the closest and cheapest fuel.”
Nick Powell, AA patrol of the year, said many people are finding the cost-of-living crisis difficult, and fuel costs can hammer the family budget.
From being on patrols, the expert said many people rescued blamed high fuel prices and the temptation to fill up as infrequently as possible.
Offering some advice to drivers, Powell stated filling up before the fuel warning light comes on can save drivers the hassle in the long run.
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Drivers can be fined a minimum of £100 and receive three penalty points for fuel shortages
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It can also make it cheaper for drivers who may have to pay more due to the unknown damages fuel shortages can have on a vehicle.
Powell said: “If you do find yourself out of fuel or charge do your best to get the car to the side of the road as safely as you can.
“If it’s away from the main traffic flow, it will be less of an obstruction and less likely to attract a fine.”
