Laywer explains rules for flying Union Jack and St | Tech News

After a large row erupted over the flying of UK and England flags on public streets, many Brits have this week fought back by flying their colors in protest – together with on vehicles in addition to homes and on lampposts.

The ‘flaggate’ controversy kicked off when Birmingham City Council tore down English St George’s Cross and British Union Jack flags from public roads citing tenuous health and security considerations. Forced to u-turn, the council’s actions prompted a response from the Prime Minister and led to a wave of cussed flag flying from locals who even spray painted roundabouts.

Normally, the St George’s Cross particularly is seen more typically during worldwide soccer tournaments, particularly flying from car home windows. 

But if you happen to’re flying a flag, both an England flag or a British Union Jack (and even the Scottish Saltaire or the Welsh dragon), there are each ‘flag etiquette’ rules and legal guidelines of the highway which might have an effect on how you do it.

According to The Flag Institute, a charity devoted to the research of flags and flag rules within the UK and abroad, there are rules which govern how people ought to put flags on vehicles, principally aimed toward official governmental use like processions.

It says: “A car flag should be placed on a staff fitted to the front-right wing, in the centre of front edge of the bonnet, or in the centre of the front edge of the roof. If two flags are to be flown, the senior flag should be on the front-right wing and the junior flag on the front-left wing.

“When flags are painted onto a vehicle, or on the tail fin of an aircraft, the flag on the port side should show the obverse of the flag (ie. the flagpole on the left), while that on the starboard side should show the reverse (ie. the flagpole on the right). On surfaces perpendicular to the direction of travel (eg. the back of the vehicle) the obverse of the flag should be shown.”

Rules governing objects on or in vehicles from the Highway Code are strict about something which has potential to distract a driver or stop them from having a good view of the highway, which might embrace a flag.

This isn’t simply looking by means of the windscreen, however objects which probably obscure blind spots and make it troublesome to see when reversing too, resulting in an accident brought on by a flag blocking your view when backing up.

The Highway Code states in Regulation 30 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use: “Every motor vehicle shall be so designed and constructed that the driver thereof while controlling the vehicle can at all times have a full view of the road and traffic ahead of the motor vehicle.”

Any flag put up should not impede the driving force’s view of any home windows or rear-view mirrors and if an accident is triggered the place a flag is discovered to be a issue, you might be in actual hassle.

The most high quality is up to £1,000 and there might be three factors in your licence too.

Legal specialists Bartletts solicitors have data obtainable in regards to the rules on drivers being distracted on the wheel. They stated: “A driver is distracted when they are not paying full attention to the road, which can be for a wide variety of reasons, including something they see (visual), hear (auditory) or think (cognitive). There may also be a physical distraction that causes them to take their hands off the steering wheel and subsequently lose control of their vehicle.

“Drivers could also be distracted visually if they’re speaking to a passenger of their vehicle or if they’re taking a look at one thing they’re driving previous. They might also take their eyes off the highway if they’re altering music, adjusting their sat nav, taking a look at a map, eating or ingesting, or lighting a cigarette, all actions which may additionally contain a driver taking not less than one hand off the steering wheel.

“Research indicates that eating or drinking while driving doubles the risk of an accident occurring, and, similar to smoking, eating and drinking are mental as well as physical distractions. Children, and babies in particular, are a common form of distraction for parents while driving, as they will often have to turn their heads to deal with whatever is happening in the back of their vehicle.

“Inattention and distraction is one of the principle causes of highway site visitors accidents, with one authoritative US research discovering that it was not less than a contributory think about nearly 80% of the accidents analysed. Being capable of set up that a driver was distracted and not paying correct consideration to the highway previous to an accident might be an important think about establishing duty and therefore legal legal responsibility. If you’ve been concerned in a highway site visitors accident that you just consider was brought on by one other driver being distracted for no matter purpose, get in contact with our specialist solicitors who will have the ability to advise and information you thru the claims course of.”