Motorists warned they risk £5,000 fine while driving on Tuesday and Wednesday

As a Met Office weather warning for heavy rain remains in place, drivers have been warned not to splash pedestrians - or risk a hefty fine and penalty points on their licence

With heavy rain forecast across the UK, and a Met Office weather warning in place, drivers are being urged to navigate the roads carefully. According to the Met Office, it will remain cloudy and windy for much of England today (October 1), with heavy rain likely throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

There is a yellow weather warning in place for eastern parts, lasting until 4pm today. Much of the warning area will see 15-20 mm of rain, with a few places seeing 30-40 mm.

The Met Office warns: " Further rain, locally heavy, will develop for a time on Tuesday leading to potential for some impacts and disruption." Tonight, there will be patchy rain and drizzle across central and eastern England, with more rain and cloud expected tomorrow morning, before easing.

When the roads are wet, motorists should use dipped headlights, increase following distances and slow down. They should also avoid splashing pedestrians, or else risk facing heft fines.

By making this wet weather driving mistake, motorists risk facing fines of up to £5,000, plus penalty points on their licence. Splashing pedestrians is illegal under section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It is considered driving ‘without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road’.

The Highway Code also reflects the law and states motorists must not drive ‘without due care and attention’ for pedestrians. Driving through puddles and splashing other road users may result in a fine of £100 and three penalty points on the licence.

However, in some cases, fines can reach as much as £5,000. Especially for driving without reasonable consideration for others on the road.

Motoring expert, Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, said: “Drivers must be aware of the rules of the road to help keep everyone safe and avoid mishaps like splashing pedestrians, that could end up costing them thousands or adding points to their licence.

“Motorists need to be extra careful when travelling in the rain, slowing down to allow more time to react to unknown situations and doubling the following distance from the vehicle in front to four seconds. The vehicle will take longer to come to a stop on the wet road.

“Keep in mind that puddles may be deeper than they initially seem so keep an eye out for standing water on the road edge and be ready to react. It’s also sensible to test your brakes regularly when there is surface water.

“If the car aquaplanes, it’s best to avoid hitting the brake and ease off the accelerator gently with the steering wheel held straight and steady until you can feel contact with the road again.” Here are some tips on driving in wet conditions:

• Slow down and leave space

As soon as it’s time to switch on your wiper blades, you should also drop your speed – stopping distances at least double when the road is wet so you need to leave more room between you and the car in front.

• Use dipped headlights

Rather than switching on the full beam, using dipped headlights when driving in rainy conditions will allow for as much visibility as possible for yourself and other road users.

• Be mindful of pedestrians

Especially when driving through built-up areas when visibility is reduced because of the rain, remember that more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists will be harder to see. Take extra care when driving nearby to avoid splashing them or you could end up with points on your licence and a hefty fine.