Many motorists see car games as harmless fun on long journeys, but experts have warned that they carry hidden dangers — especially if they lead to drivers failing to fully concentrate on the road
Experts have warned Brit drivers that playing the nation’s most popular driving game behind the wheel could see them slapped with massive fines of up to £5,000 and nine points on their licence.
The timeless classic I Spy remains the most popular pastime for drivers and passengers, according to a new survey. The study revealed that 23 per cent of respondents chose it as their favourite, with Yellow Car, Red Car claiming second and the Number Plate Game coming in third.
Yellow Car, Red Car is a simple car-spotting game where players try to be the first to spot a car of a specified colour and call it out, while the Number Plate Game is a word-based challenge using characters on vehicle registration plates to form words or phrases.
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While a great many motorists see these games as harmless fun on long journeys, industry insiders have warned that they carry hidden dangers, especially if they lead to drivers failing to fully concentrate on the road. Any pastime that distracts a motorist could open the door to charges of careless driving.
CEO of Select Car Leasing, Mark Tongue, said: “It’s great to see that I Spy is a game that has stood the test of time, passed down from generation to generation. But without wishing to sound like a spoilsport, it’s really important that drivers don’t get overly enthralled in the activity while they’re behind the wheel.
“It’s all too easy to become dangerously distracted and for a motorist to take their eyes off the wheel. When you’re travelling at motorway speeds you can cover huge distances in the blink of an eye. And you might not be able to ‘spy’ an impending collision risk before it’s too late.”
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Careless driving offences usually result in an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three points. However, if a distraction caused by an in-car game were to contribute to a more serious incident, the consequences could be far harsher — the driver could be hit with a fine of up to £5,000, nine penalty points, the possibility of a driving ban and even a court appearance.
According to the survey of 1,000 UK driving licence holders conducted by Obsurvant, the top six in-car games among British motorists are:
- I Spy — 23%
- Yellow Car, Red Car — 13%
- Number Plate Game — 7%
- Name That Tune — 5%
- Road Bingo/Road Cricket — 4%
- Who Am I? — 4%
While the survey’s findings show how deeply rooted these traditional road games are in British culture, they also underline the need for drivers to treat them with caution. Passengers can enjoy these delightful distractions without risk, but for anyone with their hands on the wheel, the safest course of action is to keep their eyes firmly on the road, even if it means being a spoilsport.
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