Several Brits are planning the long drive home for Christmas – but experts warn the gruelling journey could get even tougher with the majority of motorways lacking toilets.
New research has found that two in five motorways do not have a place to stop and relieve yourself, with some 25 mile stretches becing completely devoid of any toilets. While this is annoying for drivers with desperate kids in the back, it can also land adults with a hefty fine of a few thousand if they take matters into their own hands.
Peeing in a bottle and throwing it out of the window has long been a practise of some ardent motorists, but this practise could leave you out of pocket. While it is not explicitly illegal to pee while driving, if it affects your safety or road placement, you could get slapped with a fine and three points on your licence.
READ MORE:DWP issues warning to anyone with a car who claims one of these six benefits
READ MORE: UK drivers overturn a third of parking tickets with one explanation
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
(Image: Getty Images)
The University of the West of England estimates that in the last 10 years, public toilets in the UK have decreased by 40%. This is also true for the motorways, with 43.9% of them having no toilets, according to Homecure.
Adding to this, over half (56.1%), have no accessible toilet facilities at all. The worst motorways and routes at Christmas are thought to be The M25, especially between the Gatwick Airport and M40 junction near the airport, and The M6, especially around Birmingham.
The Daily Star joins Bluesky as we Make Social Media Fun Again
Come and join The Daily Star on Bluesky, the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It’s now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X.
Fear not, we’re not leaving Twitter/X, but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on https://bsky.app/profile/dailystar.co.uk, and see us social better than the rest.
You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a “Starter Pack”.
So what are you waiting for?! Let’s M.S.M.F.A (Make Social Media Fun Again)
The M1 through Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, The M60 around Manchester, and The M5 between Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare are also bad offenders in terms of lack of toilets. Drivers are forced to make a tough decision on where to answer nature’s calls – but there’s a huge catch.
A bottle full of urine out of the passenger window comes under thee offence of littering. According to the Government website, “Littering includes dropping, throwing, depositing, or leaving anything that defaces a public place. The penalty for littering is a fine of £150, or up to £2,500 if taken to court.”
(Image: Getty Images)
There’s always the debate of pulling over in the hard shoulder, but experts say this is illegal and against motorway rules. 2.5million people admitted they pulled into the hard shoulder for a piss while driving, according to Select Car Leasing. That’s one in ten drivers – and mostly men.
However, this part of the road is strictly for ambulances and emergencies. Blocking it could cause severe accidents, not to mention a fine of £5,000 and a few points for good measure.
Indecent exposure is also a huge worry for peeing on the motorway. If someone spots your privates, you could get in great trouble. Experts warn go before you drive, as a hefty fine for dropping your breeches could be in store.
Although they do say most of the pee-related crimes can be excused for pregnant women, who often need to relieve themselves more frequently.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.