Festive idiots risk chaos on the roads by carrying home their Christmas trees on bikes and electric scooters and leaving them sticking out of convertible cars
- A cyclist waved to onlookers with his Christmas tree strapped to his back
- People who incorrectly transport their Christmas tree may be fined £5000
- Motorists could be punished with three penalty points on their driver’s license
People who decide to carry their Christmas tree home on bikes and electric scooters are at risk of causing chaos on the roads over the festive period.
A number of photos have been circulating online of festive idiots thinking outside the box and using unconventional methods of bringing their fir back to the household.
A Christmas tree, decorated with a beaded garland and silver baubles, was spotted hanging off the back of a bicycle in London on Sunday, while another had their tree packed horizontally across their bike, making their vehicle dangerously wide.
Meanwhile, another man blocked his entire view of the road as he transported his tree that was taller than him on an electric scooter in Hampstead, endangering his life and the lives of other road users.
Others have posted shots of them foolishly leaving the tree sticking out of their convertible cars, or attached to a cart being towed behind their bike, making it longer then a small car.
A Christmas tree, decorated with a beaded garland and silver baubles, was spotted hanging off the back of a bicycle in London on Sunday
Meanwhile another man was seen transporting his tree on an electric scooter
His face could hardly be seen as he rode the Lime e-scooter in Hampstead
This person attached to a cart behind his bike to tow the tree, making it longer then a small car
Another rider stuck his tree onto his bike horizontally, making it dangerously wide
A number of social media users commented on these photos, expressing their concerns about the safety of the transportation method
A number of social media users commented on these photos, expressing their concerns about the safety of the transportation method.
On the snap of a Christmas tree on a bike, one person posted: ‘If that overhang was on a vehicle, it would be a fine for a dangerous load, so why is it ok to do this on a bike?’
Another said: ‘I think that may be more than 1.5 wide and you might encounter a problem with wands and ped containment fences!’
A third pointed out: ‘Isn’t that tree sticking out too far ? If I put a dangerous load on my car I would get stopped. No only is that tree a danger to cars,it’s also a danger to pedestrians. Head height for a child who may not see it.’
On the image of the tree being pulled in a cart, a X user wrote: ‘That is not a bicycle! It’s longer than a small car and has the same number of wheels. Where do you park it, on the pavement?’
The account that posted the photo replied: ‘If I park it on the pavement I always pic somewhere there’s plenty of space so wheelchairs etc can get past and nobody ever says anything.
‘You should however hear the howls from drivers for taking up parking spaces on the few occasions I have parked it on the road.’
Images of these riders came on the busiest weekend in December for buying Christmas trees – after reports said costs were being slashed this year.
Aldi claimed to have undercut its rivals by ‘selling the cheapest Christmas tree this season’ at £16.99, which was then matched by Lidl.
People who incorrectly transport their Christmas tree may be fined £5000 by ‘causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers’.
This can result in three penalty points on your driver’s license which can stay on their driving record for 4 to 11 years.
According to the Highway Code, drivers must ensure they don’t overload their vehicles, while safely securing any load so it doesn’t stick out dangerously.
If a Christmas tree is longer than the vehicle carrying it, then a reflective flag should be attached to the overhanging end to alert other road users.
How to transport a Christmas tree safely
- Measure the height of the room where you intend to display the tree beforehand, to make sure you get the right one
- Most places will sell trees in nets or even net them up for you, so make the most of this service and ensure yours is netted before getting it anywhere near your car
- If your tree won’t fit inside your car you’ll need to attach it to your roof, so limit wind resistance (and potential damage) by putting the stump end towards the front
- Using bungee cords or ropes, secure the tree tightly to your roof rack from the bottom branches to the tip. If you don’t have a roof rack, open your car doors and strap the tree to the roof that way, closing your doors to secure it
- If your tree overhangs, be sure to attach a reflective flag to the tip of the tree to alert other road users
- When transporting a heavier load than normal, drive carefully, taking corners slowly and ensuring you don’t brake sharply
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