Is it okay to hang things from your rearview mirror?

As our vehicle interiors become busier with gadgets and visual displays, drivers should be cautious about adding other unnecessary accessories.

Any object that could prevent a driver from having a full and uninterrupted view of the road or traffic ahead could attract a fine. The same applies to any object that could obstruct a driver’s view of overtaking vehicles the rear- and sideview mirrors.

Mascots, toys, or similar items should not be attached to your windscreen or other windows in a vehicle. They should also not be attached anywhere else in the interior of a vehicle in a position where they could be a distraction or where they might obstruct the driver’s view.

Generally, visual display units, such as tablet devices, should not be visible to the driver from the normal driving position while the vehicle is being driven or is stationary (but not parked), unless the unit is being used for a purpose that is allowed (such as navigation).

These devices also should not be positioned where they could distract another driver outside the vehicle.

Exceptions to the rule include where visual display units are an integrated part of the vehicle’s design, such as screens in a dashboard, or where driver’s aids like GPS units are positioned so that the driver can look at the screen without the unit obscuring their view of the road.

Devices needed by professional drivers, such as drivers of emergency services vehicles, buses, taxis, or trucks, are also permitted.

In these cases, the device must be fixed using a commercially designed mounting specifically for that purpose.