Consideration to other road users and pedestrians is a basic duty expected from all motorists. However, there is a fairly common scenario where kindness could lead to you being prosecuted.
Have you ever flashed your headlights to alert other drivers of a temporary speed trap on the road? This seeming act of kindness may be a breach of s.89 of the Police Act 1996 which provides that it is an offence to “willfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty.” Not many know that this may be punished with one month imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £1,000.
This seemingly innocent warning would also be contrary to Rule 110 of the Highway Code which states:
‘Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.’Rule 110 of the Highway Code
In other words, you should not flash your lights to give way or to alert drivers of any danger.
In January 2011, a driver was convicted at the Grimsby Magistrates’ Court for flashing his lights to alert other drivers of a police speed trap. The driver maintained that he flashed his lights for safety reasons. He told the court that he had been involved in a car accident where two drivers in front of him braked sharply after noticing a speed trap. Even though, he was able to brake in time, the driver behind him crashed into the back of his vehicle. He went on to argue that he believed that it was his ‘civic duty’ to warn other drivers because of the danger involved in vehicles braking quite hard. However, these reasons were not accepted by the court and he was ordered to pay a fine of £440.
So in this instance, for your own benefit, it is better to be cruel to be kind!
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