Drivers warned 'nice' gesture could result in £1,000 fine

Drivers may think it's common courtesy to flash their lights to alert someone of an oncoming speed camera, as a way of saying 'thank you’, or to give a little beep when coming around a tight corner. 

However, you might not be aware that these things are against the laws, with a survey from comparethemarket.com finding that 37 percent of motorists were unaware they could be fined for doing any of the above. 

For flashing your lights to let someone know about a speed camera or speed trap, you could be given a £1,000 fine and three points on your licence, while beeping on a tight corner could see you handed a £1,000, but no penalty points. 

And if you flash your lights to thank the driver behind you, you could be given an unlimited fine and up to nine penalty points on your licence. So in this instance it most definitely does not pay to be polite. 

A spokesperson for comparethemarket.com said: “You share the road with countless other users. Leaving adequate space between yourself and others is essential when driving to help keep everyone safe and moving along.

“Exercising patience when driving is often something that people struggle with, especially if they’re in a rush and running late.

"However, everyone on the road has somewhere to be, so getting frustrated when stuck in traffic doesn't help anyone.”

And it’s not just while using the road that drivers need to be aware, earlier this year a man in Wales was prosecuted after he posted the location of a speed camera on social media. 

Drivers could face up to a month in jail or a fine of as much as £1,000 for warning other motorists of the location of mobile speed cameras on social media.

In light of the incident, North Wales Police said that if you warn others about mobile speed camera vans you could be in breach of section 89 of the Police Act 1997.

Part of the section reads: "Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to both.”