Motorists risk being fined £1,000 for common friendly gesture

Drivers might think they are being polite but it could give them a stiffer penalty than if they were caught speeding

Motorists are at risk of being hit with a hefty £1,000 fine for attempting to assist fellow drivers. Roads with stringent speed limits are often patrolled by mobile speed cameras, typically mounted on police vans and cars, designed to catch unsuspecting speeders.

The advantage of these cameras is that they can be relocated, catching drivers off guard, unlike traditional fixed speed cameras. However, some drivers may feel compelled to alert others to these speed traps by flashing their headlights.

But, be warned, this act of kindness could land you in trouble. And the punishment could potentially be more severe than that for speeding.

Punishment for warning other drivers of speed traps

Police officers may view warning others of a speed trap as ‘obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty’, an offence under the Police Act 1996. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Dorset Police confirmed that warning other drivers could indeed constitute this offence.

It explained: “Obstructing a police officer means preventing a police officer from carrying out his duties, or making it more difficult to do so. It must be a wilful act, meaning it was a deliberate act with the rider knowing and intending that the act will hinder the officer.

“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charging standards actually state, among a list of behaviour, that warning other motorists of a police speed trap ahead would fulfil the offence. It doesn’t mention specifically flashing headlights or waving at people, it just states warning other motorists.”

Committing the offence of obstructing a police officer could lead to a fine of up to £1,000 – what Dorset Police refers to as a ‘level 3’ fine – and up to a month in prison. In regard to flashing your headlights at other drivers, the Highway Code also points out that this should never be done in an attempt to convey a message.

Rule 110 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.”