UK drivers warned ‘harmless’ gesture could land you £500 fine

The law is much stricter than many people realising

James Grant 09:05, 21 Aug 2025

British motorists are being cautioned that a polite gesture many have adopted whilst driving could potentially cost them hundreds of pounds[1]. A practice that appears courteous and habitual is actually illegal - breaching this regulation could lead to penalties reaching ?500.

The behaviour in question involves briefly activating hazard warning lights to acknowledge another driver for allowing you to merge into traffic, change lanes, or exit from a congested junction.

This widespread practice is observed throughout the nation's roads and motorways[2] daily, with most drivers considering it merely a modest expression of appreciation.

Nevertheless, what numerous people fail to recognise is that employing hazard lights in this manner contravenes the Highway Code and may be classified as misuse of a vehicle's safety equipment, reports the Mirror[3]. The legislation regarding this matter is far more stringent than many realise. It comes as the UK adopts an EU driving law from this week as drivers warned of change[4].

Highway Code[5] Rule 116 stipulates that hazard lights are authorised "only when your vehicle is stationary" to signal to fellow road users that you are temporarily obstructing traffic, or "when moving on motorways or unrestricted dual carriageways" should you need to alert drivers behind you of a danger ahead.

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Crucially, these regulations do not encompass using hazards as an expression of gratitude. Any alternative situation is formally considered misuse, something which may result in police issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice, typically ranging between ?100 and ?500.

The potential risks are also more severe than they initially seem.

Switching on hazard lights whilst driving can bewilder other motorists, who might incorrectly believe there's debris on the road, a vehicle that's broken down, or an obstacle just beyond view. This can result in needless braking, distraction, or even crashes - especially in poor visibility circumstances, such as torrential rain, fog or darkness.

A spokesperson from Pure Digital PR said: "Most drivers think they're being courteous with a quick hazard light flash, but they're actually creating confusion on the road. Your hazard lights are safety equipment designed to warn of genuine emergencies or obstructions - not for social pleasantries.

"When someone sees hazard lights, their immediate thought is 'what's wrong?' - they start looking for the problem, which takes their attention off the road.

The ?100 to ?500 fine might not sound enormous, but it's an expensive way to learn that your good intentions are actually breaking the law.

The safest approach is simple: save your hazard lights for genuine emergencies and use a wave through your window if you want to say thank you."

Therefore, despite the widespread belief that it's harmless, misusing hazard lights is not merely illegal and could result in substantial penalties, it might also endanger other road users.

References

1. ^ cost them hundreds of pounds (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ motorways (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^ the Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ UK adopts an EU driving law from this week as drivers warned of change (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
5. ^ Highway Code (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
6. ^ you can sign up to receive it here (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)