Drivers 'helping out others' could be hit with £1,000 fine under Highway Code rule

Motorists are being warned that they could be slapped with fines up to £1,000 for attempting to "assist" other drivers, due to a common road signalling rule.

Many good-intentioned drivers flash their headlights as a warning to others about speed camera vans and police checkpoints. However, a representative from One Sure Insurance has issued a warning that even a brief signal intended to be "helpful" could actually be breaking the law, leading to fines and/or penalty pointsfor misuse of headlights.

Police forces across the nation have ramped up the number of speed enforcement camera vans in an effort to enhance road safety. In response, drivers often flash their headlights as a signal to other motorists to reduce their speed. This comes as drivers were also warned about new "smart" cameras capable of peering inside vehicles.

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Discussing the latest advice, a spokesperson for One Sure Insurance said: "Even though you may think you are helping fellow road users avoid speed tickets, you could in fact confuse or distract drivers on the road. If you are caught flashing to warn other drivers, you could be accused of obstructing the police in their duty.

"This meanspolice can enforce fines under Section 89(2) of the Police Act 1996 and even under the Police Reform Act 2002 - if the operator of the speed camera van is an appointed member of the public."

One Sure Insurance is urging all motorists to get acquainted with Rules 110 and 112 of the Highway Code, which set out how and when it's proper to use lights and horns.

Rule 110 of the Highway Code declares headlights should only be flashed to alert other road users to your presence - not for any other purpose such as giving someone the right of way, getting drivers to shift so you can overtake, or tointimidate motorists.

Likewise, you also cannot use the horn as a warning either under part of Rule 112 of the Highway Code unless alerting other vehicles of your presence too, and never when stationary unless a crash is imminent.

"Although drivers may believe they are doing a good deed by warning others with their hazard lights and horn, we would advise drivers to drive safely and prevent fines by sticking to the Highway Code. Use headlights and other vehicle instruments as hazards as they were intended, and leave speed enforcement to the professionals," the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, motorists are being made aware of new "smart" cameras on roads that can see inside vehicles, reports Chronicle Live. These cameras, which are beginning to be utilised in parts of the UK, are designed to detect more than just speed.

They can also catch motorists committing other violations such as using mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts, two common causes of crashes.

Several police forces have begun trialling these cameras, and they are anticipated to become permanent fixtures on motorways and busy roads across the country in the coming years.

Some cameras are also 'bi-directional', meaning they can monitor both directions. This might catch some drivers off guard who are not used to more sophisticated cameras operating in this way, and everything motorists believe they know about speed cameras will no longer be accurate.

Experts at Bumper said: "Unlike traditional cameras that only monitor speed, these smart devices detect drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts, aiming to crack down on distractions behind the wheel.

"The system uses a multi-camera setup to capture different views of the driver and passengers, with artificial intelligence analysing the footage to detect speed-related offences."