£1,000 warning to anyone flashing a speed camera under little known rule
Anyone who drives regularly will be familiar with the sight of speed cameras. They're one of the staple features of the road, alongside traffic lights, street lamps and other things alike.
There's also different types of speed cameras that you can come across. Fixed ones, for example, are found at the side of the ride, which are permanently based and never move.
These are usually located on major A-roads, busy residential roads and motorways (which exist on gantries overhead). The cameras are in place to monitor and tackle speeding, one of the major safety issues on our roads.
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Another type of camera is a mobile speed camera. These are deployed by police forces and will often pop up in areas where speeding is an issue.
These cameras are fitted into the back of the van, which is then parked at the side of the road, recording drivers going passed. They'll usually only be parked for a few hours, meaning they're not permanent.
An unwritten rule in the UK is that drivers will sometimes warn others about mobile speed cameras up ahead. If you're travelling down a road and see multiple drivers flash you, this is probably why.
They'll be alerting you of the approaching mobile speed camera, so you and other motorists don't get a fine. But while this may seem like a good Samaritan act, it could actually land drivers in trouble. This is illegal in the Highways Code and carries a separate punishment under UK law.
As per the UK government website, rule 110 of the Highway Code says headlights cannot be used in this way. The website 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."
Meanwhile, it would also be considered a breach of section 89 of the Police Act 1997, if you flashed your lights in this way. It's an offence for members of the public to wilfully obstruct a police constable in their execution of duty, under this law. Doing so carries a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine.