Drivers face £5,000 fine over flashing law 'half are unaware of'

Drivers have been warned they face £5,000 fine and 9 points for a headlight flashing mistake. findandfundmycar.com warns half of 2,000 individuals polled were not aware of the little-known driving rule, which could see £5k financial penalties rolled out.

A driver convicted of a contravention of section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988 faces a penalty points endorsement in the range three to nine points. The court also has a power of discretionary disqualification.A court may also impose a fine of up to £5,000 and/or a community payback order.

The court does not have the power to impose a custodial sentence upon a driver convicted of careless driving. Phil Morgan, head of findandfundmycar.com, said it was "not worth the risk" and explained: "While some of the offences might not be commonly known, nobody wants to risk their safety or have to pay a hefty fine for something that they didn’t know was going to cost them, so it’s best to know these sooner rather than later.

READ MORE: Labour makes U-turn over petrol and diesel crackdown due to 'profound concerns'

READ MORE: Why are armed police in Birmingham today? Police explain reason for 'sirens, shouts and bangs'

READ MORE Foreign Office issues NEW Canada travel warning with UK tourists warned

"What may be considered a friendly warning to other drivers can actually have consequences. Speed cameras and police officers are there to keep everyone safe so it’s vital they are respected." Drivers should only flash their headlights to "let other road users know" where they are.

The rules state that road users should not "flash headlights to convey any other message or to intimidate other road users". WeBuyAnyCar commented: "If a driver behind you flashes their headlights, they are probably telling you to speed up, move over - or want to get your attention for another reason.

"You are most likely to encounter this behaviour on the motorway (or on a road with a lower speed limit, where other drivers may pressure you to meet or exceed the limit). If a driver flashes their headlights for any of the above reasons, it’s best not to rise to it. You could potentially contribute to a dangerous situation - or at a minimum, distract yourself from driving."