It would appear that the act of being courteous to other drivers could land you in a bit of trouble with points on your licence and/or a fine. Who would’ve thought that trying to be helpful to your fellow motorist would create such a fuss?
Helpful honking
It does sound like something geese might do but we are referring to when you are alerting other road users to danger. Be careful though, there are restrictions on when you can legally use the van’s horn.
If you are sitting behind someone in traffic, the lights change, and they don’t move, you CAN’T let them know by hooting – it’s considered aggressive. This is against the law and you could be fined.
Believe it or not, but if you are found to be honking without good reason, it could cost you as little as a £30 fine, but if contested in court, as much as £1000. Use with caution and where appropriate.
Waving
Not when you’ve spotted your friend and waved but rather when you wish to be polite and thank someone for their good manners. Sad really isn’t it, but the thought process is that if you do this, you are not in full control of the wheel and therefore, the van.
Whilst doing our research, we found differing opinions on this topic. The consensus seems to be, that as long as your palm is still on the steering wheel, you can raise your fingers in acknowledgement of other drivers when they have shown politeness to you.
No flashing, please
We are, of course, talking about headlights and hazard lights. This is a definite no-no and will get you fined. Hazard lights are to be used in emergencies only.
This does not include parking on double yellow lines and sticking the hazards on because you’re only going to be a few minutes!
It’s pretty obvious really when to use your hazard lights. You shouldn’t use them when someone has let you into traffic, even if you want to thank them. This could result in a fine/points if you’re spotted by police.
Only use hazard lights when necessary to warn others of a hazard – if your van has broken down or if traffic ahead has suddenly slowed down.
After considering all the above, don’t forget to make sure your insurance is all up to date and in order. It only takes a few minutes to check for the cheapest online by using our quick 3-minute form.