A simple error that many of us are likely to have made at some point could land drivers with a hefty fine as well as points on their licence. Simply indicating incorrectly is enough to see a driver hit with the hefty sum.
While the rule isn't always enforced, as accidents do happen, you could be hit with the multi-thousand pound maximum penalty if your incorrect indication causes an accident. The rules fall under section 3 Road Traffic Act 1988.
Under the section, you could be fined for driving "without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place", reports the Mirror.
For the most part you will likely find yourself hit with a fixed-penalty notice (FPN), which will see you fined £100 and given three penalty points on your licence. However, the rules can go further than that - leaving you with the maximum penalty of nine points on your licence and a £5,000 fine.
It's not just improper indication either, there are a number of actions that could see you fined under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act. Police officials have outlined other instances that could be deemed offences, including:
- overtaking on the inside
- driving too close to another vehicle
- driving through a red light by mistake
- turning into the path of another vehicle
- the driver being avoidably distracted by tuning the radio or lighting a cigarette
- flashing lights to force other drivers to give way
- misusing lanes to gain advantage over other drivers
- unnecessarily staying in an overtaking lane
- unnecessarily slow driving or braking
- dazzling other drivers with un-dipped headlights
Mark Royal, operations manager at Goodbye Car, said: “Knowing when (and when not) to indicate is a skill of its own, given there are no black and white rules. But it’s incredibly important to learn when they should be used for the safety of yourself and other motorists.”
The Highway Code gives clear guidance on when and how indicators should be used.
People should make sure they check and signal before they make a manoeuvre, but avoid signalling too early. Equally important is cancelling your indicators after you have finished using them to carry out the action with your car.
You can also signal manually alongside the use of your indicators by using your arm, as an extra precaution, though this may not be the best idea on twisty roads or where there is oncoming traffic.
If a driver is not sure if the kink in the road counts as a turn, or if they need to signal taking an exit, turning off a roundabout, and pulling over to the side of the road, then the safest thing to do is to indicate.
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