Police have shown how seriously they take people flashing their headlights to warn other drivers (Image: Getty) It's likely that you've been in a situation where an oncoming driver has suddenly flashed their headlights at you. Instinctively you know what it means: there is probably a speed camera, van or other police presence up ahead. You might think your fellow driver has been very helpful in warning you. In fact, they have put themselves at risk of prosecution and a fine of £1,000. It's not a theoretical risk either — drivers have been prosecuted for flashing their lights to warn others. Highway Code Rule 110 says: "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." Incidentally, Rule 112 of the Highway Code also warns that your horn should be used "only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence" and adds: "Never sound your horn aggressively." There is no specific criminal offence of "flashing headlights to warn others". However, police in England and Wales would prosecute this under Section 89 of the Police Act 1996 , which makes it an offence to "wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his duty." Because officers are actively trying to catch speeding motorists, warning drivers so they temporarily slow down is legally interpreted as interfering with police duties. The maximum penalty for committing this offence is one month in prison or a fine of £1,000. According to sentencing guidelines, punishments could range from a fine and imprisonment to a conditional discharge or community order. It's worth taking note that the police don't take it lightly. Evidence of this can be seen, of all places, in the weekly newsletter of a local primary school from earlier in 2026. In the newsletter, the school warned that "several people are warning other motorists" about the presence of a Cheshire Police speed van that had been recently put in place to monitor traffic speed outside the school. The school said police were warning that this behaviour contravened both Highway Code Rule 110 and Section 89 of the Police Act 1996 and that they "could charge anyone who appears to be obstructing their ability to conduct speed checks on other motorists by warning them", adding: "The maximum fine for obstructing a police officer is a penalty of £1,000." What's more, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in its official guidance on Public Justice Offences lists "giving a warning to other motorists of a police speed trap ahead" as an example of an action that would count as resisting or wilfully obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty. This case from 2005 involved a lorry driver who was seen flashing his headlights at approaching drivers after spotting a speed camera van on a dual carriageway. Police saw him, believed he was deliberately warning drivers and prosecuted him for obstructing police. A lorry driver was taken to court for flashing drivers in what police said was a warning to other drivers of a speed camera in the road ahead (Image: Getty) Initially, the driver was convicted, though the conviction was quashed at the High Court, where judges said there needed to be evidence of actual obstruction, not just the possibility that obstruction may have occurred. In this specific case, the High Court said there was no evidence that approaching vehicles were speeding, that drivers had changed their behaviour as a result of being flashed or that police enforcement activity had genuinely been disrupted. However, the prosecution leaves no doubt that police will take drivers to court for flashing their lights to warn of speed cameras up ahead. Choose Wales Online as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value. At Reach
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