Simple and 'polite' gesture could land drivers with £1,000 fine and points

Even a friendly gesture can land you in trouble

Drivers are being warned that a 'polite' wave or thumbs up on the roads could see them fined £1,000.

A new study from private plate supplier Regtransfers has revealed that a majority of British road users may be unaware that thanking other drivers could land them in hot water. When another driver gives way, more than half (58.3%) of Brits said they would express gratitude with a quick wave or thumbs up, while one in ten (13.3%) said they'd flash their hazard lights and one in four (24.8%) said they would do either of these actions, according to the survey.

While these might seem like harmless friendly gestures, almost all of the UK's road users could be slapped with hefty fines for falling foul of the Highway Code. Depending on the circumstances, a quick wave or a thumbs up could be seen as temporarily removing your control of the vehicle - something covered by Rule 160 of the Highway Code, which states that road users should "drive or ride with both hands on the wheel or handlebars where possible", reports Nottinghamshire Live.

Drivers who flash their hazard lights as a way of saying "thank you" could be hit with a hefty fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence. This act is considered a breach of Rule 116, which states that hazard warning lights should not be used while driving or being towed unless there's a need to warn drivers behind of a hazard or obstruction ahead on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway.

In the same vein, another common gesture - flashing your headlights to give way - is also against the Highway Code. Specifically, rule 110 states that drivers should "only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there".

The rule further clarifies that headlights should not be used to convey any other message or intimidate other road users. Breaching this rule could also result in a potential fine of up to £1,000.

Mark Trimbee, CEO of Regtransfers, has provided advice for motorists, emphasizing the importance of safety over courtesy gestures while driving: "It might seem like you're being friendly, but taking your hand (or hands) off the wheel to say thank you, even for a moment, poses a potential risk to you and other road users, as you won't be in full control of the vehicle.

It still pays to be polite, though, so if you want to express gratitude you can do so with a quick nod of your head - remembering to keep your eyes and attention on the road while doing so."The findings come from a poll of 1,000 British car owners.