Motorists have been warned about a serious electrical fault that could lead to hefty fines if ignored: a rapidly flashing indicator light.
Motoring expert Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, cautioned drivers, saying: “Your indicator should flash between 60 and 120 times per minute, according to official government guidance. A light that blinks faster than this signposts an underlying issue.”
He explained the most likely cause is a blown bulb: “The most common cause is that one of the indicator bulbs on the side of the car in which you’re turning has blown. It might be the front bulb, the bulb on the side of the car near the door, the bulb in your wing mirror, or the indicator light at the rear.”
Conway highlighted the dangers of ignoring such a fault: “If an indicator bulb isn’t illuminating, that’s clearly bad news as it means that you’re not capable of signalling your intentions to other road users. If you’re pulled over by the police and found to have a malfunctioning indicator, you could be issued a fixed penalty notice of £50.”
He also mentioned the potential for further action by the authorities: “The police may also issue you a vehicle deficit rectification notice, meaning you’ll have to have the issue fixed within 14 days and provide proof to the police. So, if you see your indicators blinking rapidly – or you see the indicator light on your dashboard going ten to the dozen – you need to investigate immediately to get either the bulb or fuse replaced.
“Thankfully, replacement light bulbs generally cost under £10 and are simple enough to change yourself. However, if your indicators are going at double the speed they normally would, it might also indicate a more serious fault with the electrical wiring in your car.
“It could be a faulty ground connection, a voltage supply issue, or even the wrong type of indicator bulb having been fitted. In those cases, you’re may need specialist help from your friendly garage.
“In a worst-case scenario, driving a vehicle with faulty indicators would see you being hit with a charge of driving a vehicle in an ‘unroadworthy condition’, which carries a fine of up to £2,500 and attracts points on a driver’s licence.”
You might even be prosecuted for careless and inconsiderate driving if your lack of indicators poses a danger to others. A fine for this offence is unlimited and may result in three to nine penalty points on your licence.
Graham added: “If the indicator is flashing more rapidly than usual, you should be able to see and hear this difference from inside your car. To check, simply take turns indicating right and left while you’re parked and check each side of the car to find out which lamp bulb is malfunctioning. If that doesn’t address the problem, and all of your bulbs are lit, then you’ve got a more serious issue to deal with.”
