Rule 116 (Lighting requirements (rules 113 to 116)) Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed. Law RVLR reg 27
Highway Code · Rule 116
Highway Code Rule 116
General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders (103 to 158). A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).
- General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders
- Legal requirement
- OGL v3.0
What the rule says
Law · MUSTRule text reproduced verbatim from the official Highway Code (Crown copyright) under the Open Government Licence v3.0, see the attribution at the foot of this page.
In plain English
Stripped of the formal wording, Rule 116 comes down to one idea: rule 116 (Lighting requirements (rules 113 to 116)) Hazard warning lights. Because it is written with “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, it carries the force of law, ignore it and you are committing an offence, not simply driving badly.
It belongs to the general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders part of the Code, the habits a confident, considerate driver builds until they are automatic. The aim is not to memorise the sentence word for word, but to understand the hazard it protects you from, so you apply it without having to think when it counts.
If you are learning, treat this rule as one piece of a connected set rather than an isolated fact. The related rules below sit in the same section and reinforce each other, reading them together is how the general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders part of the Code starts to feel like common sense rather than a list to revise.
Because this is a legal rule, the consequences of ignoring it reach beyond the test: a “MUST” or “MUST NOT” breach can mean a fixed penalty, points on your licence, or in serious cases prosecution. Either way, the safe move is to build the habit early, while a driving instructor can correct it, rather than relearning it under test pressure. That is exactly what the practice routes and coaching in the DriveRoutes app are designed to help with, turning the rules below into the way you naturally drive.
Why rule 116 matters on the road
These are the foundations every other skill builds on. Solid mirror work, sensible speed and good lighting habits quietly prevent the situations the rest of the Code has to deal with.
Common faults examiners record
In the general rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders part of the Code, the faults most often written on the marking sheet tend to be the same handful. Knowing them in advance is the quickest way to drive them out of your own habits:
- Skipping or rushing mirror checks before a manoeuvre.
- Carrying an unsuitable speed for the road and conditions.
- Reacting late because hazards were spotted too close.
On the day
On the day, applying Rule 116 is about doing the safe, deliberate thing slightly earlier than feels necessary: read the situation in good time, observe fully, and act smoothly. The examiner is looking for planned driving, not perfection, and good habits formed in lessons carry you through.
Quick checklist
- Read the situation early and plan your response.
- Observe fully before you commit to anything.
- Keep your speed suitable for the road and conditions.
More from General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders
Related Highway Code rules
- Rule 115Highway Code Rule 115Rule 115 (Lighting requirements (rules 113 to 116)) You should also - use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be se…
- Rule 117Highway Code Rule 117Rule 117 (Control of the vehicle (rules 117 to 126)) In normal circumstances.
- Rule 114Highway Code Rule 114Rule 114 (Lighting requirements (rules 113 to 116)) You MUST NOT - use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders…
- Rule 118Highway Code Rule 118Rule 118 (Control of the vehicle (rules 117 to 126)) In an emergency.
- Rule 113Highway Code Rule 113Rule 113 (Lighting requirements (rules 113 to 116)) You MUST - ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise - use headlights at night, except on a road…
- Rule 119Highway Code Rule 119Rule 119 (Control of the vehicle (rules 117 to 126)) Skids.
Rule 116, your questions
Rule 116 (Lighting requirements (rules 113 to 116)) Hazard warning lights. It is a legal requirement, it uses “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, so breaking it is a criminal offence that can mean a fine, penalty points, or disqualification.
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