What do the rules stipulate?
According to the Ukrainian Traffic Rules, a driver is obliged to activate the hazard warning lights in nine clearly defined situations:
When the vehicle is forced to stop on the roadway.
When towing is being carried out.
At the moment of stopping at the request of a police officer.
When the car obstructs the normal movement of other road users.
In the event of a traffic accident.
If the driver or passengers find themselves in an emergency situation on the road.
During the boarding or alighting of an organized group of children.
On a training vehicle driven by a student.
When the driver informs others about a potential danger (for example, thick fog or black ice).
It is worth noting that no point of the Traffic Rules contains a direct prohibition on using the hazard lights in other circumstances. That is, in the listed cases, the signal is mandatory, and outside them, it is simply permitted.
As lawyer Andriy Kozachenko explains: "There is no regulatory document that directly prohibits turning on the hazard warning lights outside the limits established by the Traffic Rules. Therefore, talk of fines for politeness or apologies via the hazard lights is nothing more than a myth."
Where did the talk of punishment come from?
The reason for the rumors was an ambiguous interpretation of the rules. Some drivers believe that any use of the signal not provided for by the regulations automatically becomes a violation. However, current legislation does not provide for any liability for such actions.
The only scenario in which a fine is actually possible is a concomitant violation of other Traffic Rules norms. For example:
The driver turned on the hazard lights and stopped where parking is prohibited.
The signal is on, but other safety measures are not taken (for example, a warning triangle is not placed in case of a breakdown).
Using the hazard lights without an urgent need, which may confuse other road users (for example, while driving in a convoy, which is sometimes perceived as an imitation of service vehicles).
Driving instructor Dmytro Mazur adds: "Drivers often use the hazard warning lights as a way to thank or apologize. This is an established practice that in no way threatens safety. It is only important to do it consciously, without provoking dangerous situations."
Summary: allowed or prohibited?
The short answer is yes, it is allowed! The law does not prohibit saying "thank you" or apologizing with the hazard lights. It is a kind of gesture of politeness, common in many countries, which does not pose a threat on the road. The main thing is to remember the primary purpose of the signal and not to use it in a way that violates rules or misleads others.
So if the driver in front of you flashed their hazard lights twice after you let them pass, know that it is simply a sign of gratitude. And no fines are provided for this!
