Can I drive a car with broken indicators (in daylight)

Hades

Hades

Hades

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I might need to drive another car that has issues with the indicators. The alarm is fubar, causing two of the indicators to stay on. I'm wondering if I can just unscrew the affected indicator bulbs and drive it with hand signals.

Anyone have any idea? If I attempt this then I'll obvioiusly be double checking with my nearest police station just to be 100% sure.
 
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As a rule of thumb I go by whether or not a car would get through an MOT in it's current state. Non functioning indicators are a failure.
 
SpeedFreak said:
As a rule of thumb I go by whether or not a car would get through an MOT in it's current state. Non functioning indicators are a failure.
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So on that front if you had an indicator off and wanted to go to the shop to buy a new bulb you would get the bus there and back rather than using the car?
 
VFM Addict said:
If you do, put a large sign in the back window, "Hand Signals Only". Then I'm sure you'd be fine.
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Thanks, great idea.

SpeedFreak said:
As a rule of thumb I go by whether or not a car would get through an MOT in it's current state. Non functioning indicators are a failure.
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Also thanks but it's a one-off drive home if I like the car, at which point I'd get it fixed. So I'm after the actual legal standpoint. Things are won or lost if you know the legal standpoint, hence winning appeals against every car parking ticket I've been issued :D
 
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So on that front if you had an indicator off and wanted to go to the shop to buy a new bulb you would get the bus there and back rather than using the car?
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Technically, yes, that's what you should do. In reality you'd probably just get a vehicle defect notice and have to present it ato a garage within 7 days to confirm you have rectified the defect and take that proof to your chose Police station.

What’s a vehicle defect rectification notice?

If your vehicle is defective, for example, one of its indicators is broken, you may be issued with a vehicle defect rectification notice. This means you have to fix the fault and provide proof, such as a receipt from a mechanic saying the fault has been fixed, at a police station.
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Also thanks but it's a one-off drive home if I like the car, at which point I'd get it fixed. So I'm after the actual legal standpoint. Things are won or lost if you know the legal standpoint, hence winning appeals against every car parking ticket I've been issued
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See above. If you do get stopped however and the officer is being particulry efficious that day, you can get an FPN for the offence and a £30 fine. Faulty bulbs/lights are NOT endorsable.
 
Stellios said:
So on that front if you had an indicator off and wanted to go to the shop to buy a new bulb you would get the bus there and back rather than using the car?
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I was offering advice on whether or not he was allowed to do it, it's not necessarily what I'd do myself but that wasn't what he was asking :)
 
reading the rule of the roads ? No

Would i risk it and tell any copper who pulled me i was on my way to halfords to buy one ? yes.
 
My driving instructor told me there's no legal requirement to use your indicators, it's just a courtesy to other road users to indicate your intentions. Having said that if your car is fitted with them (and in this case, as in all other cases, it is) then they must be working in order to take the car on the road legally. I'd imagine any copper would be highly unimpressed if he stopped you for whatever reason and you told him or he found out. Same applies to a spare wheel. There's no legal requirement to carry one, but if you do it must be of roadworthy quality.
 
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