Turkey's Supreme Court criminalises repeated hazard‑light use on roads

Turkey’s Yargıtay 12th Criminal Chamber ruled that repeatedly using a vehicle’s selector (hazard lights) to request right‑of‑way or to warn other drivers constitutes the crime of “disturbing the peace and quiet of persons” under Article 123 of the Turkish Penal Code. The court set a precedent that drivers who employ the selector in a persistent, successive manner can be sentenced to three months up to one year in prison.

The decision also highlighted safety concerns, noting that aggressive selector use can panic the vehicle ahead, lead to loss of steering control and increase the risk of accidents. Authorities reiterated that the selector may be used only once per incident, and any further use may trigger criminal prosecution.

The ruling provides a legal basis for police and prosecutors to pursue cases against drivers who habitually use the selector to harass or intimidate others, marking a significant tightening of traffic‑law enforcement in Turkey.