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Flashing on comming traffic

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  • 25-02-2010 11:15pm
    #1
    motorman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 85 ✭✭


    Just a thought,
    I was driving home from Carlow today and coming into a sleepy village an oncoming car flashed me and sure enough behind the next bend the Guards were hiding behind a bush with the speed gun out the window. I wasn’t speeding at the time so flash or no flash I was going be just fine.
    What are your opinions on flashing oncoming traffic to alert them of the Guards presence???


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Comments

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    #2
    Mc Love
    Registered Users Posts: 14,015 ✭✭✭✭Mc Love


    I would do it. But a cousin of mine flashed his lights to warn oncoming traffic and the driver pulled in and told the gardai, they went after him pulled him over and fined him


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    #3
    alias no.9
    Registered Users Posts: 6,264 ✭✭✭alias no.9


    I'd never do it but I would flash to indicate there was a hazard ahead, loose animals, dangerous parking, crash, or whatever. If the oncoming driver mistakenly thinks I'm warning them about Gardai and slows down and is more alert to the hazard on that basis, then the road is safer and the fact that a small minority flash to indicate the presence of Gardai has probably helped contribute to that.


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    #4
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users Posts: 28,664 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    Mc Love wrote: »
    I would do it. But a cousin of mine flashed his lights to warn oncoming traffic and the driver pulled in and told the gardai, they went after him pulled him over and fined him

    Surely they'd need some sort of proof rather than hearsay from a do-gooder?

    Genuine question btw.. or is it the usual story that no actual evidence is needed?


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    #5
    Absurdum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,445 ✭✭✭Absurdum


    If it gets someone to slow down then surely it is achieving what the Gardai have set out to do, right? :D


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    #6
    byhookorbycrook
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 12,475 Mod ✭✭✭✭byhookorbycrook


    Impossible to prove someone was flashing to warn of a speed trap. Can't be proven that you mistook the other driver for a friend etc.


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    #7
    nogoodnamesleft
    Registered Users Posts: 1,030 ✭✭✭nogoodnamesleft


    Mc Love wrote: »
    I would do it. But a cousin of mine flashed his lights to warn oncoming traffic and the driver pulled in and told the gardai, they went after him pulled him over and fined him

    What offence was he charged with?

    Would be highly unlikely that he would be charged with it. How is the garda to know he could meerly be flashing some1 he knows in oncomming traffic for example. The evidence is one member of publics word against the others wouldnt hold up...


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    #8
    dudara
    Registered Users Posts: 33,519 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    This used to be a really common practice about 10-20 years ago. It's really died out though, for some reason.


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    #9
    Stark
    Registered Users Posts: 20,892 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    They did make it illegal alright. As far as I know, at some speed traps, they have an unmarked Garda car patrolling up and down to look out for people warning oncoming traffic of the speed trap.


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    #10
    Berty
    Registered Users Posts: 26,149 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    The original reason behind the AA was to stand on the roads and warn AA members(big badge on grille) if there were Police around the bend.

    The people flashing are doing it with good intentions. I personally don't do it anymore unless I think the Gardai are taking the p*ss like shooting fish in barrell. I certainly do not flash for checkpoints.


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    #11
    daveharnett
    Registered Users Posts: 2,567 ✭✭✭daveharnett


    motorman wrote: »
    Just a thought,
    I was driving home from Carlow today and coming into a sleepy village an oncoming car flashed me and sure enough behind the next bend the Guards were hiding behind a bush with the speed gun out the window. I wasn’t speeding at the time so flash or no flash I was going be just fine.
    What are your opinions on flashing oncoming traffic to alert them of the Guards presence???
    Fachtna Murphy wrote: »
    On the publication of Speed enforcement zones..."Gardaí are now informing people as to where the speed checks will be so that they will voluntarily slow down."
    Can't fault somebody for trying to help out, eh?

    If the posted speed limit was a silly one, I would be tempted to warn others. If not, I wouldn't.


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    #12
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users Posts: 24,469 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    a lot of people were doing it on the road to Roundwood the other day, after a while I stopped noticing. Then half way up the hill car could no longer go forwards cos of the snow and ice. :(

    Fair enough if people did it when reasonably close to the checkpoint / hazard but when you're 3-4k down the road its a bit pointless.


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    #13
    Midnight_EG
    Registered Users Posts: 9,697 ✭✭✭Midnight_EG


    Driving in a car with a mate before, well, he was driving, but somebody flashed us before we came to a bend, I copped onto it and told him to slow down, guards right around the corner :)

    I think it's a nice thing to do to just let people know, but only if it's a 'shooting fish in a barrel' type of trap.


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    #14
    rebel.ranter
    Registered Users Posts: 3,570 ✭✭✭rebel.ranter


    My aunt got done for this years ago. She flashed her lights at an unmarked Garda car to warn about a speed trap, even when the unmarked car pulled her over she told the Garda that she was flashing warn about speed trap! Doh!
    (aunt by marriage)


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    #15
    argosy2006
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,210 ✭✭✭argosy2006


    Absurdum wrote: »
    If it gets someone to slow down then surely it is achieving what the Gardai have set out to do, right? :D

    yes every body go around flashing lights all the time, will solve the speeding problem:D


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    #16
    corktina
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    rebel.ranter wrote: »
    My aunt got done for this years ago. She flashed her lights at an unmarked Garda car to warn about a speed trap, even when the unmarked car pulled her over she told the Garda that she was flashing warn about speed trap! Doh!
    (aunt by marriage)

    aunt by marriage (and not from Cork.of course...)


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    #17
    Raiser
    Registered Users Posts: 4,929 ✭✭✭Raiser


    Absurdum wrote: »
    If it gets someone to slow down then surely it is achieving what the Gardai have set out to do, right? :D

    That's an interesting point considering the fact that the Gardaí do claim that they set these up as a deterrent to speeders, flashing has the same net effect, they must be delighted when they don't witness any speeding......

    - I can never understand why they are only ever on immaculate stretches of Dual Carriageways loitering under Flyovers chatting with their Mates and drinking cups of tea while harrassing the very Taxpayer who pays their wages while conveniently missing out on witnessing the Scumbags from our massive and spiralling Crime statistics???

    Go out on the lethal B Roads and sort out the actual problem you crime-avoiding Hypocrites.


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    #18
    Mc Love
    Registered Users Posts: 14,015 ✭✭✭✭Mc Love


    The best thing for slowing down motorists is someone with a high vis jacket on. Always slow down if i see one off in the distance, and cars in front of me, you can always see them braking


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    #19
    Stark
    Registered Users Posts: 20,892 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    Hi-viz scarecrows then?


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    #20
    cable842
    Closed Accounts Posts: 745 ✭✭✭cable842


    I dont think its right that they should be able to fine them for warning someone. I dont think that is fair.
    Mc Love wrote: »
    I would do it. But a cousin of mine flashed his lights to warn oncoming traffic and the driver pulled in and told the gardai, they went after him pulled him over and fined him


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    #21
    Mc Love
    Registered Users Posts: 14,015 ✭✭✭✭Mc Love


    Stark wrote: »
    Hi-viz scarecrows then?

    It would work but then the people that use the route regularly enought would know exactly what it is and wouldnt slow down.

    Maybe if they used a tactic to moving it somewhere new every week :D


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    #22
    Berty
    Registered Users Posts: 26,149 ✭✭✭✭Berty


    In the North and other Countries the motorway construction crews use a robot type thing dressed up in builders garb and its arm has a red flag which moves up and down.

    However a good idea this may sound somebody would steal it. :D


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    #23
    BronsonTB
    Registered Users Posts: 1,888 ✭✭✭BronsonTB


    Stark wrote: »
    They did make it illegal alright. As far as I know, at some speed traps, they have an unmarked Garda car patrolling up and down to look out for people warning oncoming traffic of the speed trap.

    Correct!

    I'd flash a modded or sports car usually.....And you may not be going particularly fast but only takes a little to be done.....easily happen and there are sneeky gaurds just out to do people with no interest in slowing people down. So I would flash.....

    Oh and if it's some speeding ejit flying into the trap then I wouldn't....it's those ones f**king it up for the rest of us....
    www.celicaireland.com

    www.sligowhiplash.com - 3rd & 4th Aug '24 (Confirmed!)



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    #24
    joolsveer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭joolsveer


    Is there any legal reason for flashing? Is it a hazard warning?


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    #25
    BronsonTB
    Registered Users Posts: 1,888 ✭✭✭BronsonTB


    joolsveer wrote: »
    Is there any legal reason for flashing? Is it a hazard warning?

    Is it long since passing the test??

    No legal reason for flashing....I use it to warn motorists of dangerous ahead...accident etc...and to BLIND the careless drivers that don't dip...and 99% it works accept for merc drivers......

    www.celicaireland.com

    www.sligowhiplash.com - 3rd & 4th Aug '24 (Confirmed!)



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    #26
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    joolsveer wrote: »
    Is there any legal reason for flashing? Is it a hazard warning?
    Flashing your lights only has one use in law - to alert other drivers to your presence.

    This is why, if you're waiting to pull out and someone flashes you, ensure that they have stopped or are stopping before you start moving. One day you will meet the person who is using it correctly and flashing you to tell you *not* to pull out.


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    #27
    BronsonTB
    Registered Users Posts: 1,888 ✭✭✭BronsonTB


    seamus wrote: »
    Flashing your lights only has one use in law - to alert other drivers to your presence. using it correctly and flashing you to tell you *not* to pull out.

    Would have been interesting to do a poll on this......Bet the majority would have got it wrong....

    www.sligowhiplash.com - 3rd & 4th Aug '24 (Confirmed!)



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    #28
    Stark
    Registered Users Posts: 20,892 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    It's certainly the norm on the continent that flashing means *not* to pull out.


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    #29
    Tipp Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,025 ✭✭✭Tipp Man


    How on earth can somebody be fined for flashing lights when it wasn't even the Gardai that saw it??

    How petty of someone to even tell the Gardai about it, that really is patethic

    Also if pulled for flashing can you not just say you hit the lights instead of the windscreen cleaner?? I often do this as my car and my dads car are opposite, and my dads car and his jeep are also opposite despite being the same manufacturer. How can they prove you were flashing to warn of a speed trap?


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    #30
    Zubeneschamali
    Registered Users Posts: 16,686 ✭✭✭✭Zubeneschamali


    cable842 wrote: »
    I dont think its right that they should be able to fine them for warning someone.

    Can anyone tell me what they could actually fine you for? I mean, what offence is the flasher (Steady!) suposed to be committing?


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    #31
    Tipp Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,025 ✭✭✭Tipp Man


    BronsonTB wrote: »
    Would have been interesting to do a poll on this......Bet the majority would have got it wrong....

    Doesn;t it depend completly on the circumstances, i.e if i'm stopped or nearly stopped and flash then i am clearly letting the other person pull out, if I am approaching at speed and flash it is clearly NOT to pull out??


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