drivers flashing headlights

M cebee

something i never do
Am i right in thinking it's stupid to be be beckoning drivers to turn etc by flashing them

Henry Ford III

My car doesn't have lites.

M cebee

i can see that henry.
Next!

Tallon

M cebee wrote: »

something i never do
Am i right in thinking it's stupid to be be beckoning drivers to turn etc by flashing them

No, what is stupid, is you not driving with your lights ON

M cebee

Tallon wrote: »

No, what is stupid, is you not driving with your lights ON

Next!

Tallon

M cebee wrote: »

Next!

So are you you just going to shake your head until someone agrees with you, or accept the fact that you're wrong and it's not a stupid thing to do?

BronsonTB

It's marely an unwritten 'rule' (no legal standing) to show courtesy to another driver when you are willing to let them into or out off a side road that involves cutting across your path....A little flash of the lights is just a way of saying ok, go ahead...Just like a wave or node to say thank you...

OP Hope you're not one of those drivers that just pulls across anyway.....

MugMugs

M cebee wrote: »

something i never do
Am i right in thinking it's stupid to be be beckoning drivers to turn etc by flashing them

Why do you think it is stupid OP?

Tallon

Ahhhh, I thought the OP was referring to flashing people to turn on their lights...

I see now he means for when turning etc...

I agree with Bronson, it's just courtesy!

It's like giving out because someone held the door open for you, and you had to pick up the pace to grab it..

Rasheed

Why is it stupid?

I think it's a bit of common decency and I get extremely offended if I let someone out and they don't acknowledge me.

And how else are you going to motion someone forward? Smoke signals?

hondasam

M cebee wrote: »

something i never do
Am i right in thinking it's stupid to be be beckoning drivers to turn etc by flashing them

Are you one of those drivers who sits there oblivious to someone doing you a favour?

MarkR

Is that universal actually? I thought I read somewhere that it may mean you are waving someone on, or that you are going to.

But I do. But I hate when the f*cker is sitting there, picking their nose or something and not paying attention.

fasttalkerchat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiQ1kkknU_k

Stark

To be fair, he has a point. By flashing them, you're taking responsibility for making sure that there's a sufficient gap in the other direction for them to make the turn safely for them as well. By simply leaving a gap for them, you let them make their own decision as to whether it's safe to go or not. I made the mistake years ago of flashing someone to let them out and they nearly got creamed by a car coming the other day. Since then I just leave a gap and leave it up to them to look each way. I believe you also get docked marks in a driving test for beckoning people out.

M cebee

Im aware it's meant as a courtesy .
But often drivers are panicking others to turn etc.when it's not safe to do so and it would be safer to just to wait longer

hondasam

Stark wrote: »

To be fair, he has a point. By flashing them, you're taking responsibility for making sure that there's a sufficient gap in the other direction for them to make the turn safely for them as well. By simply leaving a gap for them, you let them make their own decision as to whether it's safe to go or not. I made the mistake years ago of flashing someone to let them out and they nearly got creamed by a car coming the other day. Since then I just leave a gap and leave it up to them to look each way. I believe you also get docked marks in a driving test for beckoning people out.

I would not flash anyone to let them out unless it was safe to do so, other than that I would flash them on time and slow to a stop to give them a chance or for oncoming traffic to stop as well.

M cebee

exactly my point and i may be wrong
Drivers are sometimes creating a hazard by flashing timid drivers when its not safe to make a maneouvre

Stark

hondasam wrote:

I would not flash anyone to let them out unless it was safe to do so, other than that I would flash them on time and slow to a stop to give them a chance or for oncoming traffic to stop as well.

The issue with that is you decide there's sufficient time for them to turn safely, but then it takes them about 10 seconds to react to your lights and by the time they decide to go, the situation is no longer safe and you've no way of signalling to them not to proceed. I wouldn't like to be in a situation where I'm assuming responsibility for anything retarded that someone might like to do (like that person who dawdled after I flashed them before deciding to go when traffic had started to flow in the other direction).

M cebee

so am i onto something
Do you get docked marks in a driving test then?

BronsonTB

Stark wrote: »

To be fair, he has a point. By flashing them, you're taking responsibility for making sure that there's a sufficient gap in the other direction for them to make the turn safely for them as well.

Not so, It's always the other driver's responsiblity to check it's safe to do so, you are marely letting the other driver know you see them & you are ok with them pulling in front of you.....You are not saying it's safe to do so or taking any responsibility...

In terms of the driving test this is not the thing to do as it has no legal standing.

In answer to the OP's question - I don't think it's stupid it's just a courtesy. And of course the roads are full of ignorant/selfish/careless drivers so this is not expected from all drivers (just the decent ones).

Our man in Havana

It for alerting people to the presence of the Five-0 up ahead.

BronsonTB

M cebee wrote: »

so am i onto something
Do you get docked marks in a driving test then?

OP, When did you last do your test?

Any decent driving instructor will always tell you you should never flash your lights during your test but that doesn't mean you should never flash your lights in the 'real' world.
Dpending on the exact circumstances you may get docked marks in the driving test.

Rasheed

Stark wrote: »

The issue with that is you decide there's sufficient time for them to turn safely, but then it takes them about 10 seconds to react to your lights and by the time they decide to go, the situation is no longer safe and you've no way of signalling to them not to proceed. I wouldn't like to be in a situation where I'm assuming responsibility for anything retarded that someone might like to do (like that person who dawdled after I flashed them before deciding to go when traffic had started to flow in the other direction).

If someone flashed me, I'm not going to automatically go.
I'll creep out, if it's safe, I'll go and wave or turn on my flashers to say thanks.
If something happens, that's my baby, i wouldn't blame the other driver for my stupidity.
And anyone that takes 10 seconds to respond to lights flashing is just dopey.

hondasam

Stark wrote: »

The issue with that is you decide there's sufficient time for them to turn safely, but then it takes them about 10 seconds to react to your lights and by the time they decide to go, the situation is no longer safe and you've no way of signalling to them not to proceed. I wouldn't like to be in a situation where I'm assuming responsibility for anything retarded that someone might like to do (like that person who dawdled after I flashed them before deciding to go when traffic had started to flow in the other direction).

The reason I would flash them on time for me to slow down and stop if necessary for them to complete the turn or what ever.
I would never flash anyone when it's not safe.

Paparazzo

Officially, you never do it. But in the real world it's ok to do it in some situations.
For instance, 2 lane road with no hard shoulder and your lane is really busy. Car coming in the opposite direction is stopped to turn right across your lane, but cos your lane is busy he can't go. Traffic is building up behind this guy. Nothing wrong with slowing down and giving a flash of the lights telling him it's ok to go.

Tzetze

I think officially it's meant to convey a 'Look out, I'm coming through' message. So, if that's the message that's intended and the message received is 'I'm letting you turn off in front of me' - then things can get messy.

Flashers beware

Tallon

Here you go OP

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/DefensiveDriving/Flashing_Headlamps/Flashers.html

It's English, but still!

Know the code?

The current Highway Code is clear and unambiguous about the use of flashing headlights; Rule 110 states:

'Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.'

Rule 111 adds:

'Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.'

The rules quoted above are a development of a basic principle which has been in the Highway Code from the early days. The 1946 Highway Code (rule 36) stated:

'Do not rely on signals to proceed given by unauthorised persons' (although, ironically, it also contained the 'I am ready to be overtaken' arm signal!).

corktina

i dont let people go like this, I simply give them the room to do what they need to, leave it up to them to see if it is safe to do so.

RobAMerc

It is stupid to flash your lights to allow someone to do anything.
Officially, flashing the lights is to gain attention that you are coming A WARNING SIGN - idiotically in Ireland people now think that means you are beckoning them out so the exact opposite occurs.

Well done Irish driving public, completely wrong again, probably because we learned to drive from Da in a car park and his rules go. And God forbid we ever re asses or brush up on our skills once we've passed the test 20 odd years ago in a town with 8 cars in it !

rant over - sorry.

hondasam

RobAMerc wrote: »

It is stupid to flash your lights to allow someone to do anything.
Officially, flashing the lights is to gain attention that you are coming A WARNING SIGN - idiotically in Ireland people now think that means you are beckoning them out so the exact opposite occurs.

Well done Irish driving public, completely wrong again, probably because we learned to drive from Da in a car park and his rules go. And God forbid we ever re asses or brush up on our skills once we've passed the test 20 odd years ago in a town with 8 cars in it !

rant over - sorry.

jaysus who pissed in your cornflakes this am. I'm not flashing anyone in future, no need to be nice to other motorists. My da did not teach me to drive.

Paparazzo

RobAMerc wrote: »

It is stupid to flash your lights to allow someone to do anything.
Officially, flashing the lights is to gain attention that you are coming A WARNING SIGN - idiotically in Ireland people now think that means you are beckoning them out so the exact opposite occurs.

Well done Irish driving public, completely wrong again, probably because we learned to drive from Da in a car park and his rules go. And God forbid we ever re asses or brush up on our skills once we've passed the test 20 odd years ago in a town with 8 cars in it !

rant over - sorry.

How can we reassess and change an unwritten rule? Do you hate it when people thank you with a flash of the warning lights too?