Flashing Headlights as a warning

MaFt · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

personally i don't see the difference between flashing someone to say "oi, be careful speeding cos there's cops there" and saying to someone copying cd's "oi, be careful, there are cops there" - would i really be arrested for telling someone they were breaking the law? surely it is as bad to turn a blind eye...

MaFt

mikealder · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject:

If you really feel the urge to flash oncomming motorists do it ONCE and remember the colour and type of car you flashed at, if you get pulled over claim it was Uncle Fred who owns a car of the same type and colour and you might get away with it as they have no idea who "Uncle Fred" is or what car he drives.
You need to be able to remember the car details though you don't need the number plate as he is a distant relative Wink

- Mike

chrisbenwalker · Lifetime Member Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 10

BigPerk · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

But if it is against the law (and I believe it is - as suggested, I think it's probably 'obstructing') do remember the police are quite canny - if they PARTICULARLY want to check for this at a particular place, don't assume that they only have vehicles/policepersons BEHIND you!
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David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

Darren · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject:

And lets be sensible about this here. The know full well that it goes on and we have all seen it go on. I've been warned and I've warned others.

What they would object to is someone who goes out of their way, perhaps stops and warns motorists for some time or goes around the block and warns motorists etc.

Police know that a trap is only of any use for a very small time and they also know that many drivers are so inattentive that they will continue to speed even having passed two or three motorists flashing to warn them.

Perhaps those motorists, the ones who drive around with their brain sin neutral and not concentrating on the task at hand deserve to be pulled over for a friendly chat?
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Darren Griffin

Rick-uk · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:28 pm Post subject:

On occasions I have flashed drivers for reasons such as teddies left on a roof, doors partially open and other simiar reasons. On most occassions the driver just is oblivious to any interaction and drives on regardless. Same applies when someone passes you on the motorway and you try to gain their attention more often than not they are not using their mirrors so don't notice.

As I understood (as mentioned previously) the flashing of headlights was only originally to be used to indicate "Warning, I am here" in the same manner that the horn is, although it is generally accepted that the signal now may mean "I am giving way". These are the only two accepted meanings

Mullet · Frequent Visitor Joined: Dec 12, 2005 Posts: 1051

Bearing in mind there are plenty of drivers speeding through my village, why would I want to help them do so? Why would I actually give a damn if they got themselves banned?

BigPerk · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

Good one Mullet - A view from the other side at last!

With all the recent talk ( Joker

) about "speed doesn't kill", "when it's safe to speed", and so on, it seems to get forgotten that it can make life very unpleasant even when it's not quite life-threatening.

We had a bypass put round some of our villages a year or two ago and SINCE then the villagers have had to lobby for 'calming' measures to be introduced! With the traffic reduced so much, possible (but not legal!) speeds increased dramatically, so drivers going 'cross country' to places not served by the bypass seemed to think the road had been converted into a race track. Even though you didn't actually have to get run over as long as you were alert, it hardly makes for a relaxing and pleasant lifestyle (especially if you have young children).

Sometimes I think we drivers and riders step into a different world for our journeys.
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David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

mrfreeze · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:38 pm Post subject:

If someone were to be charged with obstruction or misleading police etc for flashing their lights then surely the camera database does the same thing.
And as you will now say, it warns of accidents blackspots, that would be what i would use as defence if i were caught flashing my lights at someone.

Just out of interest does either mullet or bigperk use the database?
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BigPerk · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject:

Andy_P · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 am Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 am Post subject:

The flashing headlights law is there for a good reason. It is a signal and its use is clearly defined in the Highway Code. If we choose to ignore that then we could misconstrue the signal and an accident could be the result.

Whilst I agree that Big Brother and some legislation needs questioning, that law has been in place since the Highway Code was enacted and it is common sense.
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Darren Griffin

Andy_P · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:02 pm Post subject:

Quite agree with your sentiments in this case Darren...
My beef was solely against the "something's against the law, therefore it must be intrinsically bad" viewpoint.

BigPerk · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

Andy_P · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject:

I think we all agree today. Group hug!

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