Driving Lesson - Flashing Headlights

Freddie_Snowbits

To the darling nice Girl on the A46 today 14 August 2009 at around 4:05 pm, just near Salmon Springs in Stroud driving Northboud, wanting to turn Right to Wick St

When I falsh my headlights it means a warning, not for you to make an attempt to start to cross the road. Not the fact you were twenty yards short of the junction anyway prevented you from being hoofed off the road should you had dared to do so.

Alas, the fact that who taight you may had been a numptie, and gave you the right to shake your hand at me, the fact remains, as follows: -

Highway Code Rules 110 and 111

110

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.
111

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

Link

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070289

Oh and get proffesional advice about driving, because you may need it one day to save you life. I was a car, what would you had done if I was a lorry?

CHR15

Irrespective of what the highway code says, the flashing of headlights is a commonly accepted signal of courtesy allowing the other car to proceed.

You stand alone as the only person I have encountered who flashes their headlights as a warning in over 20yrs of driving.

I'm with the other driver ya nutter!! :)

McKneff

As a driver of 40 years, I'm with Chri5 on this one I'm afraid that its a commonly accepted signal of courtesty,

PinkLipgloss

Evening all,

Whilst I totally agree with Chr15 and McKneff isen't it the case that if there was an accident (after you interpreting a flash to mean "go ahead") you wouldn't have a leg to stand on due to the highway code rules?

Shambler

The highway code is out of date.

Flashing headlights often are a signal from one lorry driver to another that it is safe to pull back in after overtaking.

They are usually used these days to indicate OK,or as a rebuke for aggressive driving rather than as a warning.

I wonder in what circumstances the highway code thinks that they will be used a a warning to other road users of another cars presence.

Maybe when cars did 20mph max it would be usefull :rotfl:, but at todays speeds a warning would be all too late.

Freddie_Snowbits

CHR15 wrote: »

I'm with the other driver ya nutter!! :)

The other driver attempted to squeeze through traffic to turn right across me from over twenty yards before the junction. Who is the nutter?

Regardless, where necessary and as a warning I use my hadlights, and when necessary use full bean to note my position on the road. It has saved my skin, and that of cyclists as well.

I would not have put this post up, but for the arrogant reaction of the gril, who shock her fist as though she was in some stuper.

Next

moonrakerz

What exactly DID you flash your lights for ?

At 4:05 pm it must have been fairly good visibility, the "darling nice Girl" probably saw you coming (as she apparently saw you flashing your lights at her) - what you did was just bound to give the wrong impression !

I'm afraid I work on the principle of not doing anyone else a "favour", it often just causes confusion and potentially causes an accident.

Freddie_Snowbits

Shambler wrote: »

Flashing headlights often are a signal from one lorry driver to another that it is safe to pull back in after overtaking.

They are usually used these days to indicate OK,or as a rebuke for aggressive driving rather than as a warning.

Correct, on a Motorway yes I agree, but the rule does not say it is valid

McKneff

was she just making a fist or was she making a particular gesture:D

:rotfl::rotfl:

Viper_7

Just because most people accept it or do it as a gesture of "give way" or thanks" doesn't mean it's right.
Flashing headlights in "Give way" situations has cause many accidents.

As someone said, you should never give up your right of way, it only causes hesitation, indecision and problems.

also shouldn't give any kind of hand signal other than those approved as they can be misinterpreted as say a two fingered salute.

Also, people out there flash lights at people to say "I'm giving you way" and then promptly plow into them to get a nice insurance claim etc etc

Flash your lights as a warning ONLY Same goes for use of the horn. It's a warning, not a Toot Toot goodnight to your mates as you leave at 2am in the morning!


However - flashing your lights at someone waiting to turn is over use of signalling and would be a failure point anyway.

Freddie_Snowbits

Just to note a couple of years back on teh same road going into Cheltenham, 2 darling Daughters were driven by their mum. She could not wait in the morning to pass the annual bus, of which was about 5 cars ahead of me, she being about 6 or so cars behind. She came out, passes a couple of cars, back in. She gets to the roundabout at Shurdington whips pass three or four more and back in.

All this time, cars coming the other way had to brake and swerve to miss her, flashing their lights as a warning.

Not wanting to be late, she whipped her car out again and bang, into a pumbers truck. She said to the police the van had flashed her out!

Still, later on the phone to her husband, I pondered what she would say!