Driving Lesson - Flashing Headlights

marleyboy

Its feasible the OP flashed his headlights to let the woman know he "was there", simply because she wasn't looking, or aware of a vehicle directly ahead of her.

I have seen it myself so many times "Sorry, I didn't see you", maybe doing her make-up, changing the radio or chatting on the phone oblivious.

I have a rule NOT to trust any other driver bar myself on the road, as other cars can be "unpredictable" if I detect a potential hazard, I will remind a driver I am there by flashing my lights, the same rule applies to pedestrians, some people just don't look.

How many vehicles simply refuse to indicate for example, or come out of a junction without looking, forcing you to brake harshly. So many bad drivers are on the road, that its only ever best to rely on your own judgements.

AsknAnswer

When I was learning to drive (gave it up - too bloody expensive), I was sat at a junction and the car opposite flashed his headlights. I'd seen this with other drivers and took it to be an invitation for me to pull out. I went to turn and my instructor stopped me. He explained why:

Apparently in the past, it has been commonly used as an insurance scam where car A will flash the headlights, car B takes it as an invitation to manovere, as car B goes to pull out, car A does too, and they collide. Driver of car A then claims on driver B's insurance, insisting if questioned about the "flash" that he flashed at car B to "warn them of my presence".

I was warned never ever to pull out at a flashed headlight, particularly if the car is an "old banger"

Thomas_Crown

CHR15 wrote: »

I would suppose between 11:30pm and 07:00am when you should not use your horn.

.................except in case of an emergency.

sarahg1969

AsknAnswer wrote: »

I was warned never ever to pull out at a flashed headlight, particularly if the car is an "old banger"

And especially not if you're driving in the north west or West Yorkshire.

tandraig

what do you mean flash a pedestrian? as a pedestrian i usually stand at the side of the road until car stops. if car stops i proceed across the road. why would i need or notice if car flashes headlights?
er - if case went to court would judge say ' oh highway code is wrong?'

barvid

tandraig wrote: »

what do you mean flash a pedestrian? as a pedestrian i usually stand at the side of the road until car stops. if car stops i proceed across the road. why would i need or notice if car flashes headlights?
er - if case went to court would judge say ' oh highway code is wrong?'

The Highway Code is not the same thing as the law. So depending on the circumstances, the relevant legislation, and precedent (i.e. other cases), he actually might. I nearly took the police's insurer to court three years ago and in preparing my case I found the case which confirms that the breaking the Highway Code is not the same thing as breaking the law, which rather undid the police's insurer's case against me, and they quickly settled.

tandraig

ty barvid - but i am more confused now! do i adhere to highway code or trust in the court?
i dont drive so am usually pedestrian or on bus! tbh if i am waiting to cross the road and the driver flashed headlights when he stopped i would always hold up my hand in the stop position as i cross - assuming the driver will understand ! am worried now - if he starts up and runs me over - who is at fault? er - i used to work for an accident claims firm and in this situation i would have advised clients to sue - assuming they were still alive!!!!!!!!!

marleyboy

If you were at a pedestrian crossing and the green man is flashing, then the driver would be at fault, if however you were between cars or jumping out on the road, because a driver "flashed" that you could, ultimately it would be your own fault for not following the green cross code.

Ive had times myself as a pedestrian, where a vehicle has flashed me to alert me to their presence, simply because I momentarily wasnt concentrating on crossing the road, its kind of like why motorcyclists leave their lights on, so they get "noticeably" seen.

As a pedestrian, a flashing light on an approaching vehicle, would cause me to assume they arent going to stop and I would not make it across the road in time, from a greater distance of the driver having to sound their horn and it their brakes.

Of course I should be aware, a driver doesn't know if I am listening to my Ipod, or chancing a mad dash as most pedestrians do. A quick flash to say "I'm here" could be enough to convince a pedestrian to think twice.

janninew

I'm not sure where i heard/read about it, but i always thought that if a pedestrian wants to cross the road, they have right of way over vehicles? Did i dream this? I think it was on a tv programme actually about learner drivers, i seem to remember one of the instructors telling the learners that if a person walks into the road they automatically have right of way.

tandraig

marleyboy wrote: »

If you were at a pedestrian crossing and the green man is flashing, then the driver would be at fault, if however you were between cars or jumping out on the road, because a driver "flashed" that you could, ultimately it would be your own fault for not following the green cross code.

Ive had times myself as a pedestrian, where a vehicle has flashed me to alert me to their presence, simply because I momentarily wasnt concentrating on crossing the road, its kind of like why motorcyclists leave their lights on, so they get "noticeably" seen.

As a pedestrian, a flashing light on an approaching vehicle, would cause me to assume they arent going to stop and I would not make it across the road in time, from a greater distance of the driver having to sound their horn and it their brakes.

Of course I should be aware, a driver doesn't know if I am listening to my Ipod, or chancing a mad dash as most pedestrians do. A quick flash to say "I'm here" could be enough to convince a pedestrian to think twice

am even more confused now - so as a pedestrian i am supposed to assume you are 'on your ipod' surely thats against the law
and a flashing of headlight means you arent going to stop? really? what driving school did you graduate from?

As a pedestrian, a flashing light on an approaching vehicle, would cause me to assume they arent going to stop and I would not make it across the road in time, from a greater distance of the driver having to sound their horn and it their brakes.

i can calculate that ?- what you assume i am Einstien?

i have already said that as a pedestrian i wait until the car comes to a stop - most drivers then use a hand motion that indicates 'ok cross'
as to the posts which say beware of people flashing you out cos they after insurance claims - may i add one more? as an accident claim advisor i can tell you to watch out in multi story car parks. a fave false claim is when you following some one out ( who disables his brake lights) brakes sharply and you run into back of them - you will find all his family were in car even tho you remember it as one person and then they all claim whiplash.