Do you flash to warn of speed cameras? Now there's a hand signal.

Bettie

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Very recently, we had a thread asking who flashes their headlights to warn of speed traps.

I used to but gave it up in favour of moving my right hand up and down on top of my dashboard to warn other drivers, and today I had two other drivers warn me in the same way in Bromsgrove.

I think this is very good way of warning other drivers to slow down. Anyone else been warned this way?

When I was in the Highlands last year I saw plenty of those hand signals to slow down warning there was sheep on the road. I'd not seen them before.

rdwarr

I get fed up of people speeding round my manor so often warn them that the camera van is round the corner when it isn't. 50mph through a housing estate in the middle of the school holidays is beyond a joke.

LincolnshireYokel

There was a test case DPP v Glendinning that ruled that flashing your lights wasnt illegal. The police tried to use the offence of obstructing a police officer in the course of duty, but the court ruled that since the police couldnt prove that Glendiing caused a speeding motorists to slow down, it cant be obstruction., it could only be obstruction if the police could prove that the driver being flashed at was actually speeding at the moment he was flashed, which they couldnt do.

Also , theres a body of opinion that you cannot obstruct a civilian camera operator in that way only a real police officer, but I dont believe thats been tested in court, at least i cant find any cases.


Other Police Forces have tried 'perverting the course of justice' and also failed on the same reasoning as above However, the police recently changed tack and Lancashire Police managed to successfully prosecute a guy for 'misuse of headlights' instead .

So a hand signal would seem to be the way to go. Years ago giving a thumbs down signal out the window was used.

DPP vs Glindinning
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2005/2333.html

In this case, the officers in question were plainly acting lawfully in the execution of their duty. Secondly, the court found that the signals were intended to warn of the presence ahead of a police speed trap. But the court was not satisfied that there was any obstruction of the police officers in that there was no evidence of any vehicles that could have been affected by his signals, either being driven in excess of the speed limit or likely to be so. The court therefore distinguished the case from the interpretation of the facts in Bastable advanced by Donaldson LJ in Green v Moore, namely that there were motorists who were likely to exceed the speed limit over the measured distance. There could be no obstruction of the officers in the exercise of their duty unless there were vehicles that were speeding or were likely to speed. In my judgment that analysis was correct.

Aretnap

The offence is obstruction of a constable, and warning motorists of speed traps can constitute obstruction regardless of whether it is by flashing headlights or by hand signals - this has been well established since 1907. The most recent High Court case was Glendinning, which clarified that for the offence to be complete the drivers being warned must either have been exceeding the speed limit or would have been likely to do so at the location of the speed trap. This makes it more difficult to prosecute for obstruction, but not impossible as this fellow found out.

Lancashire plod did recently hand out some fixed penalties for "misuse of headlights"; the only problem for them is that there's no such offence. Or rather there is, but it requires that the headlights be used "so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road" which clearly doesn't apply to using them in daylight as a warning. So the fixed penalties should be easily challengable, though as it's only a non-endorsable £30 I imagine most people just paid up.

scotsbob

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Very recently, we had a thread asking who flashes their headlights to warn of speed traps.

I used to but gave it up in favour of moving my right hand up and down on top of my dashboard to warn other drivers, and today I had two other drivers warn me in the same way in Bromsgrove.

I think this is very good way of warning other drivers to slow down. Anyone else been warned this way?

Moving hand up and down is not new. Bus drivers in London were using this in the 1960s and HGV drivers have been using at least as long.

It is simply an adaptation of the hand/arm signal taken from section 15 of the Highway Code

jackieb

I don't often notice the drivers in cars coming towards me. I'm more interested in their cars. I'd totally miss a hand signal. I'm not sure i'd even notice if a car was being driven by a poodle.

forgotmyname

We always used the thumb down signal for many many years.

If stopped why were you signalling, Because my trucks better than his of course officer.
Speed trap? what speed trap i didnt see that i was on my phone & watching the news on my portable TV

OK maybe skip the last bit

sharpy2010

jackieb wrote: »

I'm not sure i'd even notice if a car was being driven by a poodle.

Don't worry, most women are the same ;-)

sillygoose

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Very recently, we had a thread asking who flashes their headlights to warn of speed traps.

I used to but gave it up in favour of moving my right hand up and down on top of my dashboard to warn other drivers, and today I had two other drivers warn me in the same way in Bromsgrove.

I think this is very good way of warning other drivers to slow down. Anyone else been warned this way?

This hand signal is excellent! can't wait for someone with guts to take it to court if nicked.

"Warning other drivers? don't know what the coppers are on about your honour, I was just trying to swat a fly! .. present exhibit A in matchbox, one dead Bluebottle" case dismissed I think.

Out of interest, where was the speed trap in Bromsgrove? only place ever seen them there is on the 40mph bit from the M5 down into catshill.

poppasmurf_bewdley

sillygoose wrote: »

This hand signal is excellent! can't wait for someone with guts to take it to court if nicked.

"Warning other drivers? don't know what the coppers are on about your honour, I was just trying to swat a fly! .. present exhibit A in matchbox, one dead Bluebottle" case dismissed I think.

Out of interest, where was the speed trap in Bromsgrove? only place ever seen them there is on the 40mph bit from the M5 down into catshill.

Kidderminster Road, just passed Sanders Park. The van was parked on the grassy verge (anyone else there would have got an instant ticket).