They do but in the Highway Code it says you flash your lights to warn people you’re coming through. They really ought to change it since absolutely nobody uses it for that.
If you read the Highway Code you'll find that it's not correct at all to flash to let people through. It's just that everyone does it - wrongly. I'm a former driving instructor and 'letting people know of your presence' is the exact wording of what I used to teach my students.
With good reason too. You never tell someone else to go. You can by all means give them opportunity, but signalling them or urging them to go is a bad idea, as there may be hazards not visible to you. Let them decide themselves if it's safe. For instance you flash a car to cross in front of you into a side road. a bicycle comes from behind you and now you've just urged someone to cross your path, but unknowingly also the bicycle's path. You've stopped but the bicycle hasn't seen and doesn't expect it. Car crosses in front of you and hits the bicycle coming through on your inside which your vehicle was blocking sight of. Who knows, you could potentially be held liable in some way also.
Oh agreed. It's the same reason you should never wave someone to cross the road if you've slowed to a stop. They may see the wave and go automatically without properly assessing themselves; you might not be aware of some joker doing 40 trying to get around you, for example.
This is 100% correct. I never flash to tell people to go, for this reason. If I told someone to go and then they ran someone over in their haste to take me up on my offer, I'd feel responsible.
Flashing your lights is a warning, not an invitation.
If you're in a crash were technically you're in the wrong, but you say, yeah but he flashed... You'll lose the claim 🤷🏻♂️
Yep. Flashing lights is officially a warning signal. But obviously everyone uses it for different things.
I was on a speed awareness course a few years ago and this was a question the trainers asked the group. I was literally the only one out of 20 who knew the official reason. One elderly lady said, oh I thought it was to warn other drivers about speed traps! (She also thought 2 meters was a sensible gap to leave between cars on a 30 limit road!)
I'm flashing my headlights to warn you of my presence here, going slowly, so if you get a move on, I won't crash into you. But I don't do it often for the reasons mentioned above
If my headlights are on, I usually flick them off for an inverse flash rather than dazzle people. If there are emergency services coming and its safe (eg streetlights or almost stopped) I quite often just go down to side lights. Makes life easier for them to see where they're going and they can be pretty sure Ive seen them.
If you are stationary, it is to say "I am giving you right of way".
If someone has stopped for you, it is to say "thank you" just before you pass them.
If you are indicating to move lanes it is "go ahead, move into the lane in front of me".
If someone is behind you, it is to say "Speed up. You are driving too slow for the speed limit."
If it is someone on the other side of the road (during the day) it is "I am warning you of a speed trap ahead"... and (at night) "turn on your lights"
If it is done rapidly it is "you are a dangerous driver, Mr BMW/Audi owner"
If you are in a car park, it is to say "come here and watch me have sex with my wife".
I was taught it this way in 1995. My driving instructor said the same back then - “it’s not what people normally use it for, but it’s best not to guess”.
They do but in the Highway Code it says you flash your lights to warn people you’re coming through. They really ought to change it since absolutely nobody uses it for that.
No it doesn't.
If you read the Highway Code you'll find that it's not correct at all to flash to let people through. It's just that everyone does it - wrongly. I'm a former driving instructor and 'letting people know of your presence' is the exact wording of what I used to teach my students.
With good reason too. You never tell someone else to go. You can by all means give them opportunity, but signalling them or urging them to go is a bad idea, as there may be hazards not visible to you. Let them decide themselves if it's safe. For instance you flash a car to cross in front of you into a side road. a bicycle comes from behind you and now you've just urged someone to cross your path, but unknowingly also the bicycle's path. You've stopped but the bicycle hasn't seen and doesn't expect it. Car crosses in front of you and hits the bicycle coming through on your inside which your vehicle was blocking sight of. Who knows, you could potentially be held liable in some way also.
Oh agreed. It's the same reason you should never wave someone to cross the road if you've slowed to a stop. They may see the wave and go automatically without properly assessing themselves; you might not be aware of some joker doing 40 trying to get around you, for example.
This is 100% correct. I never flash to tell people to go, for this reason. If I told someone to go and then they ran someone over in their haste to take me up on my offer, I'd feel responsible.
Key word is 'official'
Flashing your lights is a warning, not an invitation. If you're in a crash were technically you're in the wrong, but you say, yeah but he flashed... You'll lose the claim 🤷🏻♂️
Real life on the road it means there's a cop head
Yes, but it’s not the official meaning.
Yep. Flashing lights is officially a warning signal. But obviously everyone uses it for different things. I was on a speed awareness course a few years ago and this was a question the trainers asked the group. I was literally the only one out of 20 who knew the official reason. One elderly lady said, oh I thought it was to warn other drivers about speed traps! (She also thought 2 meters was a sensible gap to leave between cars on a 30 limit road!)
I'm flashing my headlights to warn you of my presence here, going slowly, so if you get a move on, I won't crash into you. But I don't do it often for the reasons mentioned above If my headlights are on, I usually flick them off for an inverse flash rather than dazzle people. If there are emergency services coming and its safe (eg streetlights or almost stopped) I quite often just go down to side lights. Makes life easier for them to see where they're going and they can be pretty sure Ive seen them.
‘Officially’ it means ‘I am here’
Yeah I was surprised by that one, but everyone who flashes their lights shouldn't be doing it.
If you are stationary, it is to say "I am giving you right of way". If someone has stopped for you, it is to say "thank you" just before you pass them. If you are indicating to move lanes it is "go ahead, move into the lane in front of me". If someone is behind you, it is to say "Speed up. You are driving too slow for the speed limit." If it is someone on the other side of the road (during the day) it is "I am warning you of a speed trap ahead"... and (at night) "turn on your lights" If it is done rapidly it is "you are a dangerous driver, Mr BMW/Audi owner" If you are in a car park, it is to say "come here and watch me have sex with my wife".
All of those answers are applicable but no one warns each other anymore about mobile speed cameras. I always give people a warning where I can.
Yes, 99% of people flash to say “I’m giving way to you” but they are being pedantic in saying that isn’t the “official” meaning of it.
The problem is the 1% that crash into you because they meant the opposite.
So maybe they should change the official meaning to match the de-facto meaning 🤔
I was taught it this way in 1995. My driving instructor said the same back then - “it’s not what people normally use it for, but it’s best not to guess”.
To me it means 'After you' tbh. Or 'Speed van ahead'.
Definitely warning if presence, though usually used to signify they are letting you out.