Some thoughts on the "Flashing a Passing Caravan" thread. By all means 'flash in' overtaking 'vans and lorries though it seems many foreign drivers - and some home grown - are unaware of the meaning of this courtesy. In many countries flashing means 'get out of my way - I AM COMING THROUGH!' A further problem is if others mistake your meaning. I have seen the situation where someone flashed a friend passing in the opposite direction and a car waiting in a side road took this to be an invitation to join the stream of traffic. The resulting chaos delayed the ambulance!
Flashing - a different point of view.
- Thread starter mikeE
- Start date
Flashing your headlights has only one legal meaning in the UK - I am here!
Any other unofficial signalling convention should be ignored.
Eg Oncoming driver flashes you, you think they mean clear to come through but actually mean don't come through!
Any other unofficial signalling convention should be ignored.
Eg Oncoming driver flashes you, you think they mean clear to come through but actually mean don't come through!
RogerL, I'm afraid I have to disagree with your comments, cos the only flashing lights that I've ever seen thats meant "I'm coming thru" are the ones on an ambulance or a cop car. If what you say is to be believed then I must have some kind of death wish because in thirty odd years of driving I have never witnessed such a thing.
This from the highway code
90: Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users.
91: If another driver flashes his headlights never assume that it is a signal to go. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/07.htm#90
Brian (",)
90: Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users.
91: If another driver flashes his headlights never assume that it is a signal to go. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/07.htm#90
Brian (",)
Damian
Moderator
I would also add to this thread that the only reason Emergency Service vehicles have flashing headlights is to increase their visibility when on an emergeny run.The Blues and Twos are the warning, but even with those, they are NOT at liberty to "Charge through" regardless of everything else.
Don't care what the Highway code states!! because if it is followed to the letter then its chaos time. I work in Logistics and Transport and we operate every thing from Fiesta Vans to 18.75 meter Wagon and Drags (Drawbar trucks) the biggest allowed on the road with out extra measures.
Take it from me and everyone who works with Trucks a "flash of the lights "means only one thing - IT IS SAFE TO PULL BACK INTO LANE ONE !!
If people try to be all righteous then fine. But as one or two very good postings elsewhere have shown, for an inexperience caravaner the flash of lights is very welcome.
It's like when you take your LGV test you're told only to move over when you can see the other vehicle in your mirrors - well that's fine for the test but in reality you'll leave about 200 yrs before you move over - can you imagine trying to do that on any motorway !!
Monkeys Husband
Take it from me and everyone who works with Trucks a "flash of the lights "means only one thing - IT IS SAFE TO PULL BACK INTO LANE ONE !!
If people try to be all righteous then fine. But as one or two very good postings elsewhere have shown, for an inexperience caravaner the flash of lights is very welcome.
It's like when you take your LGV test you're told only to move over when you can see the other vehicle in your mirrors - well that's fine for the test but in reality you'll leave about 200 yrs before you move over - can you imagine trying to do that on any motorway !!
Monkeys Husband
Damian
Moderator
Monkeys Husband,whilst I understand what you are saying, as far as the comment
Quote:Take it from me and everyone who works with Trucks a "flash of the lights "means only one thing - IT IS SAFE TO PULL BACK INTO LANE ONE !!
I am sorry to say that whilst you interpret the flash as a particular signal,the Highway Code is the authoritative guide, and I am sure that should I , or anyone else be involved in an accident, determined to be caused by an inappropriate action to a light flash, and ended up in court, I dont think saying.."But Monkeys Husband said ........... in the PC forum, will have any sway with the judge at all. However, I am equally certain that he or she may very well point out what the HC says.
Quote:Take it from me and everyone who works with Trucks a "flash of the lights "means only one thing - IT IS SAFE TO PULL BACK INTO LANE ONE !!
I am sorry to say that whilst you interpret the flash as a particular signal,the Highway Code is the authoritative guide, and I am sure that should I , or anyone else be involved in an accident, determined to be caused by an inappropriate action to a light flash, and ended up in court, I dont think saying.."But Monkeys Husband said ........... in the PC forum, will have any sway with the judge at all. However, I am equally certain that he or she may very well point out what the HC says.
Agreed Damiam, I flash caravans and trucks to let them know its ok to pull in and am pleased when im flashed when Im overtaking but God help us when we over take someone who has just passed their test and they flash us to say its NOT safe.Maybe its time to change this rule as everyone seems to do the complete opposite as the norm. Until then don't pull in until you are absolutly sure in your mind that it is safe. Brian (",)
Damian,
I agree with what you are saying but whilst HC is written in such away you have to question how frequently it gets updated. My main point is if I pass you in a truck it won't be for at least another 200 yards that you will appear in my side mirror - possibly more. Now how many other vehicles will have snuck into that safe space? Its at least 5 Car/Caravan combinations ! Literally when push comes to shove ..who comes off worst ?
Taking Brian's point (absolutely Right) but how many of us would want to tow after passing our test ? my guess is not that many. Funny though that I always felt more confident driving my mothers 740 Volvo estate that my own Ford Escort.
Monkeys Husband,
I agree with what you are saying but whilst HC is written in such away you have to question how frequently it gets updated. My main point is if I pass you in a truck it won't be for at least another 200 yards that you will appear in my side mirror - possibly more. Now how many other vehicles will have snuck into that safe space? Its at least 5 Car/Caravan combinations ! Literally when push comes to shove ..who comes off worst ?
Taking Brian's point (absolutely Right) but how many of us would want to tow after passing our test ? my guess is not that many. Funny though that I always felt more confident driving my mothers 740 Volvo estate that my own Ford Escort.
Monkeys Husband,
The point I was trying to make at the start of this thread is not how overtaking vehicles, H.G.V.s, caravans, boys on broomsticks or whatever interpret the flash but how - in the case I mentioned - someone ahead or facing the flashing vehicle interprets it.
There is nowhere in law that states that a flash of the headlights is a legal requirement. The flashing of headlights is just an unwritten law which was initially started by HGV drivers to others to signal them it is safe to pull back in, advise that the police were ahead regarding the updating of drivers log books/tacographs and also at night as a courtious and friendly jesture. Remember the thumbs down jesture given by HGV drivers years ago also to warn about police. PSV drivers also used to flash one and another to warn if an inspector was ahead of them. It has now been adopted by all and sundry and is open to misinterpretation. Whereas it can be helpful in certain instances it can also be misconstrued in others and result in an accident. Care must be taken when flashing other motorists in case the signal might be misinterpreted.
Mike,
I see you point but no one will misinterpret it on a motorway unless they are facing the wrong way to start with!!
I can't remember the last time I overtook someone on a single A road - a tractor once or twice but the speeds and situation are entirely different
Monkey's Husband
I see you point but no one will misinterpret it on a motorway unless they are facing the wrong way to start with!!
I can't remember the last time I overtook someone on a single A road - a tractor once or twice but the speeds and situation are entirely different
Monkey's Husband
Bottom line is this: Professional drivers flash one another in the course of their work, whether to advise of a 'Boys in Blue Revenue Creation Scheme' or that it's safe to pull back in.
If, in the course of their work, the professional driver flashes someone back in and a numpty in a side road thinks it's a flash for them to come out then the law is against them, not to mention the 2 44t artics bearing down on him at 56 mph.
You can spout the Highway Code until you're blue in the face, but 5 minutes sitting beside a roundabout proves that either no-one os taught to drive correctly or they aren't studying the HC in the first place.
If, in the course of their work, the professional driver flashes someone back in and a numpty in a side road thinks it's a flash for them to come out then the law is against them, not to mention the 2 44t artics bearing down on him at 56 mph.
You can spout the Highway Code until you're blue in the face, but 5 minutes sitting beside a roundabout proves that either no-one os taught to drive correctly or they aren't studying the HC in the first place.
As a student Nurse many years ago i met a family who were in a car which was trying to cross the A1. As the driver was waiting to pull out a HGV on the A1 flashed his lights , the driver of the car thought he was being given the go ahead to pull out which he did. Last thing he ever did, rest of family survived with injuries.I know the highway code directive for flashing your lights , I am also thankful to the HGV/caravanners who (illegally) flash me while I am overtaking them.
Who's correct ?? beats me
peter
Who's correct ?? beats me
peter
Which is pretty much the sort of situation I was visualising at the start of this topic - much to the confusion of some who replied.
hi ..
I would just like to give my poInt about flashing head light drivers ,the only people that should flash is the Emergency Vehicles , I'm a HGV driver and NEVER flash my head lights to on coming drivers even to work colleagues or flash any other hgv drivers once passed , i hate being flashed in myself due to not knowing if the flash is for me or just coz the car /hgv has got flashing mad disease ....
PS also drivers that drive with there fogs on just coz it looks good is a 30 quid fine
"THINK OF OTHER ROAD USERS BEFORE FLASHING"
I would just like to give my poInt about flashing head light drivers ,the only people that should flash is the Emergency Vehicles , I'm a HGV driver and NEVER flash my head lights to on coming drivers even to work colleagues or flash any other hgv drivers once passed , i hate being flashed in myself due to not knowing if the flash is for me or just coz the car /hgv has got flashing mad disease ....
PS also drivers that drive with there fogs on just coz it looks good is a 30 quid fine
"THINK OF OTHER ROAD USERS BEFORE FLASHING"
you said ⇨
God help us when we over take someone who has just passed their test and they flash us to say its NOT safe.Maybe its time to change this rule
...YES IT SHOULD BE DONT FLASH AT ALL
God help us when we over take someone who has just passed their test and they flash us to say its NOT safe.Maybe its time to change this rule
...YES IT SHOULD BE DONT FLASH AT ALL
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