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Flash and toot

Are you now a part of dumbdown.gov.uk? Flashed headlights CONFIRM what the behaviour of your vehicle indicates. In other words when you have slowed down and are leaving an obvious gap for a vehicle to pass through or enter. Even at motorway speeds it is obvious to any but a ninny that a car on the M road is leaving a gap that can be safely entered by a car coming off the sliproad. Flashes CONFIRM this. It's common sense and called indicating that I am giving way - 2 or 3 quick flashes does the trick every time. As windscreens are difficult to see through there is no other way - flashing hazards briefly can be confusing. LEAVING HEADLIGHTS ON so that you can see and be seen is, obviously, not giving way. You've guessed it. I'm one of your 'Some stupid UK drivers' (for that read the majority) who regard give way flashing as more than necessary but sensible. It also encourages calmness and courtesy.

Asked on 15 May 2010 by G.H., via e-mail

Answered by Honest John
Flashed headlights, like car horns, should only ever be used as a warning. Of course if someone flashes you and you can see from the behaviour of their car they are 'flashing you out' you might take a chance and proceed. But, as you say, you cannot take a headlight flash alone as meaning that. Unfortunately dysfunctional habits like flashing people out and using the horn as a rebuke rather than a warning (so the driver being warned takes offence rather than feels grateful for being warned) are confusing road manners that seem to be the preserve of the British. In sensible countries, flashed headlights and horns are warnings and warnings alone.
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