Flashing Your Headlights
 

History - http://www.decisiondrivinguk.com/flashingheadlights.htm


It seems flashing your headlights have different meanings in different countries.

Any stories?

The article doesn't seem to cover the truckers' signals such as 'you are clear to pull in having overtaken' and 'you may pull out to overtake ahead of me' (both signals addressed to a vehicle ahead travelling in the same direction and 'read' in the mirrors of the receiving driver).

I agree with G-CPTN

I know it doesn't but so far can't find anything from the UK that covers it.

I was using those signals in the 1960s (and I didn't invent them . . . ;-)
I've searched t'internet but can't find them documented. Maybe they're secret???

Perhaps someone could fill this gap in our cyberspace library.

As a youngster a friend of my Dad explained as follows:- Faster truck (a) catches up slower one (b) and Flashes, when road is clear B flashes lights, A pulls out and turns OFF Headlights (So not to dazzle B) passes B. B then Flashes A back in, A flicks tail light (only one) off (Thank you) He added that most Lorries only had an off side mirror. Sounds feasible to me!

Ian

Gosh! That was a long time ago . . .

I recently had to drive in the dark over here. You would be amazed at the amount of drivers here with NO lights at all. Many with NO tail lights. Now Driving with out of focus lights blinding you prevents you from seeing the guy ahead with no tail lights.
I don't do night driving here unless I have to. Crazy guys out here.

Their favorite trick is shunting trailers from the banana plantation to the docks with no pipes connected and no indicators or rear lights on the trailer.

Tyres only get changed when flat or EXPLODED (scares the heck out of me when that happens) Looked at an international tractor unit the other day and noticed the tyres were down to the last layer of canvas! ... Crazy guys or what!

[QUOTE=billyboy]You would be amazed at the amount of drivers here with NO lights at all.QUOTE]

Scary stuff so safe to assume they don't follow any headlight flashing code then.

the flashing of headlights here seems to mean either "get out of my way I am comming through" (bus drivers all untrained) or " hey look, my lights work" from the guy with a recent motor.
No HGV test here, if you have the money you have the licence. NOBODY here is trained how to drive or taught roadcraft. Dangerous homicidal maniacs the lot of them.

This is from an official Philippine source -

Drivers routinely ignore stoplights, lane markers and other traffic control devices and traffic rules are rarely enforced. As in most places where traffic is highly congested and under-regulated, driving in the Philippines requires maximum attention and patience to avoid accidents.

ha ha ha...I like that Western SMT.
I have the experience where I have been in a line of slow moving traffic, no chance to overtake anything due to oncoming traffic. look in the mirror to see a bus with headlights on going like a bat out of hell towards the oncoming traffic. at the last moment he puts his indicator on and MOVES IN. had to anchor up a time or two here to avoid being side swiped off the highway. they really are quite terrible. they dont give a toss about their passengers being killed or the vehicles they force off the road.
Yes driving here can be fun...LOL

Taken from USA/Canada -

The flashing of headlights is open to interpretation but usually has the same meanings as it has in the UK and Europe, depending on the situation:

At night, for no apparent reason: - Turn on your lights!

At night, by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction: - Dip your lights!

From behind on the open road: - Speed up or get out of my way!

By a vehicle coming in the opposite direction, for no apparent reason: There's a police car, a speed check, or some danger or obstruction up ahead - slow down!

At a four way stop, from a vehicle which draws up to the intersection at the same time as you: - After you!

As in Europe, many US and Canadian drivers, when overtaken on a high speed road by a large tractor-trailer truck, will flash their headlights to indicate to the truck driver that he's far enough ahead to merge in front of them. This is because it's often difficult for truck drivers to judge the length of their long vehicles, and because drivers sharing the road with trucks don't wish to be hit by trucks whose drivers have pulled into their lane in front of them too soon. Most truck drivers appreciate headlight flashes and will flash their "marker" lights (those on the corners of their vehicle) as a way of saying "thank you."

Headlight Flashing
 

What an interesting thread subject.

Ah, headlight flash... could mean so much. Some drivers use it to say hello when they meet another driver from the same company. But they're told not not.
I once met a guy that flashed the headlight. "Hello" I thought and saluted him with the left indicator. After passing him I saw a car standing across my lane...
That was what he meant with flashing the headlight... to warn me about the car...

Often, flashing the headlights means "You m*ron" or something like that. But it can also mean "Hey, I've stopped here, so you can pass the doubleparked car"

By the way, in Sweden you must have lights on even in daylight.
I often drive in the dark. Nice to drive on a dark road, in rain and meet another bus in a 90 degree turn :)

Western SMT post about canada can apply to Sweden, except the "after you"

Western SMT post about Canada can apply to Sweden, except the "after you"

It seems the British habit of flashing your lights to let people go first 'after you' is a bad idea - in much of mainland europe, flashing your lights like that means "watch out, here I come" in other words, exactly the opposite of what you have grown to expect at home.

In Australia, flashing lights has three different meanings and I will elaborate on the main ones:

1. It means that someone is approaching a vehicle with their high beam lights on - not only is it dangerous, but, in the Australian road rules, highly illegal and can attract a substantial monetary fine.

2. It also means a heavy goods vehicle or other vehicle is preparing to overtake a slower moving vehicle, and

3. That a HGV or other heavy vehicle has gotten past the vehicle it is overtaking and the driver of the vehicle has signalled that the HGV driver is clear to return to the lane of traffic - a lot of people don't do it but it is common courtesy to let the HGV driver know that he or she is clear of your car, ute, etc. and can re-enter your lane. Usually met with a thank-you flash of right-left-right-left.

Hope this helps on the Australian way of light flashing

Joe

I remember seeing the night trunkers flick their tail lights off and on twice to warn drivers behind they were stopping as there was no such thing as brake lights in those days - pre 1950s and very early 60s.
Drivers don't seem to flash each other in nowadays,it was an unwritten law when I was on the road.:)

I still get acknowledgement (double actuation of tail lamps or hazard flashers) from HGV drivers that I flash after they have overtaken me (mainly non-UK trucks - ie Irish - and PSVs).

Nice to know the tradition isn't quite dead then!:D

Chris

I mention the 'non-UK' facet as most UK trucks are governed to 56mph - those overtaking me would be over 60mph . . .

It happens to me most of the time, either I flash to let them know they're clear to pull in, (something my Uncle taught me) or I put on the indicators for either side if a wagon has flashed to let me know that I am clear to pull in.

Not quite dead but, I would say dying. From Leicester (J22) up the M1 to Barnsley/Wakefield (J38) I think only about 50% of the vehicles I overtook, flashed me back in.
I did wonder if some of the ones that don't flash, are immigrants from Eastern Europe and that maybe, they didn't do it at home.

Or maybe the instructors are advising against such behaviour?

When I drove in the US of A it was the done thing to flash other truckers. If you did'nt you would hear all about it on the CB. Some states more than others. It certainly was very helpful when driving in very bad weather and traffic was heavy.
Pat.

___________________
Former T Cab Driver:D

I'm now learning for my theory test and I found this about flashing your headlights (information is from "The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers and The Official Highway Code" PC/CD)

Quote:
I'm never too sure when I should flash my headlights.

Only flash your headlights to show other road users you're there. It's not a signal to show priority or impatience, nor to greet others.

Exactly. I am here and you are there. Therefore, it is safe for you to return to the nearside lane. It's almost as if it is saying you should flash your headlights when you have been overtaken.:D:rolleyes:

On the other hand, what signal(s) would you use to indicate that the overtaking vehicle had 'cut you up'?

Hand signals!!

A headlight flash from an oncoming vehicle with the driver holding a log sheet/book in the windscreen was a signal for you to pull in and update or make out a log sheet or make an entry in your log book.
Got me out of the s*** many a time.Sometimes I never made a entry in my log book until halfway through my shift.Log sheets were the best idea,not numbered so you could tear one up and make out another so you could get home or to some favourite digs.
Great days.

Chris.

Four truckers arrived at a crossroads together; one flashed; they all went and collided in the middle. Turned out the guy who flashed was simply attracting the attention of his pal who was walking along the pavement. (Based on a true story)