RE: Oi Flasher!
Thursday 8th July 2004
Oi Flasher!
Is that blast of full beam useful or will it just confuse the numpties?
Most motorists who flash their headlights don’t appreciate the confusion it can cause, according to breakdown service Autonational Rescue.
Autonational Rescue have conducted yet another survey and this one shows that motorists very often send out all the wrong signals when flashing their lights.
Drivers were asked: “What is the sole purpose of flashing your headlights?”
Just over forty per cent correctly said it is to “indicate their presence” to another road user but the majority were a bit confused.
More than 20% say it is to remind drivers of oncoming vehicles to dip their headlights. And a further 21% say main beam flashing is just to indicate to other drivers that they have the right of way.
Eleven per cent say they thought it was to “remind other drivers to switch on their headlights” in the dark, fog or rain. While two per cent say it is to “indicate their annoyance” with another road user and five per cent just didn’t know!
Autonational Rescue’s marketing manager Ronan Hart said: “I bet every single motorist reading this article now has used his or her headlights in one, most or all of these ways. But you can’t expect other road users to understand headlight flashing signals when they mean so many different things in different situations."
Discussion
Of course things vary in different circumstances, that's what being human is all about, I use all of the methods in different situations (except for the to indicate their annoyance bit), and nearly always, people understand what is meant cos 99% of people are aware of their environment to a greater or lesser degree...
... damn, sometimes, people oversimplifying things really annoys me! Rant Off
CH
Most people who wave their arms don’t appreciate the confusion it can cause, according to Pointless Statistics International.
PSI have conducted yet another survey and this one shows that people very often send out all the wrong signals when waving their arms.
People were asked: “What is the sole purpose of waving your arms?”
Just over forty per cent correctly said it is to “attract the attention” of another person but the majority were a bit confused.
More than 20% say it is a way of saying goodbye to friends and family. And a further 21% say waving is to indicate that they are happy to meet another person.
Eleven per cent say they thought it was to “dance to cheesy music” in the dark. While two per cent say it is to “indicate they're drowning” when in deep water and five per cent just didn’t know!
Pointless Statistics International's marketing manager Ivor Clipboard said: “I bet every person reading this article now has waved his or her arms in one, most or all of these ways. But you can’t expect other people understand arm waving signals when they mean so many different things in different situations."
PSI have conducted yet another survey and this one shows that people very often send out all the wrong signals when waving their arms.
People were asked: “What is the sole purpose of waving your arms?”
Just over forty per cent correctly said it is to “attract the attention” of another person but the majority were a bit confused.
More than 20% say it is a way of saying goodbye to friends and family. And a further 21% say waving is to indicate that they are happy to meet another person.
Eleven per cent say they thought it was to “dance to cheesy music” in the dark. While two per cent say it is to “indicate they're drowning” when in deep water and five per cent just didn’t know!
Pointless Statistics International's marketing manager Ivor Clipboard said: “I bet every person reading this article now has waved his or her arms in one, most or all of these ways. But you can’t expect other people understand arm waving signals when they mean so many different things in different situations."
These days i see a lot of light flashing to warn oncoming traffic of a hidden talivan.
When i see people on the opposite side flashing lights coming towards me i always slow to the limit as 90% of the time theres a talivan hidden behind a tree.
Its probably saved me countless points and of course if i see one i return the favour.
When i see people on the opposite side flashing lights coming towards me i always slow to the limit as 90% of the time theres a talivan hidden behind a tree.
Its probably saved me countless points and of course if i see one i return the favour.
Most road users know the difference surely...or maybe I've spent the last seven years really pi
ng people off!
Several quick flashes (ooh-er) is a 'I'm letting you out of a side turning/drive etc'
A longish flash (1-2 secs) at night is sufficient to tell people that they're blinding you
Several long flashes (usually accompanied by a blast of the horn and some gesticulation) is a 'Well done numpty, thanks for making my blood pressure that little bit higher'
I think rather than producing nonsense like this, International Rescue (or whatever their name is) should be trying to educate people on the use of the headlamp beam adjustment - how many times have you been blinded by some coffin dodger with their headlights adjusted up in the air?! Someone should tell them that they're for adjusting the beams back down if they've a heavy weight in the back. Not rocket
science, surely
Rant over....
ng people off! Several quick flashes (ooh-er) is a 'I'm letting you out of a side turning/drive etc'
A longish flash (1-2 secs) at night is sufficient to tell people that they're blinding you
Several long flashes (usually accompanied by a blast of the horn and some gesticulation) is a 'Well done numpty, thanks for making my blood pressure that little bit higher'
I think rather than producing nonsense like this, International Rescue (or whatever their name is) should be trying to educate people on the use of the headlamp beam adjustment - how many times have you been blinded by some coffin dodger with their headlights adjusted up in the air?! Someone should tell them that they're for adjusting the beams back down if they've a heavy weight in the back. Not rocket
science, surely
Rant over....
I think you've all covered it really - Whilst the highway code may state it's to warn other road users of your presence, modern times and common sence mean that flashing your lights means different things in different circumstances.
I'd also argue that there is no confusion as you'll flash (oh err) a different length or quantity of flashes for different things.
Examples:
Slow traffic, juntion on your left, car in opposite direction turning right - Flash (short) Flash (short) - come on I'm letting you go, I know it's a shock as I'm in a BMW but hey we're not all bad.
I'm going fast in the outside lane of a Dual carrageway you're in a big artic and your close to the white line and perhaps drifting slightly (towards the line not sideways) - One long flash, until I see the whites of your eyes!!!! - that's a 10-4 good buddy I'm coming passed and I'm coming fast (I've heard there a tablets).
Anyway I'm sure you all know!
I'd also argue that there is no confusion as you'll flash (oh err) a different length or quantity of flashes for different things.
Examples:
Slow traffic, juntion on your left, car in opposite direction turning right - Flash (short) Flash (short) - come on I'm letting you go, I know it's a shock as I'm in a BMW but hey we're not all bad.
I'm going fast in the outside lane of a Dual carrageway you're in a big artic and your close to the white line and perhaps drifting slightly (towards the line not sideways) - One long flash, until I see the whites of your eyes!!!! - that's a 10-4 good buddy I'm coming passed and I'm coming fast (I've heard there a tablets).
Anyway I'm sure you all know!
nickbee said:
Most people who wave their arms don’t appreciate the confusion it can cause, according to Pointless Statistics International.
PSI have conducted yet another survey and this one shows that people very often send out all the wrong signals when waving their arms.
People were asked: “What is the sole purpose of waving your arms?”
Just over forty per cent correctly said it is to “attract the attention” of another person but the majority were a bit confused.
More than 20% say it is a way of saying goodbye to friends and family. And a further 21% say waving is to indicate that they are happy to meet another person.
Eleven per cent say they thought it was to “dance to cheesy music” in the dark. While two per cent say it is to “indicate they're drowning” when in deep water and five per cent just didn’t know!
Pointless Statistics International's marketing manager Ivor Clipboard said: “I bet every person reading this article now has waved his or her arms in one, most or all of these ways. But you can’t expect other people understand arm waving signals when they mean so many different things in different situations."
Very funny!
nickbee said:Doesn't confuse me, most people I see waving their arms are either politicians, news reporters or weather girls. In every case waving of the arm is accompanied by some drivel that is nearly always wrong and often a lie. Waving of the arms therefore indictates to me that the person doing the waving should generally be ignored! Rich...
Most people who wave their arms don’t appreciate the confusion it can cause, according to Pointless Statistics International.
mondieu said:
I was always taught that if someone flashes to let you out, you are responsible for checking that the road is clear.
Is that not the case?
Oh, and what a stupid survey
You are always responsible for your actions
Lesson 1)How things go wrong...How things go wrong *Monty Python mode*
I saw this happen on my road. Car in slow traffic flashed an indicating car from the opposite direction to turn into a side road. Person in the side road thought it was for them to turn right.
Hilarious consequences for the innocent passer by.
It's only bent metal (no nice cars were hurt in the making of this anecdote)
If you people are travelling down country roads,
Us people who live down them flash our lights at motorists to warn of an approaching hazard in the road, like a fallen tree, crash or tractor.
If you are on a country road, and someone flashes their lights at you coming the other way, you might want to slow down.
It's usually not because we begrudge you driving too fast..
Us people who live down them flash our lights at motorists to warn of an approaching hazard in the road, like a fallen tree, crash or tractor.
If you are on a country road, and someone flashes their lights at you coming the other way, you might want to slow down.
It's usually not because we begrudge you driving too fast..
lbir2 said:
These days i see a lot of light flashing to warn oncoming traffic of a hidden talivan.
When i see people on the opposite side flashing lights coming towards me i always slow to the limit as 90% of the time theres a talivan hidden behind a tree.
Its probably saved me countless points and of course if i see one i return the favour.
A motorist recently recieved £60 fine for obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duties recently in Lincolnshire. His offence was to flash his lights repeatedly at a dark blue Volvo that was travelling towards a Scamera Partnerships Van. The only unfortunate thing was the Volvo was an unmarked police vehicle, containing the Road Policing Group's Sergeant.
There is some warming news though...the motorist who'd done the flashing was also wanted on warrant for failing to stop at the scene of an accident some 3 months earlier..
Street
>> Edited by Streetcop on Saturday 10th July 09:09
Actually one aspect of this flashing lights yanks my chain.
You've positioned your car to leave access to a side road / entrance on the left clear as you've nowhere to go being pegged by queuing traffic ahead.
So you then get a thank you from the right turning motorist that totally stuffs your night vision. Deal with that by looking at the kerb plus closing one eye.
Seem to remember someone once proposed that we all should communicate by morse cose headlight flashes....
ah here it is for a laugh www.bobz.net/carmorse.htm
You've positioned your car to leave access to a side road / entrance on the left clear as you've nowhere to go being pegged by queuing traffic ahead.
So you then get a thank you from the right turning motorist that totally stuffs your night vision. Deal with that by looking at the kerb plus closing one eye.
Seem to remember someone once proposed that we all should communicate by morse cose headlight flashes....
ah here it is for a laugh www.bobz.net/carmorse.htm
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