Flashed out of a junction on driving test - should you go?

[fouronthefloor]

I witnessed somebody who was waiting to turn right into a side road, through a queue of traffic, was flashed to cross through the gap but didn't think about the motorcyclist who was working their way along the outside of the queue. I've also seen drivers beckoning kids to cross the road without thinking about other vehicles coming the other way.
For this reason I never flash or beckon - just make sure there are gaps so that other drivers can make up their own minds.

[speedking31]

I agree with 4OTF for the situation at junctions. On motorways if a car is indicating from lane 2 to lane 3 then I will give them a flash to let them know they can proceed, even though that is the complete opposite of the Highway Code intent.

[LeoSayer]

I do the same, just slow down and give room to other drivers and pedestrians so they can make up their own mind

[romeogolf]

cornish said:

I have been teaching my partners son to drive afer the past couple of months and he has done really well and has his test next week. He has had a few professional lessons with a local instructor who said he driving is good hence the test.

So we are out yesterday and at a particularly junction where we wanted to go right the car to our left stops and flashes to let us out. I tell him to wait as I was always told back in the 80’s when I learnt to drive that nobody has the authority to let you out other than the police. I was also told that if you do go and have a crash then it is your fault and saying that the other car flashed is no defense.

So we sit there for a while looking at the other car and it became apparent that the elderly gentleman was keen for us to go so eventually we did and he checked it was clear etc.

I asked the instructor and he said that we were right to go but I am not sure this is right. He came home tonight and said that he heard of someone at college who failed recently for going when flashed when they should have given way.

So my question to any driving instructors or anonymous examiners out there is what should you do?

My gut feel is to wait and say to the examiner that it is not your right of way and just wait.

Any advice would be greatly received.

The flashed lights should not be taken as a signal themselves, but if the vehicle flashing the lights has also slowed/stopped, and you can see that it is clear to proceed, then you can do so with caution. You should not proceed without checking, but you should also not ignore the flashed lights if it is clear that there is no other impediment and the other driver has shown they are allowing you to proceed with a change in speed/direction.

[Centurion07]

Pothole said:

In 35+ years of driving I've not yet needed to rely on anyone's kindness to execute a simple manoeuvre like pulling out of a junction.

Either you do 8 miles per annum or you have in fact, at some point in those 35 years, pulled out of a junction having been signalled by another driver to do so.

But yes, it boils my piss when idiots do it at completely the wrong moment.

[Pica-Pica]

fouronthefloor said:

...For this reason I never flash or beckon - just make sure there are gaps so that other drivers can make up their own minds.

The same for me.

With regards to OP’s situation, this may be where a commentary of the situation may be helpful. “I can see he has flashed me, but ignoring that flash, I can see he has stopped, there is no danger with other traffic, so I am pulling out.”

[nonsequitur]

REALIST123 said:

RogerDodger said:

Pothole said:

I won't pull out for these idiots. Most often they have stopped in the carriageway with nothing behind them for miles at a junction with really good sight lines for no other reason than their own stupid idea that they're being kind/helpful. In 35+ years of driving I've not yet needed to rely on anyone's kindness to execute a simple manoeuvre like pulling out of a junction. These fools fail to appreciate that continuing past me would enable me to see clearly farther up the road and pull out perfectly safely all on my own. I delight in the confused and/or angry looks on their faces when I wave them on.

Wow. Nice outlook.

I wouldn’t worry about it. Just imagine what all those people think of pothole. Much the same as we think, in all probability.

I don't think for a moment that potto cares what they think. But I'm with him in most cases of 'flashing out', most are uneccesary, especially if the flasher blocks vision.

Edited by nonsequitur on Saturday 16th November 18:23

[Riley Blue]

They flash him out and he waves them on. The irony is strong.

[Orillion]

citizensm1th said:

...and i think if you were failed by a examiner for not pulling out when flashed by another motorist i think you would have a very strong case to appeal any test failure.

It is only possible to appeal on the basis that the test has not been conducted in accordance with the legal requirements.

If such a finding is made, the candidate can be offered a free retest. The result of the original test cannot be changed.

[killerferret666]

Didnt realise we have so many driving instructors / examiners on here

[KERRM]

My sister failed her test because of a similar situation. Driver flashed to let her go, so she did. The examiner then put on the breaks and told her to wait. When she told him the driver had flashed he replied he hadnt seen it but nonetheless she should wait....

[Andeh1]

RogerDodger said:

Pothole said:

I won't pull out for these idiots. Most often they have stopped in the carriageway with nothing behind them for miles at a junction with really good sight lines for no other reason than their own stupid idea that they're being kind/helpful. In 35+ years of driving I've not yet needed to rely on anyone's kindness to execute a simple manoeuvre like pulling out of a junction. These fools fail to appreciate that continuing past me would enable me to see clearly farther up the road and pull out perfectly safely all on my own. I delight in the confused and/or angry looks on their faces when I wave them on.

Wow. Nice outlook.

Kinda feel sorry for him, someone with that sort of stty attitude & outlook in life needs pitty.

[nonsequitur]

Riley Blue said:

They flash him out and he waves them on. The irony is strong.

No irony there.
There is a junction in my NOTW in which any flasher obscures other oncoming traffic. (You have to be there).

[nonsequitur]

LeoSayer said:

I do the same, just slow down and give room to other drivers and pedestrians so they can make up their own mind

How to confuse everybody in one move.

(Let the show go on, Leo).

[Pica-Pica]

nonsequitur said:

LeoSayer said:

I do the same, just slow down and give room to other drivers and pedestrians so they can make up their own mind

How to confuse everybody in one move.

(Let the show go on, Leo).

That is not confusing at all! Why do you think that? If someone is turning in front of you, or wanting to pull out - just leave a car’s length before the point of crossing, and they see that you are waiting. In that way, you are not flashing, you are not responsible if a motor/cyclist overtakes (although I stay aware to any are approaching and would definitely NOT leave the invitation if I thought another road user would become vulnerable).

[nonsequitur]

Pica-Pica said:

That is not confusing at all! Why do you think that? If someone is turning in front of you, or wanting to pull out - just leave a car’s length before the point of crossing, and they see that you are waiting. In that way, you are not flashing, you are not responsible if a motor/cyclist overtakes (although I stay aware to any are approaching and would definitely NOT leave the invitation if I thought another road user would become vulnerable).

Further confusion, I feel. Pedestians, Cyclists? See a car slowing and possibly stopping and see it as an opportuity. Bang! That is one hazard strewn manouvre.

Edited by nonsequitur on Saturday 16th November 11:25

[anonymous-user]

It's a bit like the scenario if you stop at a red light, when do you decide to go if you believe the light is stuck on red? You have to make a reasonable decision depending on the circumstances and proceed with extreme caution. You wont be failed for it.

[bartelbe]

I know people are trying to polite but sometimes stopping to let someone out is simply annoying. More than once I have had a car do this when there is nothing behind them for miles and it would be better if they just proceeded. All they are doing is blocking my sight-lines. In some cases they have missed cyclists or some other hazard I can see.

Combine that with the number of crash for cash scam in my part of the world, I often won't pull out. It is amazing how angry some drivers get when I simply wave them on.

[Steviesam]

I passed my HGV test yesterday, and was flashed out of a junction by a car.

I told the examiner the car had flashed me, and made an extra obvious effort to the examiner that I was checking twice as much as usual when pulling out.

[Pica-Pica]

bartelbe said:

I know people are trying to polite but sometimes stopping to let someone out is simply annoying. More than once I have had a car do this when there is nothing behind them for miles and it would be better if they just proceeded. All they are doing is blocking my sight-lines. In some cases they have missed cyclists or some other hazard I can see.

Combine that with the number of crash for cash scam in my part of the world, I often won't pull out. It is amazing how angry some drivers get when I simply wave them on.

I like to always know what is behind, if there is no one, then I do not leave a gap. Around here politeness is very much the case, except in the tourist season, then the horns and gesticulations start.