Flashed out of a junction on driving test - should you go?
Discussion
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.
In a nutshell. Is this the end of flashing (your lights)?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.
Riley Blue said:
They flash him out and he waves them on. The irony is strong.
Not really. There are lines on the road telling us what we should be doing. Just sticking to the generally widely accepted rules of the road would work fine. I really, really don't need someone "saving me" a few seconds by stopping on the main road to let me out of a turning when they could just drive on and I'd pull out perfectly well behind them. I don't really understand why they would make the offer in the first place, let alone why they get so bloody angry when I decline. Are they like that when a visitor says they wouldn't like a cup of tea at their house? I don't understand why I'm in the wrong for just wanting to follow the rules. Perhaps someone could enlighten me.
I've always maintained that a flashing light only confirms one thing, the bulb is working.
Even now after decades of driving i've pissed off countless helpful drivers by waiting until they are 100% commited to whatever they have said they will do. For the very few times that they have indicated by mistake or changed mind last minute it's worth it.
Even now after decades of driving i've pissed off countless helpful drivers by waiting until they are 100% commited to whatever they have said they will do. For the very few times that they have indicated by mistake or changed mind last minute it's worth it.
Hmm I failed my first driving test (passed second time) in 1993 for exactly this: was waiting at a busy junction where you simply won’t get out at the time my test was unless some actually stops and someone slowed and flashed lights to let me out. I waited for them to stop, proceeded and the examiner terminated the test as I “should have waited for a gap”. I’m kinda annoyed now.
foreright said:
Hmm I failed my first driving test (passed second time) in 1993 for exactly this: was waiting at a busy junction where you simply won’t get out at the time my test was unless some actually stops and someone slowed and flashed lights to let me out. I waited for them to stop, proceeded and the examiner terminated the test as I “should have waited for a gap”. I’m kinda annoyed now.
I wouldn't worry, the criteria changes quite frequently for driving tests. The chief driving examiner seems to like to change it whether pluto is in conjunction with Saturn or if the lottery numers have a number 8 in it this week. The usual get out clause, if an examiner asks for clairty, is x is x and y is y, In other words, don't you dare question any policies.Right turn across two lanes of opposing traffic, they're just before a set of traffic lights.
The number of numpties in lane 2 who stop and flash me across is high, although they are so hellbent on being courteous, rather than using their observation skills, they don't twig there's usually something piling down lane 1 as there's room for those guys to slot in after the turn and before the lights. I wave the flasher on and they go snooker loopy at me.
Good job one of us is alert, eh mate ?
The number of numpties in lane 2 who stop and flash me across is high, although they are so hellbent on being courteous, rather than using their observation skills, they don't twig there's usually something piling down lane 1 as there's room for those guys to slot in after the turn and before the lights. I wave the flasher on and they go snooker loopy at me.
Good job one of us is alert, eh mate ?
Edited by clayts450 on Sunday 17th November 00:21
I would say that the examiner wants to see that flashed or not, you made the necessary checks before pulling out, rather than trusting the other driver to make those checks for you. This seems like a reasonable way to approach it if you ask me.
Good tip by someone above to make it clear to the examiner you were indeed flashed out (they might not see it). Make some obvious head movement based checks all around before pulling out with caution and I imagine 9/10 times you’ll be golden.
If there is a second lane of traffic which is obscured from view by your flasher, then I would probably not pull out and just wait for the flasher to pass.
There are definitely places where as said, if you’re not let out you could be sat there all day, or for your whole test! One hopes the examiner actually takes that into account. In day to day driving it can be a godsend when offered in the right situation but it can be frustrating when done incorrectly or unnecessarily.
Good tip by someone above to make it clear to the examiner you were indeed flashed out (they might not see it). Make some obvious head movement based checks all around before pulling out with caution and I imagine 9/10 times you’ll be golden.
If there is a second lane of traffic which is obscured from view by your flasher, then I would probably not pull out and just wait for the flasher to pass.
There are definitely places where as said, if you’re not let out you could be sat there all day, or for your whole test! One hopes the examiner actually takes that into account. In day to day driving it can be a godsend when offered in the right situation but it can be frustrating when done incorrectly or unnecessarily.
cornish said:
Thanks for the replies everyone.
He passed today and luckily he was not in a situation where he was flashed out.
I can now hang up my driving instructor gloves as I am not going though all that again - I was more nervous than him.
Cheers
Good. Now the learning starts! Does he plan any motorway driving training/experience, or anything further?He passed today and luckily he was not in a situation where he was flashed out.
I can now hang up my driving instructor gloves as I am not going though all that again - I was more nervous than him.
Cheers
Pothole said:
Most often they have stopped in the carriageway with nothing behind them for miles
Always seems to be this - a line of 20 cars and the last one with nothing in sight behind it stops to flash someone out - shockingly bad overall awareness . A lot of it stems from driving too close in the first place , just dropping back from the car in front gives more opportunity for others to enter the road without all this dodgy messing around .
I go on the side of caution ...
Flashing is for one thing only, to warn someone of your presence - yes, I know everyone uses it to let people out/ say thank you but that doesn’t provide any defence if you hit them. I’m not saying I never go if flashed, but 95% of the time I’ll only go, if I could have cleared them if they haven’t flashed - which often means they flash after I have ‘gone’.
Same with indicators, I don’t go until they are very obviously braking and I can get out of the way if they don’t turn, or more usually I’ll wait until they have started to turn. I’ll have to admit that upsets the odd driver behind, but it’s me not them held accountable if I get hit - so I do it my way.
I generally don’t flash to let people out, just slow to allow them to make their own mind up - occasionally I will, but only if there is no way it can be mis-understood by anyone. I’ll use them to say thank you at night when you can’t be seen, but again, only if there is no way it can be mis-understood.
I have to admit I’m amazed it’s allowed on a driving test due the possibility of being flashed out only for the person to accelerate into ‘you’. - crash-for-cash style.
Flashing is for one thing only, to warn someone of your presence - yes, I know everyone uses it to let people out/ say thank you but that doesn’t provide any defence if you hit them. I’m not saying I never go if flashed, but 95% of the time I’ll only go, if I could have cleared them if they haven’t flashed - which often means they flash after I have ‘gone’.
Same with indicators, I don’t go until they are very obviously braking and I can get out of the way if they don’t turn, or more usually I’ll wait until they have started to turn. I’ll have to admit that upsets the odd driver behind, but it’s me not them held accountable if I get hit - so I do it my way.
I generally don’t flash to let people out, just slow to allow them to make their own mind up - occasionally I will, but only if there is no way it can be mis-understood by anyone. I’ll use them to say thank you at night when you can’t be seen, but again, only if there is no way it can be mis-understood.
I have to admit I’m amazed it’s allowed on a driving test due the possibility of being flashed out only for the person to accelerate into ‘you’. - crash-for-cash style.
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