people no longer flash when letting you out?

[rich85uk]

has anybody else noticed this? near where i work is a junction where i turn right and alot of people coming from my left are also going to turn to their right onto the road im on. now most people dont let me out(probably because i drive a bmw) but if somebody is going to let me out 95% of the time they dont let me know they are doing so they just simply stop and stare at me, if im lucky i might catch the odd hand jesture to indicate that they are letting me out but most just stop and stare

i always thank them out of politeness but it baffles me why people dont flash their lights anymore, i always flash and people generally people react instantly so i barely have to slow down anymore than if i had not let them out.

this isnt just when im in the car, when walking to my gym i have to cross a busy road but there are islands in the middle. generally i wait there until there is a gap for me to cross but recently people have been stopping where im waiting and just staring at me. no flash or hand gesture nothing, sometimes it doesnt matter if im not even looking in their direction!

has anybody else noticed this? or have i turned into some form of freak where people just stare at me

[Fleckers]

yep, you can sometime s see a finger wag or nothing at all, I think its down to the if they change their monds and crash you are to blame.

I now make it a point that if someone drifts to a halt or stops and finger wags me out not to thank them, if they can be bothered to give the lights a flash then I cant be bothered to say thanks

simple

[FreeLitres]

If you flash and they pull out into the path of a 3rd unseen motorist, is the "flasher" somehow responsible?

Where there’s a blame, there’s a claim!

[Spitfire2]

rich85uk said:

i always flash and people generally people react instantly so i barely have to slow down anymore than if i had not let them out.

That is a good summary of why it might be better not to flash. Better to work out its safe to go rather than react instantly to a flash which might have a different meaning altogether.

[sebhaque]

FreeLitres said:

If you flash and they pull out into the path of a 3rd unseen motorist, is the "flasher" somehow responsible?

Where there’s a blame, there’s a claim!

No, it's the responsibility of the person pulling out to ensure their path is clear. Saw this happen to someone who got flashed out and drove straight into the path of a motorcycle.

Something I've noticed around Bristol is a lack of people indicating right at roundabouts now. Quite frustrating as at my local roundabouts, everybody tends to head straight over, and there's always one idiot who doesn't indicate right and causes the flow of traffic in one direction to start bumping to a stop as the lead car panics and slams on the brakes.

[Blakewater]

When I was learning to drive I was told to make eye contact with people at junctions such as crossroads where there is no clear right of way between sideroads to look for a reaction. Not flash or wave or anything. Presumably we're meant to communicate by telepathy to decide who should go first. Flashing of headlights is supposed to just be a warning and sometimes people do it aggressively so people might avoid doing it in case it's misunderstood.
My uncle is an advanced driving instructor and he showed me a Roadcraft video where a police driver was overtaking someone who was close up behind an HGV looking to pull out round it. He flashed his headlights to warn him he was approaching but the other driver could have so easily interpreted it as giving way and pulled out anyway.

[PurpleMoonlight]

From Highway Code

110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

111
Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.

[Jakg]

Blakewater said:

My uncle is an advanced driving instructor and he showed me a Roadcraft video where a police driver was overtaking someone who was close up behind an HGV looking to pull out round it. He flashed his headlights to warn him he was approaching but the other driver could have so easily interpreted it as giving way and pulled out anyway.

I was watching Road Wars and one of the (marked) cars got a call and they turned the lights on... as it was in the day the wig-wags came on automatically, and they were just going past a junction with a car on the other side of the road waiting to turn across their path.

They saw the flash of lights, and assumed that the car was letting them out and just went for it... whereas in reality it had just lit up like a Christmas tree and the driver put his foot down!

[Lanby]

[url=url]Highway code says[/www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070289]

110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.
111
Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.

How the hell are you supposed to make words link to a URL?

Edited by Lanby on Sunday 5th June 19:14

[james_gt3rs]

PurpleMoonlight said:

From Highway Code

110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

111
Never assume that flashing headlights is a signal inviting you to proceed. Use your own judgement and proceed carefully.

Very true. But in the real world it's useful to have some kind of sign to show that they are letting you out. Obviously it's 100% your responsibility to check it's safe.

[Lanby]

I agree but as someone said, where there's a blame... so if you don't do anything you can't be to blame can you?

[PurpleMoonlight]

james_gt3rs said:

Very true. But in the real world it's useful to have some kind of sign to show that they are letting you out. Obviously it's 100% your responsibility to check it's safe.

Sadly in todays real world the person flashing you to cross their path is just as likely to be intentent on hitting the side or rear of you in an insurance scam as being a good samaritan.

[DamienB]

1. Headlight bulbs cost money
2. If there's a speed trap within 10 miles and you flash you end up nicked for obstructing justice

[CharlesdeGaulle]

DamienB said:

1. Headlight bulbs cost money
2. If there's a speed trap within 10 miles and you flash you end up nicked for obstructing justice

Oh, FFS. Really...

[nouze]

DamienB said:

1. Headlight bulbs cost money

This, although the issue is not the cost but the pain of having the bulb changed

[catman]

I never have indicated to anybody that it's safe to go, in any circumstances.

I've mentioned before the case of a bus driver flashing his lights at a junction and three different drivers took it to mean it was okay for them to go.

The bus driver was held partially liable for the accident.

If you can't be bothered to say thanks to someone who has gone out of thier way to stop for you, that says more about you than them.

Tim

[adycav]

Having owned BMWs, a Merc and a 911 for the last few years I have no concept of this 'letting you out' business.

[Prof Prolapse]

Hand signal during daylight hours here.

Seems to confuse drivers less.

[Six Fiend]

If I slow down demonstrably and leave a gap for you to make your move then it's up to you to be a grown up and make the decision. I will not flash my lights.

Most people I encounter can deal with this quite happily and thank me as normal. Those who sit and stare at me unable to compute what is happening in spite of clear eye contact really need to get a grip of what is going on around them.

[jsg612]

I used to flash until realising an accident could be caused because of my judgement of a scenario. I now slow down if I intend on letting someone out, but never flash them out, leaving the decision with them if they are to proceed or not.