Do you flash your light to warn drivers

Have you ever been driving down the highway and see an oncoming car flashing their brights while driving down the highway then come to find a popo sitting on the side of the road? Are you one to flash your lights to warn other drivers of waiting speed trap. Where I work the are always cops waiting to catch some speeders. I have always wondered if it a common courtesy to do so or don't flash and let them find out for them selves

 

I've done that in the past. Recently I was on the receiving end of a flash, which sure enough turned out there was a cop just around the corner. He ended up pulling over the vehicle that was behind me, haha.

 

Nope-It's simple to avoid speed traps: Don't speed. No need for warnings or flashes or detectors.

 

I do it out of courtesy, but then on the other hand I realize that it is wrong, because it encourages speeding if people know they will be warned. I speed (bad habit) so I appreciate the warnings when received, therefor I pass it on.

 

lol @ this thread

 

Yes, I've done it many times, whenever I want to get the attention of other drivers for some reason - to warn of something ahead of them, to allow others to proceed ahead of me, and similar. Sadly, most today are a little slow at getting the idea.

For example, just the other day, I flashed my lights to allow a car out of a side road into my lane. Traffic was backed up a bit and I had seen him there for some time. As traffic started moving, I delayed to let him in, flashing my lights to get his attention. He just sat there looking at me. There was a center barrier in the road, so there was only one possible way for him to go. It took several more attempts, with me also waving my hand, for him to finally get the idea and move. By this time, the lane ahead was clear for some distance, with the drivers behind getting pissed.

By the same token, I've seen many cars not even slow down one little bit when I've flashed my lights to warn of a cop or speed trap ahead of them. The only ones who firmly get the idea are truckers, who nearly always let off the gas when speeding a bit. Some flash their lights in return or wave as they pass by. Never once saw a car or light truck driver, not even a Tacoma driver, do likewise.

Of course, if this is done, those drivers heeding the warning aren't speeding anymore. The goal you seek is accomplished.

 

Yep, I flash to warn people. Other drivers flash to warn me so I return the favor whenever i can.

 

^this x100

 

My philosophy as well. If its the interstate you have to be going pretty damn fast to get pulled over and if its back roads you shouldn't be speeding at all.

 

Better make sure it isn't a cop coming at you when you flash. I was issued a ticket for "failure to dim headlights" when I was in HS. I was driving through the country on my way home and the officer was coming at me around a slight bend in the road with his brights on. I flashed him letting him know I couldn't see the bend, and he flipped a bitch and pulled me over. They can pull you over for flashing brights at them.

 

It happened to me this morning. I was going down a road notorious for speed traps since the speed limit is 40 mph. A car flashed his lights and sure enough there was a sheriff sitting in the dark with all his lights off. I know better not to speed, but always wondered about this and what everyone else thinks.

 

If you get caught doing this and the cop wants to be a prick about it, they can write you up for "Obstruction of Justice" which is a pretty serious crime that you can serve time for.

 

I sure as hell do and I appreciate it when people warn me as-well.

 

Nope, I don't, and I'm pretty light on the skinny pedal, so I don't care. I did have a guy high beam me the other day, to warn me of deer ahead, which I greatly appreciated, cause I wouldn't of seen them. Now something like that, I'll warn you about.

 

Maybe after seeing the first 50 or so mangled bodies following traffic collisions, you wouldn't mind the "popo" doing their job so much. Unless, of course, you'd rather pay them to guard Dunkin' Donuts.

 

In VA you can receive a ticket or worse for this if you are caught. I would not recommend doing this in Northern VA.

 

I always flash my lights to warn oncoming traffic of possible dangers ahead. It doesn't always have to be a cop. If you pass deer on the road or an accident or anything that could potentially be hazardous to oncoming traffic it's good to warn them so they can slow down and be prepared.

 

Funny, I went to DD this morning @ around 0300 and saw 6 patrol cars outside. Pulled up and went inside and the topic at hand was deer accidents involving patrol cars. There were some pretty funny stories

 

I will flash to warn of a hazard ahead such as a broken down vehicle around a blind corner or something. I don't flash to warn of cops.

As far as getting tickets for warning of cops like this I've read of many places where people have fought those tickets and won as it was deemed they weren't doing anything illegal. Guess it depends where you're at.

 

Unfortunately in California, some up and coming gangsta might feel thats some sort of 'nitiation and turn on you. We've kinda lost the whole "common sense" concept in this state.