Doesn't anyone flash headlights anymore?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Doesn't anyone flash headlights anymore? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:08:55 AM EDT

I was driving south on I81 in Salem, VA yesterday, when I observed a State Trooper in the median, running radar on the northbound traffic. AS soon as I passed him I did as I usually do, and started flashing my headlights to warn oncoming traffic to slow down.

Looking in my rear view mirror, I could see about a mile behind me, and didn't see anyone else flashing their headlights.

Come to think of it, I cannot remember the last time anyone gave me a similar warning.

Is this practice all but dead? Does anyone else still do this? If not, why not?

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:12:58 AM EDT

[#1]

I thought that flashing high beams was considered "Road Rage"

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:13:12 AM EDT

[#2]

I still do.
Every time I see a cop trying to trap
us civilians.
But I've noticed most people don't anymore.
I hope those that don't get tickets.

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:16:55 AM EDT

[#3]

It's not right to flash your headlights for those breaking the law. You could be tampering with an investigation.

Would you tell a theif "wait, don't steel that now, there's a cop right up there."

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:50:40 AM EDT

[#4]

I still do it, and still see others doing it from time to time.

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:52:32 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
It's not right to flash your headlights for those breaking the law. You could be tampering with an investigation.

Would you tell a theif "wait, don't steel that now, there's a cop right up there."

View Quote

Whether it is "right" or not to warn others of a speed trap isn't a valid comparison to someone thieving.

Speed traps are revenue generators for most localities. I can see suspending driving privileges for multiple offenders but I don't think any Government has the right to extort cash.

I still flash but drive country roads mostly and see very few LEOs.

Posted: 5/17/2002 5:53:34 AM EDT

[#6]

I would do it but lets see theres this newfangled invention called a [b]RADAR DETECTOR[/b]and if they are too stupid to buy one well then too bad .

Posted: 5/17/2002 6:01:19 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
It's not right to flash your headlights for those breaking the law. You could be tampering with an investigation.

Would you tell a theif "wait, don't steel that now, there's a cop right up there."

View Quote

The way I see it, I can be a more effective enforcer of the law that the cop down the road. If I flash my lights and the person slows down, then I have just reduced "crime" and enhanced traffic safety. All at a lower cost (and a few hundred feet sooner!) than the cop could have done.

Posted: 5/17/2002 6:04:36 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
I would do it but lets see theres this newfangled invention called a [b]RADAR DETECTOR[/b]and if they are too stupid to buy one well then too bad .

View Quote

Most of the speed traps in my area use LASER. So the only way to warn people is via flashing headlights, I see it once in a while, but not as often as I see speed traps. I don't go over 5 MPH over the limit anyway right now, since I have 5 points sitting on a PBJ for speeding last year.

Oh yeah, in case you are going to say I should use laser detectors, let me inform you they don't work. On top of that, if it actually went off, that would just be letting you know 100% that you were just caught by a laser, and any slowing down would just be after the fact.

Don't you hate technology.

Posted: 5/17/2002 6:14:54 AM EDT

[#9]

I really don't care if someone else gets a ticket, I drive the speed limit.(sometimes)[;)]

Posted: 5/17/2002 6:39:18 AM EDT

[#10]

No one around here does it anymore. I really doubt if most people anymore would grasp the meaning if you did.

I haven't seen done in years including traveling back and forth from western CO. to central NE every year.

Posted: 5/17/2002 6:45:50 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
I would do it but lets see theres this newfangled invention called a [b]RADAR DETECTOR[/b]and if they are too stupid to buy one well then too bad .

View Quote

That may be true but if you live in VA as FatMan and I do it is illegal to even purchase a detector let alone use one.

And yes I still flash my lights.

Jake

Posted: 5/17/2002 6:56:58 AM EDT

[#12]

Things have changed, what with "road rage" and all. Flashing your lights is often seen as an "insult" and is most often taken as an aggressive act. The only time I would do it now is to warn someone that they are driving with their lights off.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:05:19 AM EDT

[#13]

"I would do it but lets see theres this newfangled invention called a RADAR DETECTORand if they are too stupid to buy one well then too bad . "

Wow, 9 am and I've already heard a not-so-thoughtful remark.

As others have said, radar is hardly ever used...if the laser detector goes off, it just tells you you've been hit.

Flashing your lights is the best way to warn others of a speed trap or other danger ahead.

If you see me flashing my lights, slow the hell down! I'd appreciate it if you return the courtesy.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:18:33 AM EDT

[#14]

I do it everytime I see one of those bastards hiding around a corner. Don't take me wrong I have all the respect for LEO's(shoot with them frequently),but I don't play into their little money making scam that does nothing to protect the public. All they care about is filling their bullshit quotas, but many of them hate to do this as my local officers have told me. Anyway, flash on.
Bill3508

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:18:54 AM EDT

[#15]

iirc, "warning" other folks of the presence of an leo working a speed trap is actually iilegal in ohio, and punishable by a fine. please correct me if i am wrong on this.

actually, last sunday a motorist flashed his headlights on-off approaching me as i drove thru a blinding downpour. even though i was only doing 35 mph or so (vision was very limited by the rain), i slowed. turns out a large branch had snapped off a tree and ways blocking the road.

i view flashing as a courtesy...warning of danger, speed traps, overtaking, etc.

and yes, i flash to warn of accidents, speed traps and the like. it's a "do unto others" thing.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:19:42 AM EDT

[#16]

I rarely see it anymore. I did have my ass saved about a year ago though. A guy flashed me, and I slowed down. As soon as I came around the corner, my radar detecter went Nucking Futz! I was doing exactly the speed limit, and had a big ass smile on my face, as I drove by the cop! He had me........but some great American saved my ass!

Thanks Buddy, whoever you are!

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:22:26 AM EDT

[#17]

I do it all the time!

But when Miz Hun is with me, I have to do it surreptitiously - she's thinks only 'white trash' tries to prevent speeders from being ticketed!

Wow! How can you argue with logic like that?

Eric The(SoIDoItInHopesThatOthersDoItForMe!)Hun[>]:)]

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:26:39 AM EDT

[#18]

They still flash them here, and we are all happier and richer for it.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:29:37 AM EDT

[#19]

I stopped doing it when I learned it can get yo killed as a gang initiation rite...

Yes, I know it's bullshit but nobody had said it yet.

Anyway, I do it alot but rarely see it.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:30:31 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
iirc, "warning" other folks of the presence of an leo working a speed trap is actually iilegal in ohio, and punishable by a fine.

View Quote

All the more reason to do it, then. I hate it when socialist governments pass laws that keep others from getting in trouble. Bastards.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:32:13 AM EDT

[#21]

The funny thing is motorcyclists almost always warn other riders of speed traps by flashing their lights-I guess there is more a feeling of community than among car drivers.

I don't notice other cars doing it as much as I used to, even 5 or so years ago.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:34:45 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
I would do it but lets see theres this newfangled invention called a [b]RADAR DETECTOR[/b]and if they are too stupid to buy one well then too bad .

View Quote

With the "instant-on" radar guns a detector doesn't do much.

I hate the fact that flashing your lights is seen as road rage. Growing up, it was seen as a request to nove over for a car that is overtaking you. In South Carolina we have several people that stay in the passing lane pacing the car next to them.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:42:44 AM EDT

[#23]

I used to flash all the time but with my vehicles I'm driving now it's a little senseless.

A ford f-250 that has daytime driving lights, there're on all the time and

A Trans Am- pop up headlights . If i tried to flash at someone, they would be on top of the cop before the lights popped up.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:50:22 AM EDT

[#24]

I used to, but I got tired of a-holes tail gating me because I was ONLY doing 10 over the limit. Now I figure if you don't want a ticket, do the limit. I also don't bitch now if I get caught. oh well.

regards,

legrue

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:51:26 AM EDT

[#25]

I'm really disappointed in people's ability and desire to think freely these days. I'm only 24 years old, but during the span of my life I've see the proccess of pussification occurr (George Carlin coined that great term). It's really scary! Goes along with the whole "we don't need guns, the cops will protect us" mentallity. Or when someone demands justification for your ownership of firearms.
They don't understand you don't need to justify them, they are your right. These are the same retards who buy SUV's and don't go off road. The same monkeys who believe every word dribbling from the mouth of the perky news anchor. The same people who live next door and call the police rather than knock on your door and ask you to quiet down if you backyard bbq party is loud. There is no more community anymore, people don't take care of their own problems, they want the government to do it. They keep giving away our freedoms piece by piece. It's the schools causing it I think. They are totally out of hand. Kids aren't allowe to play for fear of getting in trouble.

Posted: 5/17/2002 7:54:29 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I would do it but lets see theres this newfangled invention called a [b]RADAR DETECTOR[/b]and if they are too stupid to buy one well then too bad .

View Quote

Most of the speed traps in my area use LASER. So the only way to warn people is via flashing headlights, I see it once in a while, but not as often as I see speed traps. I don't go over 5 MPH over the limit anyway right now, since I have 5 points sitting on a PBJ for speeding last year.

Oh yeah, in case you are going to say I should use laser detectors, let me inform you they don't work. On top of that, if it actually went off, that would just be letting you know 100% that you were just caught by a laser, and any slowing down would just be after the fact.

Don't you hate technology.

View Quote

Them thar newfangled contraptions are illegal in VA.

Posted: 5/17/2002 8:29:38 AM EDT

[#27]

I still use my headlights for warning.

A few months ago, when the ground started showing up from underneath the snow, I would see a herd of 20-30 deer feeding on the exposed crops while I drove home at night. They were hundreds of yards away from the road. They stayed near the woods.

On one particular night, as I came up to the T-intersection, I saw quite a few of those buggers on or near the road. As I slowed down, I noticed a car coming from my right. I flashed my headlights, aimed my car towards the deer that were along his road and then dimmed them as I came up to the T. He saw them and slowed down.

I stayed at the stop sign for a few extra seconds and turned slowly onto the road following the other guy so that I could watch the deer a little longer. That allowed the other guy to get about 400 yards ahead of me.

I lost him on a turn a little ways ahead. As I came around the corner, I saw him not so far ahead. As he saw my lights, he flashed his lights ahead. I couldn't see why he was doing that until I came to that point. There were another 5 deer along the road. They ran away from the road, so they didn't cross my path.

We ended up helping each other.

What goes around, comes around.

Posted: 5/17/2002 8:58:03 AM EDT

[#28]

I do. To warn of DANGERS ahead. A police officer at work is NOT a danger. Obey the law, and you are already safe. I drive the speed limit to the best of my ability. I usually use the cruise control to make sure I maintain the proper speed...

Scott

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:03:44 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
I do. To warn of DANGERS ahead. A police officer at work is NOT a danger. Obey the law, and you are already safe. I drive the speed limit to the best of my ability. I usually use the cruise control to make sure I maintain the proper speed...

Scott

View Quote

Some people get to talking and all of a sudden are a little over, seems a good reason to remind them to look down.

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:09:03 AM EDT

[#30]

I flash em all the time, every time, however, I rarely see others doing the same.

Dicks.

Gotta help each other out, tickets are only revenues for the city, and the insurance companies who purchase so many radar/lazer detectors for the cops.

Bigger Dicks! (Insurance co's)

I did hear that San Diege took down red light camera's because all they did was bring in revenues, but did lower the rate of accidents at all. If true, kudos to them

Wl

Gotta flash em.

Someone should start up one of those damn idiot chain letters reminding everybody to get back in the habit of flashing for cops. Would it really suprise you if it was the cops who started the rumor that flashing someone was an invitation to a gang ritual thing?

Seems to have accomplished what they want: no warning.

WL

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:09:44 AM EDT

[#31]

"All the more reason to do it, then. I hate it when socialist governments pass laws that keep others from getting in trouble. Bastards."

i couldn't agree more!

the "goal" is public safety. ok...so, if the police want to slow folks down, let them sit next to the road as conspicuously as possible.

the "goal" seems to be revenue enhancement and job justification as they hide those cruisers like a snake hides in the grass.

i ride bicycles on the road...so i'm VERY interested/concerned about how we all drive. but, i can't stand a speed "trap".

i'll continue to warn others with my lights.

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:26:40 AM EDT

[#32]

This public safety announcement is brought to you by - ME!

Its been about 2 years since I regularly ran radar, now just when I am working a detail, or trying to play street police officer. This is no big secret, and I tell this to all the kids I talk to in drivers ed (guest speaker).

That is correct about the instant on radar. Old radar units had on, and off. Now we have on, off, standby (and forward and rear looking). The correct way to run radar is to stay in standby mode, and only go "on" or emit, when he/she see someone speeding. Looks like they are doing about the speed limit? Stay on standby. Now, the officer sees one doing Warp 4, go to on, write. The vehicle behind Captian Kirk gets a free warning, because his radar detector just went off. Captain Kirk had a radar detector also, but when it went off, it was because he was clocked, not someone else.

As a side note, you can have a radar detector here in KY, so long as it is not in a commercial vech. Laser units are very expensive, so we stayed with radar. Here are the two biggest misconceptions of our laws I have heard (not that I have read them here)
1. The police car must have its head lights on at night or be visible in some way at all times. Wrong. I can climb a tree, run radar, wear camo, what ever, and radio the violator to my buddy to write.

2. You have a right to see the radar locked on. Wrong. That is what court is for.

I hate to say it, but I am not interested in traffic as much as I used to be, even if it is to help with traffic safety. Sorry, but I am getting to old for this shit. That's why we have new guys!!!

Art in KY

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:27:38 AM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Obey the law, and you are already safe. I drive the speed limit to the best of my ability. Scott

View Quote

Oh, you are [i]so[/i] [b]virtuous.[/b]
Can we be assured that you will never break [i]any[/i] law or regulation [i]ever?[/i]

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:36:33 AM EDT

[#34]

Yeah, I still do the Hi-beam flashing thing. Doesn't seem as though many others do.

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:47:54 AM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:

the "goal" is public safety. ok...so, if the police want to slow folks down, let them sit next to the road as conspicuously as possible.

the "goal" seems to be revenue enhancement and job justification as they hide those cruisers like a snake hides in the grass.

i'll continue to warn others with my lights.

View Quote

Give CAMPYBOB the exploding cigar. I agree. If it were about reducing highway speed, then part conspicuously in the middle of the median, visible from a long distance. People slow down, or at least check there speed when they see the police.

Flash 'em if you got 'em!

Posted: 5/17/2002 9:56:28 AM EDT

[#36]

I used to always flash my lights until August 18, 2000 when a SC Highway Patrol officer coming from the other direction saw me doing that. He turned around in the median and stopped me to tell me what he thought of that. He "cured" me of that habit for good.z

Posted: 5/17/2002 10:29:12 AM EDT

[#37]

Speaking of speed traps, has anyone been to the Virgina Beach Airport? Just before you enter the airport the speed limit changes from 45 mph to 35 mph for a two block residential area. As you round the turn the local police are sitting in the first drive shooting radar.

Posted: 5/17/2002 11:58:08 AM EDT

[#38]

CAMPYBOB is correct about the OH law. . .or whatever it is. You cannot alert others to the presence of a LEO. I actually know somebody who was verbally reprimanded for it but not fined.

Posted: 5/17/2002 12:57:16 PM EDT

[#39]

Zoom, Sounds like you ran into some zealot SC highwayman. There is no law prohibiting flashing your lights in SC that I have ever heard of. What did he say to justify pulling you over? It is that kind of thing that gives LEO's such a bad rap.

For the record, I flash any time I see one of their "revenue traps". Those tickets are not about safety or anything BUT pulling in insurance revenue. There are some speed trap locations on SC secondary roads that honest to God write tickets for as little as 2 miles per hour over the speed limit, the town of Coward is one that is notorious for this. These tickets are legal extortion, nothing more.

Posted: 5/17/2002 1:02:20 PM EDT

[#40]

Not many of y'all must live out in the hills. Several times, somebody has saved my truck, and possibly me, by flashing lights, warning me of something in the road around the next blind curve. Once, it was a truck that was stopped in the right lane, pruning a tree overhangin the road. Wasn't a city truck either. Some private citizen had taken it upon themselves to stop at the bottom of a hill, on the other side of a blind curve, to prune a freakin tree. I had dropped to about 25 mph (20 mph) below the speed limit and I still nearly ran onto him.
Another time, I flashed several oncoming motorists of a speedtrap I had just passed, and I had second thoughts about that idea when...the streetlight they were passing under highlighted in stark and cold terms their red and blue lightbars. I had warned cops of a speedtrap. No ticket on that one though. [:)]