Flashing the lights - Pub Quiz

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aircobra19

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Exactly what offense is it to flash the lights at someone in front of you? Simply dangerous driving? Or is there something specific?
 
I seen a program on BBC a few years back which said that flashing your lights was a signal to the other driver you were there,a warning etc.Most people use it to signal you're letting someone out but in fact the program said you were telling them you had right of way ,were continuing on your chosen path etc...
 
Flashing to oncomming (still in front of you) traffic with the intention of alerting them to a Gardi check point which you've passed, that the flashee is approaching?
 
If memory serves the "official" meaning of flashing your lights means "I'm here": nothing more and nothing less.

In particular, it doesn't mean "I'm giving you right of way" 'cause as someone pointed out it could me intrpreted a "I'm damn well taking my right of way!".

Of course, the "unofficial" meaning seems to be whatever springs to mind, given the time, location, circmstances, whether there's an "R" in the month or whatever.....
 
Motorists have been charged with obstruction (I think this is the charge) for warning other motorists of speed traps- I've seen such cases reported in the Irish press. AFAIK whilst in this country, and the UK I assume flashing lights is generally perceived to be a signal that you are yielding (at a junction etc) whereas in France the same signal is a statement of intent: "I am not yielding, make way!". I remember reading this in a motoring column in the Sunday Times a few years ago.
 
If you are warning about a speed trap you can be charged with obstructing a garda in the performance of his duties. This is a criminal offence. You will have a record and/or a jail sentence as it is a Public Order offence. You will not get a visa to go to Florida. It is a far worse crime than drunk driving?
 
Is there a documented case of someone being convicted of such a crime you can quote?

It sounds a bit like an urban myth to me.

I would think it very hard to prove: "sure I was just saying hello to Mick, officer, I never even saw the speed trap....."
 
mMy da told me a story about the AA RAC when they 1st came into existance and how they would always salute a member car when passing on the road.

If there was any form of police presence ahead on the road they would signal to you as a warning, this as in flashiing headlights to warn of a speed trap nowadyas was ilegal.
They eventually just did NOT salute you when passing if there was any polce activity to be warned about ahead.

Flashing lights is commonly used in the opposite sense from what it is suposed to mean back on point.
 

Sorry. It wasn't meant to a bump. It was "..133 posts and no one knows if its an offence.." Perhaps I should have typed the full comment.

I kinda meant flashing the light at someone whos cut you up rather than someone driving towards you.
 
ang1170 said:
Is there a documented case of someone being convicted of such a crime you can quote?

It sounds a bit like an urban myth to me.

I would think it very hard to prove: "sure I was just saying hello to Mick, officer, I never even saw the speed trap....."
Click to expand...

I can't produce "the evidence" so to speak (habeas corpus and all that) but I do remember a case being reported in the local newspaper, The Leinster Express, a few years back.
 
Our local paper here had a case in it quite recently where a guy flashed an oncoming unmarked squad car.
 
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And what happened to him???? I even had motorist in canada flash his lights at me to warn me of speedtrap around the corner. I was only going few miles over limit but... Why is it illegal and an offence? If you went around flashing your lights and people slow down, then are you not contributing to road safety rather than contributing to the garda tax collecting mechanism? Shows garda (management and leaders here) are more interested in catching people i.e. collecting money, rather than being highly visible and stopping speeding.
 
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