A car coming toward you flashes its headlights.What does it mean?

Question

During the hours of darknes when it is unlawfull to sound your car horn we should use our headlights to give a warning instead.

How do we know whether it means "come on, I am giving way" or "look out, I am coming through" or "check your lights, they are dazzling me" or "Hya!,I recognise your car".

Who thinks we should stop doing this because it could cause an accident if misunderstood?

Answer 1

Yes there is no hard and clear rule to the flashing of headlights.While we all have our own interpretations it is so easy to misunderstand the other driver's intentions and a nasty accident could occur.In daylight if a driver gives a quick flash it generally means he is giving you right of way and most people accept this and I don't think it causes too many problems. In the dark it is another matter personally would not accept a light signal at night to proceed unless accompanied by a hand motion or wave so that the intention was clear.Other than that I would ignore other night time light signals.It would be better if people didn't give signals so there would not be any misunderstandings.

Answer 2

I have been driving well over 30 years are there are a few reasons for this. The first reason I can think of is that you are having headlights that are malfunctioning, either you have one out, they are misaligned or they are off and should be on. Rule of thumb is that when it starts to get dark, turn them on and whenever you have windshield wipers on, your lights should come on. Many people will drive with parking lights on, and I have not seen this to much anymore, but it use to be an epidemic. That was confusing because they were not parked. The 2nd is bright lights, with the new cars and halogen lights these are extremely bright, or your high beams are on, or you are using fog lamps and there is not fog. The third and not so much any more, but it was very common in the day to flash your lights as an idication that you were entering a speed trap he had just passed through, or for you to slow down as there was a hazard. It was a warning to you. Also, it is etiquette when truck drivers signal, you flash your lights acknowledging he is clear to get in front of you. He will then pass get back over in the slow lane and then flash his lights as a thank you. Try it on the interstate sometime, just do not be in his way. Before anal retentive drivers were created and how this happened is only speculation - drivers were courteous. Signals and communication were given as a matter of courtesy. Now when someone beeps the horn people get angry at them. Same is starting to happen for head lamp signals. Communication no matter what is always good. My personal recommendation is that when someone flashes their lights slow down and taking a precautionary stance.

Finaly, I would not worry so much about the head lights as I would the @ss whipes that seem to live on the cell phone while they drive. Now that is dangerous and that should be outlawed.

Answer 3

flashing headlights have always supposed to be a warning. it is a way of getting a drivers attention.
if someone put a sustained high beam flash at me then i would know I've been an idiot and not dipped my headlights. i do it to other drivers when they don't dip theirs because i cant see properly due to dazzle.
someone flashing continuously would indicate to me that there is danger on the road ahead. happens often when deer or cows are loose in our area
most people give 2 flashes as a way of indicating that they are giving way to you, ie letting a car out at a junction.
i think most people recognise these differences.
i don't agree with people flashing hello to their mates in other cars

Answer 4

There may be an emergency ahead (animals on the road or an accident). The world wide meaning that the person flashing their lights has spotted a police person hidden in the weeds with a radar gun. Slow down to the speed limit when ever you see this again.

Answer 5

If you're in the UK you should always assume that it's someone using it in the same way they would a horn - although you sometimes have to judge when they actually mean something else but if you have an accident and say "they flashed you" it will be seen as being your fault. If you're in most of Europe never assume they are giving way.

Answer 6

Personally I just take it as a sign to re-evaluate. If they're not moving but have the right of way, they must be letting me go. If they're coming at me on a 2 lane road, there must be something ahead (deer, cop, accident, UFO). Sometimes I just slow down and be a bit more careful and nothing ever happens. I never do anything unsafe on the basis of someone flashing their lights.

Answer 7

Often used as a warning there are police ahead or some kind of caution. I always take it as get yourself down to the speed limit and proceed with caution.... got me out of a couple of speeding fines when the old boys in blue pop up with that damn radar gun lol

Answer 8

To an exp driver it means give way .... To a new driver the opposite.... We need to start teaching people how to drive in the real world , not how it should be done in a book . Some of the instructors driving that I have seen recently don't seem to have a clue. SOME NOT ALL BEFORE YOU START !!.

Answer 9

Having driven in many countries - when someone flashes their lights at you it means one thing only - their lights are working. For example in Nigeria it is taken to mean I am coming through, in UK it is taken to mean you go through. I've seen accidents when this misinterpretation costs someone their no claims bonus, fortunately not their life.
Similarly with indicators, brake lights etc.. best to drive defensively, make eye contact with the other driver to see their intentions.

Answer 10

Hi It usually mean that their is a accident up ahead or a road check, Or a policeman is near by becareful. And I think its a good thing to warn people especially if their is a bad wreck and you don't want to have one your self.