Whatever happened to the road courtesy of flashing headlights as a warning?

Question

Lots of road courtesy has gone by the wayside over the last decade...and cellphones are not the only culprit to blame. Drivers' education, respect for fellow man (or woman), and lack of proper highway policing are indeed also to be mentioned.

However, I'm specifically curious as to what happened to that good old courtesy of flashing headlights at oncoming drivers approaching a police speed-trap that one driver has just passed. Do you remember the day and age where you couldn't drive anywhere at night without someone flashing you about the police up ahead?

I too have heard that it has become illegal, but have never had a law resource cited to me. I have heard cops say they would pull someone over for warning another driver, but when I ask in response "for what charge" there is no valid answer I've been given. Also, many of my responders should note the difference between criminal and motor vehicle laws, and laws which are created for "mala in re" and "mala prohibita" purposes. Traveling too fast is not paramount to bank robbery.

By policing ourselves, we save time and money of government agencies, which in turn saves the taxpayer money. (Hypothetically, ...don't get me started on tax laws.) Flashing headlights as a warning is far more efficient, and humanitarian, than calling a police agency via cellphone to attempt (stress on that word) to correct the wrong.

It is a law (albeit rediculous) in my state of Connecticut that no one but an authorized agent of the government can direct traffic. This means that their machines (traffic lights and signs) and police officers (or other title peace officer) are the only things that may direct traffic. This means it is illegal to wave another driver on, or for a pedestrian to signal someone to stop for help. Since laws should not be a double-edged sword, I consider the law rediculous.

It's not obstruction of justice, since the act actually promotes public safety, and there is no "justice" being sought at the time the speed trap is in use. The peace officer is only there "just in case", not definitely because.

Answer 1

You are absolutely right. Now, people want the opposite it seems like and use their cell phones to call the police in hopes of being a busy body because they get something out of it. And how about people blocking roads or driveways at red lights. They have nowhere to go but will have no problem getting in the way so they can be 2 feet away from the car in front of them while they sit there.

Answer 2

In some areas it is illegal. My feeling is, if you are speeding, that is an activity you are participating in willingly, and you deserve to get caught or not based on your own level of stupidity. Flashing lights at speeders is not a lot different from yelling at a bank robber that the cops are coming. It never has been a really common activity. In well over a million miles of driving, I bet I haven't seen it more than a dozen times, of course where I learned to drive, they pulled over and ticketed the drivers who flashed warnings. My last speeding ticket was over 20 years ago, and the one before that was about 9 years earlier yet. I don't need warnings. Anybody that does should perhaps look at the speedometer once in a while.
Understand I don't condone actual speed traps, where they set up radar at a spot with a sudden speed limit change for no reason. My 1985 ticket was for doing highway speed in town, but I was 5 miles outside the town. That was a speed trap. Radar set up to catch regular speeders is not a trap, simply an enforcement. There is a difference.

Answer 3

I still do it, but if no one is in front of me. Flashing headlights is still used to tell the driver passing you that they are cleared to move back into your lane. I am a truck driver & run wih a CB radio (down low most of the time), so I can warn the drivers coming my way about "bears", road hazards, etc. Courtesy in general has gone out the window. Too many people are wrapped up in their own lives to be thinking of others. It's sad to think of it that way.

Answer 4

Let me guess.. you got pulled over?

Good question though.. I wonder that all the time. The city I live in is crazy... I dont' think any of them know how to drive. I however do still flash my lights as a warning. We're still here! Just fading by the second.

Answer 5

i dont comprehend of a statute that states that. I beleive any statue could be unconstitutionally obscure - secession has the excellent suited theory i think of. 2 motive force, you and yet another, the two flash your headlights. One desires to sign the oncoming dirver that his headlights are on. you desire to sign the presence of an officer. the two one in each of you state your motives while ulled over. the different motive force walks, you get charged? How does that make experience? offender conviction demands a to blame ideas AND a to blame act. you have the approach, the different did no longer, yet it exchange into the comparable act, with the comparable effect. i think of its an city myth that folk get convicted of this pastime. yet suffice it to assert that it enables your case particularly in case you dont confess. lol

Answer 6

I do, but I don't usually get it in return. There was an Internet story a few years back saying that if you flashed your lights at a gang member that had stolen a car ( because he jimmied the ignition, he had the high beams on) and if you flashed them, they would choose you as their victim, to do whatever. . kill, road rage stuff.

So people stopped courtesy flashing for everything.

Answer 7

I blame the urban legend that used to pop up in emails in the begening days of the internet, the one about someone driving with their headlights off at night and if you flash them with your headlights you become the target of a gang and they come and kill you. Complete hogwash but I bet is scarred a lot of poeple.

Answer 8

As a driver myself, I will not warn any drivers of a speed trap. The best thing for ppl speeding is to be caught and ticketed. All to many times we read about a person speeding that claims the lives of innocent victims. As a matter of fact, I've called 911 , to report such actions on our local roadways.

If anything, more speed traps should be used on our roadways. And I'm sure those ppl who lost a loved one due to a speeder's actions would agree.

Answer 9

I don't know about the rest of the drivers out there, but when I let someone in front of me I will flash my high beams to let them know it's safe for them to get in front of me. I usually get a response of them tapping their brake lights to say thank you and truck drivers will turn their running lights on and off also thanking me for letting them change lanes.

Answer 10

I do remember that, and if I'm not mistaken, some states passed laws concerning just that subject several years ago. Seems they didn't appreciate drivers warning one another of impending radar patrol.