Message Forums

Using lights and indicators is all about communicating, and should really be always done with conscious thought - not used as some sort of safety blanket to cover you for any action you might take. How often have you seen drivers stick an indicator on and then turn when it's not really safe to do so, as if the indicator gives them some kind of immunity?

If you use a flash of the lights to signal thanks or to show that you are letting another vehicle through, you should be confident that the driver of the other vehicle is reasonably likely to understand your signal, and there's always a chance that they won't. As long as a misunderstanding of your signal isn't going to result in an accident, then there's no harm done, but you also have to beware of "signal overspill" - of a third driver seeing your flash or indication and thinking you are signalling them. So flashing lights on a busy street is less advisable than when just two vehicles are involved in a manoevre through a narrowing of the road caused by some parked cars, for instance. In that circumstance, everyone's moving slowly and knows what the situation is, so the "after you" flash is easily understood and can make the situation safer than doing nothing.

On a motorway, different "rules" apply (and they are only unofficial rules, worked out by custom and practice by drivers, with no backing from the Highway Code). Because everyone is moving in the same direction, your signals only apply to the vehicles around you. A flash of the headlights only applies to the vehicles directly in front or infront-and-to-the-sides. A vehicle that has just been overtaken by another vehicle giving a flash of the lights is widely understood. Any misunderstanding is unlikely to produce an accident, as the overtaking vehicle will only either pull back in or not pull back in, and both choices are safe choices.

Ultimately, the use of signals is a language and as with all languages mistakes and misunderstandings can happen - and consideration of the context is vital.

I flash to say people are clear and if I ever get flashed back in I always do a quick indicator thanks.

I am of the opinion that lights are fitted to a motor vehicle to enable the driver to see and be seen and are best left to be used for that purpose. Furthermore indicators are fitted to enable a driver to signal the intention to turn or pull out to one side or the other. Signalling by the use of headlights can be misconstrued as it can mean different things to different people. Should the driver of an overtaking combination.be unable to judge when it is safe to pull back to his nearside using his nearside mirror and his (or her) knowledge of the capabilities of the combination they are driving then the question arises, should they ought to be driving it ? The headlight signalling code origonated amongst hgv drivers many years ago long before indicators were a standard fitting and the mirrors were nowhere near as good as they are today. Windscreen wipers were fitted to the drivers side only so visibility wasn't always that good. The code in those days served a useful purpose amongst the hgv drivers, but I think it is no longer of any use. When I first started truck driving (1956) the recognised signals were of course the flash for safe to pull over, answered by a double flash of tail lights, flash to say 'come on out of that side turning, I'm stopping for you' , the flash to acknowledge a buddy going in the other direction and of course the flash combined with an arm out the window with a thumbs down sgnal meaning the 'Old Bill' or the ministry man was waiting up the road. I am of the opinion that car drivers/caravanners should only use their lights for the purpose they were meant for and leave the signalling with lights to the proffesionals if they really need to use them. Sorry to differ from the majority but thats how it is..............Mick

The professionals??? Sound like he's stuck in the fifties!!

I am one of these so called professional drivers and I see nothing wrong with caravanners courteously flashing another vehicle to allow them to move over, I can't see how obtaining a different class in driving licence should determine this.