# \[Headlight\] Flashing. Is it cool USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094 "2011-12-13T22:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/21 "2011-12-14T06:35:29Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Well there is a bit of truth in it. The deal of coming up behind someone in the fast lane and flashing lights to say “Excuse me sir, I am in an awful hurry, could you please pull to the right lane and let me past” that some countries do That’s the way things work here - 19 times out of 20, the guy in front will either move to the right or speed up. The fact that people in the U.S. don’t do that really threw me the first time I drove there, until I realized that Americans don’t really care if you pass them on the right. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/22 "2011-12-14T06:41:54Z")
I agree with the other posters. The only time flashing your lights is seen as aggressive in the US (that I could think of) is if you’re coming up on somebody’s ass and flash your brights to get them to move out of your way. Otherwise, it simply means: your headlights are off; cop ahead; go ahead [if you’re at intersection and can’t figure out who goes next, flashing your brights is the equivalent of waving them on], safe to merge back in the lane [usually if a big-ass semi-truck/lorry, bus, recreational vehicle, etc., is passing you and could use the help with a little visual feedback that it’s clear to get back in. This signal is more used by other truck drivers, though.] ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/23 "2011-12-14T14:20:47Z")
I always want to ask how people think that someone could chase you down, apparently force you off the road, and get you out of your car, to administer a beatdown. Really??? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/24 "2011-12-14T14:44:54Z")
Another common use is to ask the other driver if he has any Grey Poupon. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/25 "2011-12-14T15:19:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I agree with the other posters. The only time flashing your lights is seen as aggressive in the US (that I could think of) is if you’re coming up on somebody’s ass and flash your brights to get them to move out of your way. Otherwise, it simply means: your headlights are off; cop ahead; go ahead [if you’re at intersection and can’t figure out who goes next, flashing your brights is the equivalent of waving them on], safe to merge back in the lane [usually if a big-ass semi-truck/lorry, bus, recreational vehicle, etc., is passing you and could use the help with a little visual feedback that it’s clear to get back in. This signal is more used by other truck drivers, though.] :rolleyes: They don’t put flashers in cars to be used to warn other drivers that there are cops ahead (or to say hi to your friends or any other such nonsense). The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. That’s it, that’s the list. Unfortunately the majority of US drivers are not properly educated on how to drive. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/26 "2011-12-14T15:32:36Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I always want to ask how people think that someone could chase you down, apparently force you off the road, and get you out of your car, to administer a beatdown. Really??? It’s not that they’re forcing you; they’re challenging you to a duel. Honor obliges you to stop and fight, or else never show your face on that stretch of road again. That’s why I got the duelling and fisticuffs rider when I switched to Progressive. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/27 "2011-12-14T15:42:33Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > :rolleyes: > > They don’t put flashers in cars to be used to warn other drivers that there are cops ahead (or to say hi to your friends or any other such nonsense). > > The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. That’s it, that’s the list. > > Unfortunately the majority of US drivers are not properly educated on how to drive. Never mind. Misread the post…I still disagree. There’s nothing in the rules of Monopoly about getting all the Chance fines when you land on Free Parking, but an awful lot of people use that rule. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/28 "2011-12-14T15:49:57Z")
I’ve heard that it means “Turn around and come to the next hotel, so we can fuck.” Seriously. As a kid, I accepted it, and wondered how you could tell what the person in the other car looked like at 40 MPH, and how they’d find you at the hotel. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/29 "2011-12-14T15:49:59Z")
Geezus H… you fuckin guys … laughing at the computer isn’t what one does at work! ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/30 "2011-12-14T16:03:17Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > They don’t put flashers in cars to be used to warn other drivers that there are cops ahead (or to say hi to your friends or any other such nonsense). > > The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. That’s it, that’s the list. > > Unfortunately the majority of US drivers are not properly educated on how to drive. :eek: I’ve been using my flashers to alert oncoming drivers whose lights are off, or to warn them when there’s a major obstruction up ahead. I’ll stop this practice, just like I’ve stopped tooting my horn and waving goodbye to my family when I leave for big trips (I learned horns are indeed not intended for that purpose- now I just wave.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/31 "2011-12-14T16:18:12Z")
I flash my brights at oncoming cars in two situations: 1. Brights are on, dumbass. 2. Lights are off, dumbass. I flash my brights at cars passing me to let them know it’s safe to come back into my lane. That’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/32 "2011-12-14T16:50:05Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > :rolleyes: > > They don’t put flashers in cars to be used to warn other drivers that there are cops ahead (or to say hi to your friends or any other such nonsense). > > The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. That’s it, that’s the list. > > Unfortunately the majority of US drivers are not properly educated on how to drive. I must be misunderstanding. Why the rolleyes? I (and other posters) are remarking on how they are actually used in the US, not what they are “meant” for. (I don’t think the ability to flash your high beams was “meant” for anything in particular.) The legality of their use will vary by jurisdiction. Some do not allow flashing brights for any reason whatsoever. Others will allow it for passing, but not on multi-lane highways. Others ([like Florida](http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=212)) encourages you to use them “if a vehicle comes toward you with high beams, flash your lights to high beam and back to low beam once.” ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/33 "2011-12-14T17:06:48Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Aww… I thought the thread was going to be about exposing yourself. ☹ > > And yes, you might get a little cool, particularly if it happens to be winter. In Lapland it’s so cold during Winter that flashers just describe themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/34 "2011-12-14T17:17:49Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. There’s a “flasher” feature of headlights? I’ve never seen it. Always figured that manually flashing your lights when coming up behind someone meant “impatient driver demonstrating rudeness”. It’s commonplace around here to briefly flick your brights on at night to alert an oncoming driver that he has forgotten to dim his own. Not cool to wait until he’s on top of you and then turn your brights on in an attempt to blind him. And I do occasionally warn other drivers of speed traps by flashing lights briefly. It may have been discussed on this board before, but cops don’t seem to have much legal standing to ticket you for this. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/35 "2011-12-14T17:32:05Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > And I do occasionally warn other drivers of speed traps by flashing lights briefly. It may have been discussed on this board before, but cops don’t seem to have much legal standing to ticket you for this. Depends on the jurisdiction. It’s been tried in the courts. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlight_flashing) has a reasonable round-up of headlight flashing and legality in various states. ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/36 "2011-12-14T17:51:42Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > :rolleyes: > > They don’t put flashers in cars to be used to warn other drivers that there are cops ahead (or to say hi to your friends or any other such nonsense). > > The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. That’s it, that’s the list. > > Unfortunately the majority of US drivers are not properly educated on how to drive. Was trained to drive by a former state trooper who loved to bring up arcane and impractical laws, as a way of showing that there are enough laws on the books to get even the best driver pulled over, given enough time. Was trained by this gentleman that the purpose for flashing high beams (or a quick lights off/lights on) is to: 1. Alert oncoming traffic to a hazard in the road (only within a mile of the hazard) 2. Alert passing traffic, mainly tractor-trailers, that it is safe to merge into your lane 3. Alert oncoming vehicle to dim its lights or to turn on its headlights if not on Of course, I was also told to NEVER, EVER, NEVER use it to alert oncoming traffic to speedtraps. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/37 "2011-12-14T18:29:11Z")
> [@](#): > > FREE Article Preview > Buy Complete Document > Proper Passing Technique > [FINAL Edition] > The Washington Post (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Washington, D.C. > Date: Apr 30, 1996 > Start Page: A.12 > Section: OP/ED > Text Word Count: 138 > > _ **Contrary to Alice Reid’s March 18 news story “Increasing Threat Seen From Macho Motorists,” the flashing of headlights is not an aggressive driving tactic. Rather, it’s the proper signal to use when fast approaching a slower car in the left, or passing, lane of a highway.** _ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22097225.html?dids=22097225:22097225&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+30%2C+1996&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Proper+Passing+Technique&pqatl=google](http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/22097225.html?dids=22097225:22097225&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+30%2C+1996&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Proper+Passing+Technique&pqatl=google) Yes… using the flasher to signal another driver to pull out of a parking space, or that their headlights are off… those have become uses of the flasher. But the original purpose is to signal your intent to pass. Unfortunately many (most) drivers in the US have the attitude that they can drive at any speed they want in any lane they want and therefore consider any flash as an aggressive means of communicating “get out of my way.” Actually it is much more aggressive (passive) to _not_ move over. The rolleyes is for those who think it flashing is to warn drivers of a police trap or some such. Don’t worry I have you covered, and I will flash you to warn you of a speed trap. But that is not the intended purpose of headlight flashers, and I :rolleyes: if you really think it is. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/38 "2011-12-14T18:46:37Z")
I flash my brights if they have left their brights on, or if there is some obstruction up ahead that they should slow down for. If the other driver has left his lights off, I flick my lights on and off. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/39 "2011-12-14T18:57:15Z")
I think at least one reader has misunderstood the use of “flashing” in the OP and replies. I don’t think anyone is talking about turn indicators or hazard lights: we’re discussing a brief flick of headlights from on to off, or from high to low beams. But maybe I’m the one misunderstanding? I’ve never heard of using headlights as in indication of the intent to pass: that’s what turn signals are for. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/40 "2011-12-14T19:13:23Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I think at least one reader has misunderstood the use of “flashing” in the OP and replies. I don’t think anyone is talking about turn indicators or hazard lights: we’re discussing a brief flick of headlights from on to off, or from high to low beams. But maybe I’m the one misunderstanding? I’ve never heard of using headlights as in indication of the intent to pass: that’s what turn signals are for. Please look at the quote from the Wash Post in post #37. The headlight flasher thingy is to signal your intent to pass. That is its sole purpose. Furthermore… if someone coming at you has their high beams on the correct (and safe) driver reaction is to look away from the oncoming lights and focus on the line on the road that is parallel to the shoulder. Okay, so there are exceptions. Waaay down the road the driver coming at you has his high beams on you flash to ask him to turn them off. He should oblige. If he doesn’t you look away… you don’t flash him when he is on top of you where you could possibly cause an accident. Also… in a parking lot… use the flasher to let the driver know it is okay to back out (or whatever). Some posts above say they use them to tell a truck it is okay to move back into the lane. All well and good uses of the flasher. However, the fact is the primary purpose is to signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass and that driver should then yield. Unfortunately these lessons are not taught in US driving schools. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094.md?page=3)