# What Does Flashing One's Headlights Mean to You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764 "2005-03-29T13:54:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/21 "2005-03-29T19:41:27Z")
The last time someone flashed their brights at me was because I was in the left lane and they were in too much of a hurry to wait until I passed the person on the right to get around me. In other words, the guy flashing his lights said “Hi! I’m an asshole!” Thankfully a trucker up ahead saw this and started overtaking the truck ahead of him, so asshat-guy had to wait anyway. No use flashing a trucker. Just in case you’re wondering, the guy wasn’t in very much of a hurry, because after the truck finally overtook the other and got over, asshat cut him off and slammed on his brakes. Yeah, that’s smart, braking abruptly in front of an eighteen wheeler. Guy was an idiot all the way around. ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/22 "2005-03-29T19:43:14Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > So that’s how you spell padiddle! I’m not sure if that’s the proper spelling or not. I guessed. Hit the dashboard for a padiddle? I always hit the roof of the car. I hit the dashboard when going under a yellow light. For the record, what happens when you see a padiddle before your passenger does? My friends and I have discussed various rules for this scenario, and none have heard the same rules I have. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/23 "2005-03-29T20:04:44Z")
What the hell is a ‘padiddle’? ---
**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:** [March 29, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/24 "2005-03-29T20:09:56Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > What the hell is a ‘padiddle’? A car with one working headlight. And we kiss our hand and touch the roof of the car with it. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/25 "2005-03-29T20:13:57Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Interesting…I’d been hearing lately that cops are stopping people for doing it, too, but I found an article about a judge in Tennessee who cleared a driver of charges for flashing his headlights to warn of a speed trap because it was considered [free speech](http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/10/41877517.shtml). A buddy who is a LEO tells me that it could be prosecuted under the concept of interfering with the duties/activity of a law enforcement officer. Lacking a backup cite, I’d take that with a few grains of salt. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/26 "2005-03-29T20:15:14Z")
As I’m used to it, the meaning is for the person ahead of you to turn on their headlights, without any other meanings attached. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/27 "2005-03-29T20:16:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > A car with one working headlight. > > And we kiss our hand and touch the roof of the car with it. My first real girlfriend (nudge, wink) claimed each padiddle as a reason to make out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/28 "2005-03-29T20:42:55Z")
All that has been said, but add: You have those annoying blue lights that are so bright that they are as blinding as normal highbeams, and I have to go to highbeams to see the road. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/29 "2005-03-29T20:48:44Z")
> [@wasson](#): > > Hit the dashboard for a padiddle? I always hit the roof of the car. I hit the dashboard when going under a yellow light. For the record, what happens when you see a padiddle before your passenger does? My friends and I have discussed various rules for this scenario, and none have heard the same rules I have. First, going under a yellow light is scratch the roof, knock on the windshield. Not slap the dashboard. Puhleease. And you do this to protect you from cops. Second, first person to slap the dashboard for a padiddle gets the “win.” Three in a day is a kiss (I’ve only ever heard kiss, not make out session, **danceswithcats**. I don’t know any other rules than that one. ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/30 "2005-03-29T21:39:55Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > First, going under a yellow light is scratch the roof, knock on the windshield. Not slap the dashboard. Puhleease. And you do this to protect you from cops. > > Second, first person to slap the dashboard for a padiddle gets the “win.” Three in a day is a kiss (I’ve only ever heard kiss, not make out session, **danceswithcats**. I don’t know any other rules than that one. I’ve always tapped the dash 3 times when going under a yellow. I’ve heard its for luck and to protect from the cops. I’ve never gotten a ticket (well, not for running a light), so I’m going to keep slappin’. I’ve heard the “winner” of the padiddle gets to kiss or punch the “loser”, whichever the winner prefers. I’ve never heard the “three” rule. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/31 "2005-03-29T21:47:30Z")
One can flash their headlights two different ways… 1. momentarily turn the lights off then back on. 2. momentarily switch to “high beams” and then back to normal. Case 1 is used to mean good things or give friendly warnings (you have space to merge ahead of me, you should turn your lights on/off, thank you, etc). Case 2 is used to mean bad things or give less friendly warnings (speed trap ahead, turn off your brights- jackass, hey you stupid no-look-lane-changing-bastard I’m driving here!, slower traffic keep right, etc.) The rate and duration of flashing and the specifics of the situation should make the meaning clear even if someone doesn’t know which case to use. With the expection of merging on the highway. I hate those poeple that flash their brights at me right as I’m starting to merge as a way of friendly encouragement. “Well, I did think I had enough space, but now I think you’re telling me I don’t _and_ I’m too blind to see if you’ve moved.” grrr. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/32 "2005-03-30T02:59:29Z")
I agree with the cop ahead and turn your lights on or off meanings. That’s what I always thought they meant. Then again, I never knew about padiddles or tapping the dashboard so my car etiquette education is probably lacking. As an aside, I have a minivan and the lights seem to sit higher on it than on most cars. I was constanly having people flash their high beams at me because they thought I had my high beams on, this is extremely annoying, especially when they do it just as they come even with you. Don’t flash your high beams at people unless you are absolutely sure they have their high beams on and do it when you are far enough away so you won’t blind them. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/33 "2005-03-30T03:13:28Z")
If the car flashed its lights by turning on its high beams and then turning them off again - it’s telling you that you have your high beams on. If the car just flashed its normal headlights - there’s a booze bus or a radar just ahead. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/34 "2005-03-30T03:15:44Z")
Flashed headlights either mean: a) Turn your headlights on (to a vehicle going in the opposite direction) b) Cop ahead (to a vehicle in the opposite direction) c) Go ahead and merge in front of me (I find that pretty much only truckers know this usage) My standard “thank you response” to people employing usage C is to blink my hazards twice (accomplishes the same think as tapping the brake without slowing you down.) ---
**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:** [March 30, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/35 "2005-03-30T03:17:34Z")
Crap, and there’s also d) Turn off your friggin’ highbeams! Upon reflection, I revise usages B and agree with **Cuntator**. The normal way to signal “cop ahead” is to turn your headlights off and on (or on and off in the day), not flash your highbeams. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/36 "2005-03-30T03:28:43Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > To indicate to someone who’s waiting to join traffic that you’ll let him, what we do here is signal left-right-left, very fast, while slowing down to let them in. Is that also used as a “thank you” to someone who has let you in? Monday night I was driving to class, and high-beam-flashed a car that was trying to merge into my lane … I got the right-left-right thing in return, which I’d never seen before. I thought it was kinda cool. Maybe the driver was from Spain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/37 "2005-03-30T03:54:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > c) Go ahead and merge in front of me (I find that pretty much only truckers know this usage) We don’t do that around here. You’re expected to figure out if you can fit in by yourself. Although, if someone obviously lets you in, it’s good manners to wave thank-you. Around here, you flash your lights to send one of the following three messages: [ul][li]“Turn on your lights! You can’t see in the dark, and even if you can, we can’t!”[/li](Oncoming car, at sunset, or when some unusual weather condition has reduced visibility.) [li]“Turn off your brights, asshole!”[/li](Oncoming traffic, at night. If said traffic swerves into a ditch, then you know without a doubt that this was the message.) [li]“WARNING! Speed trap ahead!”[/li](Oncoming traffic, potentially any time, especially if you’re approaching a spot where the cops like set up shop. If you live in the area, you probably know where these spots are.) [/ul] I’ve heard of people getting tickets for “interfering with a police operation” or somesuch offense for warning people of speed traps. If you’re going to warn oncoming cars, you’d best wait until you’re out of the cop’s sight. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/38 "2005-03-30T04:18:26Z")
The only person I’ve ever known who flashed his headlights always meant “Get the fuck out of the left lane so I can drive faster, Asshole Who Is Only Going Eighty MPH!” Usually this was accompanied by tailgating. As evidence in this thread, flashing headlights mean so many things to so many people that when I see them I check to make sure that my headlights are on but not on high, and if there’s nothing wrong with them I just sort of assume the other car was being odd. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/39 "2005-03-30T04:58:53Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > We don’t do that around here. You’re expected to figure out if you can fit in by yourself. Although, if someone obviously lets you in, it’s good manners to wave thank-you. I normally only do this to truckers, where there might be a question of whether there is room to fit. Every single trucker I’ve come across knows this signal and does the hazards/two-taps-on-the-brake thank you in return. Oh, yes, flashing highbeams means “move the fuck out the lane” if you’re in the passing (leftmost) lane on a multi-lane road. This is mostly used by European drivers, though (particularly Germans.) In the States I consider it somewhat rude, but in Europe it seems so commonplace as to not take it personally (besides, lane discipline there actually followed for the most part. It’s very rare to get passed on the right.) Oh, and in a highway with only one lane in each directions, trucks will often signal that it’s clear for you to pass them by putting on their left turn signal. (Once again, I believe this may be just a European thing.) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764/40 "2005-03-30T05:39:52Z")
Flashing your headlights at someone means that you want the car passing you turn on their lights. Then that car will stop and the people will get out and shoot you as part of a gang initiation. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-flashing-ones-headlights-mean-to-you/296764.md?page=3)