How do these things start?

[Showal]

I was driving back to work from lunch and on the one wooded road, two drivers passing me flashed their lights. Everyone who drives knows what this means. I slowed down and sure enough, after the next patch of trees, there was a cop hiding.

How do these things start? How did it get so widespread that it's almost instinctual for people to slow down when they see someone flashing their lights around a bend or something along those lines? I'm pretty sure you can get pulled over and ticketed for warning other people but people still do it. Anyone know how these things originate?

[Chaddy]

You can most definetly be ticketed for that they'll bang ya for obstruction of justice. As far as where it originated I'm not overly certain.

[Showal]

I imagine getting out of that ticket would be easier than someone getting out of a speeding ticket. "I just hit it by accident". I guess all they can really say is "no, you did it on purpose". Plus most times you can't even be seen if you're not facing the cop anymore. Just interesting.

Someone suggested that a group of friends must have decided upon it and it just carried on from there. But what's the chance of someone passing a cop and the person going the other direction happens to be one of their friends they decided to do this with and understood the meaning of the lights flashing? More times than not you can drive down the street and not see a cop. It's pretty unlikely you drive by a speed trap and the person coming the other way happens to be a friend.

[HarmNone]

I understood it started as trucker's code, but I'm not sure that's fact.

[Showal]

That's actually most likely. I never thought of that.

[Kitsun]

I've only heard of it just a few weeks ago. Before that the only reason I thought someone would flash highbeams was to let them know they forgot to turn their headlights on.

[Chelle]

Here in Okla people do that to warn people of nearby cops, too. It's cool. I had heard it was started by truckers, as well.

[kranfer]

CB Radios work wonders :)

[Chelle]

Yep if they're tuned in on the same channel. :aww:

[SpunGirl]

That's interesting, this is the first time I've ever heard of that. It must be a farther-east thing.

-K

[Drew2]

We totally do that in Texas. It pwnz.

[Soulpieced]

I've had it done in Chicago, North Carolina, and MD.

[Ravenstorm]

It's done in NY too.

Raven

[Snapp]

Whoever thought of it deserves a lot of props. It's saved me twice from potential tickets on the way to the beach.

[ElanthianSiren]

We do it in PA too.

Pretty much flashing lights are a sign in traffic too to slow down or pay closer attention (or get off the road).

-M

[Jazuela]

It started out as a trucker code. There were a couple of different flashes. One of them was a warning that there's a cop close by. Another was "something really horrible is happening and you should test your brakes now, before you have to actually use them within the next mile."

If the trucker's behind you, a quick double-flash means "get the fuck out of my way, please."

If you slow down to let a passing truck get in your lane ahead of you, and he flashes his brake lights (or back driving lights) he's thanking you for letting him get into your lane.

Edited to add: If you want a trucker to know he can get ahead of you (and that's why you're slowing down), a single on-off flash of your headlights is the signal for that. It usually works best at night, when anyone driving to your side or behind you can see your headlights suddenly flash off and on again. It also signals "You're welcome" if he flashes his brakes to thank you after he's moved ahead of you.

Often these flashes are accompanied by mentions on channel 19, if you're all truckers and all on the CB. I remember some interesting conversations back in the day, heh. And it's true - they know the best places to get coffee, and a cheap but clean motel room to crash in overnight if you've been driving too long and really need to sleep.

[Edited on 10-7-2005 by Jazuela]

[Hips]

It's done in CT but apparently not in MI.

[GSLady17]

Originally posted by HarmNone
I understood it started as trucker's code, but I'm not sure that's fact.


That is correct. I was wondering if anyone was going to know that.


As for farther east thing, I'm in Washington state and it's very well known here. Maybe just not in some states....?


They also really crack down on flashing your lights here. (at least they did in my county) If you say it was an accident they will look in your car and say something like oh...no garbage bag...yep, that's a ticket.

My friend got a ticket like that and the cops had actually set up a trap...one in the open....another hiding to see if cars flashed their lights.

But then this all started when they said, hey you police need to write "this many" tickets a month.

[Edited on 10-8-2005 by GSLady17]

[AbnInfamy]

[i]
If the trucker's behind you, a quick double-flash means "get the fuck out of my way, please."
[Edited on 10-7-2005 by Jazuela]

Maybe sometimes, but not always so ruthless. Passing in semis is (or at least used to be, a lot of the young drivers these days don't know the customs) is like a dance. You may get a prepatory flash, just kind of a heads up, and the truck will start passing you. It is your job once the truck gets sufficiently ahead of you that you send them a quick couple flashes of the headlights letting them know their trailer is clear and they can merge safely.

No reason to start making all these people believe every trucker on the road is some raging maniac trying to log their miles across country. :)

[Jazuela]

Heh that's why I included the "please." I was trying to be humorous about it. You're absolutely right - they are asking to get ahead of you, or at least for you to move to another lane (often that happens when you're in the middle lane, the passing lane is clear, and the slow lane is full). They're saying, "I'm on my way to where you are now, and it would be less risky for you to move, than for me to slow down."

Truckers need a lot more time to slow down than you need to move to another lane. That's even if they're not going fast, and it's especially if they're carrying a full load. And *especially* if they're carrying a full load, on a decline, into a speed limit reduction or traffic. The more room you give them, the less likely there is for someone nearby to panic and cause an accident. (OMG this truck's blasting through and we're all gonna die!!!! slam on the brakes, cause the guy behind you to slam into you, and boom - instant highway statistics)

[Rainy Day]

I'm on the west coast and this is the first I've heard of the cop warning thing too. I always thought it was just a reminder about your headlights. Or the occasional signal to the car in front that they're going under the speed limit and please either speed up or get the fuck out of the way.

RD

[Himmy]

Originally posted by Tayre
We totally do that in Texas. It pwnz.

:yeahthat:

[Kyra]

Originally posted by GS3 Michiko
It's done in CT but apparently not in MI.

Southern MI it is according to friends who drive semi :shrug:

The trucking company my ex works for doesn't allow CB's in their trucks so the flashing lights signals come into play for him a lot.

K.

[Neildo]

If you say it was an accident they will look in your car and say something like oh...no garbage bag...yep, that's a ticket.

Say what, you can get a ticket for not having a place to dispose trash in?

Gotta watch out for smokey!

- N