Headlight flashing

icon indicating that high beams are illuminated Headlight flashing is the act of either briefly switching on the headlights of a car, or of momentarily switching between a headlight's high beams and low beams, in an effort to communicate with another driver or drivers. The signal is sometimes referred to in car manufacturers' manuals as an optical horn, since it draws the attention of other drivers. The signal is intended to convey a warning to other drivers of road hazards.

icon indicating that high beams are illuminated]] Headlight flashing is the act of either briefly switching on the headlights of a car, or of momentarily switching between a headlight's high beams and low beams, in an effort to communicate with another driver or drivers. The signal is sometimes referred to in car manufacturers' manuals as an optical horn, since it draws the attention of other drivers. The signal is intended to convey a warning to other drivers of road hazards.

History

Headlight flashing might have come into more common use as a means of attempting driver-to-driver communication by the mid-1970s, when cars began to come with headlight beam selectors located on the steering column—typically activated by pulling the turn signal stalk—rather than the previous foot-operated pushbutton switches. The signal stalk configuration was later wired to permit the momentary activation of the high beams regardless of whether the headlamp switch was turned on or off. Motorcycle headlamp modulators automatically oscillate the intensity of the headlamp in an effort to make the motorcycle more conspicuous to other drivers.

Uses

Headlight flashing attracts attention, and so can be considered the visual equivalent of blowing the horn. Indeed, some car owner's manuals identify headlight control on the steering column as the "optical horn". Like the horn, it has many uses: Letting other drivers know of one's presence. Acknowledging the presence or actions of other drivers. Signaling that the flashing driver is yielding the right of way, for example at an intersection controlled by stop signs. Warning other drivers of road dangers, such as crashed cars or police speed traps. Giving thanks to other drivers. For example, when one is warned of police presence, it is sometimes considered courteous to flash back. Informing other drivers of problems with their car, such as headlamps left off after dark, burned out or misaligned lights, or misuse of high beam rather than low beam in traffic; or to berate a driver who poses a risk to traffic. Headlight flashing coupled with blowing the car's horn can help clear deer from a driver's path. Indicating the intention to overtake another driver, or to signal a driver who has just overtaken that they can now return to the original lane. Flashing can request or insist that a leading driver speed up or change lanes to get out of the way of a faster following driver. Headlight flashing may sometimes play a part in aggressive driving, and can be used in an attempt to intimidate others into speeding or otherwise driving unsafely. Headlight flashing may also indicate protest or celebration of an event or political position. Some drivers attempt to communicate "I will continue my current behavior!" when flashing their headlights. For example, if such a driver flashes his or her headlights while slowing down, they intend to communicate to another driver who is waiting to merge in traffic: "Go on, I will let you merge!" On the other hand, if such a driver keeps his or her current speed and flashes headlights, they intend to communicate "Stay back, I am not slowing down!"

Legality and meaning

Australia

Headlight flashing to warn drivers of traffic enforcement cameras is illegal in the state of Queensland, carrying a $30 fine and one demerit point, or a $1500 fine if the fine is unsuccessfully challenged in court. Officers may either fine a driver for improper use of headlights, or may even arrest and prosecute for hindering police. In the state of South Australia, headlight flashing by regular drivers (that is, not a police officer, etc.) for any reason is illegal, except in emergency purposes and immediately before overtaking. In Victoria, Traffic Superintendent Dean McWhirter has said he is happy for motorists to flash their lights to warn other motorists they were approaching a speed camera in 2013.

Bangladesh

Headlight flashing is common in Bangladesh, where roads are sometimes narrow and lane discipline is lax. It is done by large vehicles such as buses or trucks to alert smaller, more maneuverable vehicles to their presence and to encourage them to make way, for example by moving to the side of the road.

Canada

In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act does not prohibit "flashing head beams". Some have brought tickets to court, claiming the law only regulates the use of alternating lights in an attempt to impersonate emergency and law enforcement vehicles, and not a driver's manually flashing his car's headlamps to communicate with other drivers. The section that deals with alternating headlights in Ontario is Section 169 of the Highway Traffic Act. It is an offence to improperly use high-beams at night, which is dealt with by way of section 168 of the Highway Traffic Act.

India

In India, headlight flashing has different meanings to different drivers in different places and situations, though frequently means a request to give way. Despite government attempts to curb misuse, the high beam is frequently used as the standard for night time driving by a substantial number of vehicles, given the proportionately poorly lit roads and highways. Tamil Nadu law explicitly prohibits the use of headlight flashing; the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules state that ‘lights are not to be used or manipulated in a manner that causes danger or undue inconvenience to a person by dazzle’, under Section 495.

Jamaica

On some occasions, motorists who flashed their headlights to warn of police activity have unwittingly helped fugitives evade police. In 2008, one of Jamaica's most wanted men went around police checkpoints which had been set up on his most likely routes after a driver had flashed his headlights to warn of police ahead. Drivers were warned that flashing headlights may result in "unwittingly facilitating criminal activity".

Philippines

Headlight flashing is understood and practiced differently in the Philippines compared to the usual global context. Drivers in the Philippines use headlight flashing to inform vehicles and pedestrians of their presence, which may mean simply yielding to others or asserting one's right of way. Thus, vehicles and pedestrians may proceed with crossing the road or are obliged to stop and give way to the other vehicle that has flashed its headlights. This has become the norm that in crossroads, that whoever flashed their headlights first, gets to safely cross first. Moreover, it has something to do with performing overtakes. A vehicle that wishes to overtake a slower moving one in front of it, may flash its headlights a few times to signify the intent to overtake.

United Kingdom

Though not all of its rules represent law, the Highway Code states "Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users". Headlight flashing in the United Kingdom is often used as a signal that the driver flashing you is offering to let you go first. Such use is however strongly discouraged because it can lead to accidents where the driver flashing has not seen the approach of another road user. Using it to indicate that you are coming through and the other driver must wait, could lead to an accident. Drivers should also be aware of the so-called "Flash-for-Cash" scam, in which criminals flash their lights to let other drivers out of a junction, then crash into them on purpose in order to make fraudulent insurance claims for damage and whiplash injury.

United States

In the United States, although the legality of headlight flashing varies from state to state, a federal court ruled that flashing headlights was a constitutionally protected form of speech, issuing an injunction prohibiting a police department from citing or prosecuting drivers who flash their lights to warn of radar and speed traps. On 23 April 2019, another court ruled that headlight flashing may be protected by the First Amendment. Two state circuit courts have also ruled that headlight flashing is protected activity. Some states consider that drivers have a First Amendment right to flash their headlights. In other states, law enforcement officers may give citations for headlight flashing under laws prohibiting a person from obstructing a police investigation, laws prohibiting a person from having flashing lights on their vehicle, or laws prohibiting shining a vehicle's high beams at oncoming traffic. The specific language of each law varies by state along with courts' holdings on whether their respective laws prohibit headlight flashing. Additionally, although not legally binding, the state driver's manual of some states suggests flashing high beams under specific scenarios (e.g., if an oncoming vehicle is using its high beams, driver's manuals suggest a motorist flash his or her high beams momentarily). Section 46.37.230 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) states that drivers may not use their high beams within of oncoming traffic, or within of traffic in front of them, meaning that flashing high beams could be considered illegal. However, at least in the case of oncoming traffic, other courts interpreting a statute similar to this one have held that momentary headlight flashing which does not adversely affect the vision of the oncoming driver is not prohibited. Under Washington's law, violating RCW 46.37.230 may result in a $124 traffic infraction.

Urban legend

Beginning in the early 1980s, a widespread rumor regarding flashing headlights was spread mainly through fax, and later on the Internet. The rumor stated that various gangs across the United States carry out an initiation wherein the initiate drives around at night with his headlights off. Whichever driver flashes his headlamps in response to the unlit car becomes the target; to complete the initiation, the prospective gang member must hunt down and shoot, kill, assault, or rape the target. The story was widely spread by many government organizations, including the New Mexico State Police. This rumor has been proven an urban legend. The story originated in Montana in the early 1980s, where it was rumored that the Hells Angels bike gang was initiating recruits in this way. By 1984, the story had spread to Eugene, Oregon, where it had morphed into a story of Latino and black gangs targeting whites. In August 1993, the story once again appeared, this time spread through fax and email forwarding. Warning of a "blood initiation weekend" on 25 and 26 September, the rumor this time led some police departments to issue warnings after having received the fake ones. In February 1994, a resident of Massillon, Ohio, revived the rumor by issuing flyers which claimed that killings would take place at Westfield Belden Village. After a night of sending faxes to local businesses, the person was arrested for inciting panic. The rumor once again spread in October 1998 with a new fax, this time claiming to originate with a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer in Texas. The rumor spread further when officials in the San Diego government circulated the fax among city agencies; this version of the fax, though quickly dismissed within city government when it was found that the Sheriff's office had no real connection to it, now appeared to be a legitimate government-issued document. Also in the fall of 1998, the Sheriff's office of Nassau County, Florida, sent a warning about such gang initiation to the county fire department, who subsequently spread the fax to all county agencies. Police dispatcher Ann Johnson had thought the message urgent enough to send, but had not bothered to check its legitimacy. A resurgengce of the rumor spread via email in 2006, claiming to be a warning from the police about an initiation ritual by the Bloods. Judy Muller, Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Southern California, investigated the accuracy of the rumor for NPR, and easily confirmed it was false with her local police force. She subsequently attended a press conference hosted by a single alleged representative of the gang, Bloodhound, who stated "we believe the police put this out there to make us look like criminals." Bloodhound was unaware this was a rumor that had been spreading for years. There was a resurgence of this rumor in 2020, fueled via social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, and claimed to be from Chubb Electronic Security, who was working with D.A.R.E - despite a South African address on the letterhead. The rumor provided inspiration for the 1998 film Urban Legend, and served as a plot device in Mark Billingham's 2008 novel In the Dark. An incident inspired by this legend is the catalyst for the 2007 film Death Sentence.

See also

Motorcycle headlamp modulator Wig-wag, automatic headlight flashing device

References

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Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1372724970 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.