Could you see this working in the UK?

[whitenemesis]

Extract from Wiki on German traffic laws..

"The legal regulations (Straßenverkehrsordnung) explicitly allow drivers to honk or flash headlights shortly in order to indicate intention of overtaking.[10]. Obtrusive behaviour of the potentially overtaking car, such as constantly flashing headlights or driving at insufficient distances for a longer period of time is illegal and may be prosecuted as coercion. This may also apply to drivers not allowing faster cars to overtake their car if the traffic situation allows it (e.g. by occupying the left-hand lane for a longer period of time"

Although I think we already have laws that would cover this behavior I don't think they are as explicit?

Apparently the Swiss are very "enthusiastic" users of this particular allowance when they cross onto the German autobahn!

 

[wemorgan]

I sometimes flash my lights twice at cars needlessly travelling in the middle lane if I want to overtake.

It's clear they are not using their mirrors, so I hope a quick flash of the lights brings me and others to their attention.

Not sure if it's legal here though.

 

[ollieclk]

Just put your indicator on, it works for me and is not offensive at all.

 

[NewMB]

Not so sure if I could see your post nor my points below working in the UK, but a few things we could adopt are:

1. Lorries - NOT allowed to overtake on Motorways and Dual Carriageways (like in Germany).

2. Lane discipline. The "Fast" lane are used as overtaking lane only. If you continue driving in this lane, a penalty would be issued (also like in Germany among others).

3. Allow "L" drivers to learn (!) on Motorways!!

4. Introduce driving bans for all trucks over 3 tonnes on Sundays (Sat 2200-Sun 2200 Hrs) as in Germany, France, Poland amonth many other countries. Makes driving certainly easier and more enjoyable.

 

[NewMB]

I sometimes flash my lights twice at cars needlessly travelling in the middle lane if I want to overtake.

It's clear they are not using their mirrors, so I hope a quick flash of the lights brings me and others to their attention.

Not sure if it's legal here though.

You are not allowed to flash a car in front of you in order for them to move over.... can loose your licence this way (according to the copper I spoke to - who did not stop me - I asked!).

 

[flango]

Not so sure if I could see your post nor my points below working in the UK, but a few things we could adopt are:

1. Lorries - NOT allowed to overtake on Motorways and Dual Carriageways (like in Germany).

2. Lane discipline. The "Fast" lane are used as overtaking lane only. If you continue driving in this lane, a penalty would be issued (also like in Germany among others).

3. Allow "L" drivers to learn (!) on Motorways!!

I agree with all of the above and have advocated Lorries not being allowed to overtake on Motorways for ages. There are some stretches in the UK where they have done this M42 north of Birmingham and A1m South of Newcastle and it works brilliant, roll it out accross the network I say :bannana:

 

[NewMB]

I agree with all of the above and have advocated Lorries not being allowed to overtake on Motorways for ages. There are some stretches in the UK where they have done this M42 north of Birmingham and A1m South of Newcastle and it works brilliant, roll it out accross the network I say :bannana:

Agree!!

Seen my amendment (4.)?

 

[flango]

You are not allowed to flash a car in front of you in order for them to move over.... can loose your licence this way (according to the copper I spoke to - who did not stop me - I asked!).

If you sit behind the car and flash your lights then they class it as agressive behaviour and road rage , however if you flash your lights to make him aware you are there and then perform an overtake , that's perfectly legal

 

[wemorgan]

If you sit behind the car and flash your lights then they class it as agressive behaviour and road rage , however if you flash your lights to make him aware you are there and then perform an overtake , that's perfectly legal

That was my rough understanding....though i can't find any mention of this in the Highway code

 

[NewMB]

That was my rough understanding....though i can't find any mention of this in the Highway code

Can pos by very easily missunderstood I think.

 

[whitenemesis]

In Germany one flashes the lights as a request for them to move over and let one pass. If he doesn't he is liable to prosecution. Bit like the blue flag in F1

 

[flango]

That was my rough understanding....though i can't find any mention of this in the Highway code

I don't think it is in there, but it is in Roadcraft and the Avanced driver training stuff from IAM & RoSPA etc.

 

[PXW]

Per online Highway code:

110

Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

So my reading is that if some twerp is sitting in the middle lane at 60, I can flash my headlamps to tell him I am there (he clearly doesn't know that or else he would have moved over). What I cannot do is park on his rear bumper flashing my lights until he gives way.

 

[petermansell]

Per online Highway code:

110

Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

So my reading is that if some twerp is sitting in the middle lane at 60, I can flash my headlamps to tell him I am there (he clearly doesn't know that or else he would have moved over). What I cannot do is park on his rear bumper flashing my lights until he gives way.

One of the problems with flashing the driver in front to let them know you are present and that you may overtake is that they can assume you are letting them overtake (or proposing it) - so then just as you accelerate they pull out. This can happen quite a bit on country roads and because of it I will hoot but not flash

 

[James Rothwell]

Just put your indicator on, it works for me and is not offensive at all.

Works well on the A3 to Stuttgart if you're in an M5 with lights on but it rarely works on the A3 to Hindhead.

 

[davidjpowell]

I occasionaly flash my lights when overtaking on country roads. But it is usually to make sure that the road really is straight and clear, and would not have been necessary had the slower car had the courtesy to use main beam when available to them as an option.

 

[PXW]

One of the problems with flashing the driver in front to let them know you are present and that you may overtake is that they can assume you are letting them overtake (or proposing it) - so then just as you accelerate they pull out. This can happen quite a bit on country roads and because of it I will hoot but not flash

Agreed, on country roads a flash is likely to be confusing - personally I would just choose the gap and use indicators, staying ready on the horn in case they decided to do something daft. I was more referring to the typical motorway/dual carriageway situation where somebody is blocking an outside lane; then there is less scope for confusion.

Strangely, on our roads hooting seems very often to be seen as aggressive for some reason - I think it's cultural - but in my experience people will react more angrily to being hooted than being flashed (so to speak, before the comedy modders get to me) even though both actions according to the highway code perform roughly the same function.

 

[cjab98]

It won't work unless people change their attitude on the road. Asside from the lane hoggers who are completely oblivious to anything around them, too many people get offended by it for some odd reason.

 

[Stratman]

I suspect it would work about as well as the laws banning using a mobile phone while driving, going through red lights, speeding, and about a squillion other regulations which are not enforced.

 

[CE230]

I agree with all of the above and have advocated Lorries not being allowed to overtake on Motorways for ages. There are some stretches in the UK where they have done this M42 north of Birmingham and A1m South of Newcastle and it works brilliant, roll it out accross the network I say :bannana:

The M42 bit is only for a short section, if only they had made it three lanes instead of two