Man caught warning motorists of speed camera is fined

[jaysay]

I remember some years ago I was setting of on a work trip at 7am Sunday morning, we were travelling down the M6, which was deserted, when we came across this elderly couple idling down the middle lane at about 35mph, my mate started flashing for the driver to move to the slow lane, no chance, his wife was looking out through the back window looking daggers at us, eventually after a few miles he actually moved over, as we drew level this chap shouts there's another lane out there why not uses it, to which I informed him in words of one syllable that HGVs were not allowed in the fast lane

[Studio25]

Originally Posted by glasgow guy

A driver prosecuted for flashing his headlights to warn motorists of a mobile police speed gun has defended his actions as his "civic duty".

Michael Thompson, 64, was pulled over by officers in Grimsby in July after warning several oncoming cars.

He was fined £175 and ordered to pay £250 costs after being found guilty of wilfully obstructing a police officer in the course of her duties.

Thompson said: "I flashed motorists to warn them of a hazard."

What he probably doesn't realise is that if everyone did that, then average speeds would go up. The basis for that theory is that drivers would feel comfortable driving faster as they would get advance warnings of traps. So his civic duty theory is flawed in my opinion.

I'm surprised the police got away with a conviction, though. Misuse of lamps is worthy of a verbal warning at most. How can the police complain about him obstructing their duties when there are plenty of websites, satnavs and AA road maps that also warn drivers of speed camera locations. Nottingham CC (and others, I'm sure) have a website warning of their own temporary speed camera locations on a week by week basis.

Originally Posted by glasgow guy

He said he was "very surprised" when he was pulled over by police.
...
"I stand by what I did. What I did was right and lawful.

The police should have pulled him over, I agree with them for that. He should just have been given a ticking off for using his main beam lamps inappropriately. According to the highway code, they should only be flashed to warn other road users of your presence. Car signals are indiscriminate - they are one-way broadcasts to road users and pedestrians that can see or hear them. Because they apply to everyone, their meaning should be unambiguous - however these days a horn can mean:

• You're an idiot
• Your taxi is here
• Hey - I know you - wave at me
• I'm approaching a blind corner if you can hear this, be careful

and flashed headlights can mean

• Thank you
• You're welcome
• You can go before me
• You pedestrians can cross
• Mind that rozzer
• You have a petrol hose still attached to your car
• I'm approaching a blind corner if you can see this, be careful

I'm sure you can think of your own additions - but from each list above, only one "meaning" applies to everyone that can see/hear the signal. All the rest are intended to be directed at someone even though the signal itself can be sensed by anyone.

So if someone I can see already flashes his lights I ignore it. It's probably directed at someone else, but if it's intended for me I'll find out what's happening eventually anyway. It's many years since I heard a horn or saw flashed headlamps being used as the highway code stipulates.