Is it against the law to flash your lights to inform of speed traps

[billy1561]

I think that question answers itself!

Given that you cannot see a mahoosive camera or van because it is "at the bottom of a hill around the bend slightly out of view or obscured by trees." The only muppet who gets caught has still tanked it round the corner above the speed limit whee the sensible thing would have been to slow down due to the poor visibility of the road ahead!

Can't see anything wrong with the road signs that indicate the maximum speed allowed on a particular section of road and then having the big yellow boxes to catch/warn/fine those daft enough to take their chances by speeding.
My daughter recently passed her diving test and when driving in her car she dutifully attempted to stick to the limits only to be tailgated and endure abuse from other motorists with little of no regard to the limits therefore pressuring her as a young woman to speed up ever so slightly so as not to be tailgated. It's wrong.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Mr Thompson was fined £175 (and ordered to pay £250 costs and a £15 victim surcharge) after a half-day hearing last week at Grimsby Magistrates' Court. The full CPS statement for this seemingly illiberal prosecution is:

It was the Crown Prosecution Service's case that Michael Thompson flashed the lights of his car to warn other drivers of a speed trap ahead. In doing so, he was obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty, which is a criminal offence contrary to the Police Act 1996, sect 89 (2). The CPS was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to prosecute the defendant with this offence.
After hearing the prosecution's case and Michael Thompson's defence, magistrates at Grimsby Magistrates' Court found the case against him proved. They decided that he knew his action would cause vehicles to slow down and cause other motorists to avoid the speed trap and prosecution. They fined him £175 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £250.​

 

[Archie_tect]

Thread proven m'lud. Next!

 

[vernon]

I'll occasionally flash drivers who overtake or approach me at excessive speeds - but not if there is a camera anywhere near!

No problem with using bright yellow boxes to reduce accidents at blackspots, but IMO there should also be plenty of speed cameras which are dark green, well hidden and only there to catch people. Why do some people think they have a Fundamental Right to go too fast?

The French speed cameras can be a lot less obvious:

And sometimes, too obvious:

 

[asterix]

? Er... no, no, no... yes.

er.. yes, yes, yes, yes.

You can fool yourself all you want, but it's the simple truth.

 

[Archie_tect]

?
No, you've confused me now.

 

[ComedyPilot]

To all posters - would you flash your lights at a speeding vehicle to warn them if there weren't police/cameras around?

If not, then why not?

To me, people flashing at speeding cars do so to warn them/help them avoid fines/prosecution.

To not flash when there are no cameras etc. is just hypocrisy, and is condoning speeding/making roads less safe for vulnerable road users and the communities in general.

It is naff all to do with 'revenue' and 'stealth tax on motorists' - speeding fines are penalties imposed for absolute offences - you either are or you aren't speeding - simple. We don't need 'knights' of the road flashing to warn us, there are clear legislated road signs to help - they're quite easy to spot, circular signs, big black numbers on a white background and a red border.....

Speed at your own risk...........no that's not right, speed at your own risk, but you also put other people at risk that have no say in the matter, and if asked would never give permission for you to speed.

 

[asterix]

... and of course they kill even more each year as when a driver sees a Police vehicle they are "forced" to brake abruptly causing even more accidents

Was trundling along the M25 Wednesday under all the gantries some with cameras, some without. The guy in front put his brakes on every time he went beneath one although we were both within the limit. Since I'd a good gap it made no difference to me, I just thought 'what a plonker'.

 

[Archie_tect]

To help the mentally challenged... DON'T EXCEED THE GIVEN SPEED LIMIT....
Moreover, don't accelerate unnecessarily hard and don't leave braking to the last minute to avoid wasting expensive fuel....
In fact, get on your bike and don't drive at all without good reason....
There, that covers it... for the avoidance of doubt, please refer to post 65.
anyone?

 

[ufkacbln]

I once got told to drive more carefully & a little slower because there was a police car behind. I ignored the passenger & drove how I drive, Road Craft style. When we eventually got into town we ended up side by side at some traffic lights, the officer in the passenger seat said something like "IAM, RoSPA or are you a traffic officer?".

The IAM policy clearly states that an advanced driver drives at an appropriate speed within the promulgated speed limit

 

[ufkacbln]

The other one I like is the self activating speed camera that does not exist!

illegal in some countries, but most PratNavs have subscribed speed camera data that tells you where there is a speed camera (o rather may be a speed camera)

They often don't exist and are merely sites registered from past or possible use. Yet as soona sthe PratNAv bleeps everyone obeys the limit. Cheap electronic self regulating speed enforcement

 

[perplexed]

I must confess to deliberately letting aggressive tailgating cars past when driving locally, watching them tear off aggressively, knowing there's a speed camera just ahead... sometimes they see it, sometimes they don't.

I've done that. Made my day.

 

[Cycling Dan]

I've done that. Made my day.

As people said a tax on the stupid! Send them a reminder in the post there're a nobber.

 

[Cycling Dan]

Can't see anything wrong with the road signs that indicate the maximum speed allowed on a particular section of road and then having the big yellow boxes to catch/warn/fine those daft enough to take their chances by speeding.
My daughter recently passed her diving test and when driving in her car she dutifully attempted to stick to the limits only to be tailgated and endure abuse from other motorists with little of no regard to the limits therefore pressuring her as a young woman to speed up ever so slightly so as not to be tailgated. It's wrong.

That's peer pressure which at most times is hard not to be overcome by. However she did the opposite of what is suggested. I thought if someone tailgates you, you slow down until they back off. A quick brake test although not advise is a good way to tell a tailgating driver to fark off.

 

[ufkacbln]

I've done that. Made my day.

There is a bridge across Haslar Creek that is quite narrow, and not always safe for larger ehicles to overtake a cyclists if there is one still coming across from the other side. It is traffic light controlled.

Had a muppet beeping, tooting and shouting as I cycled in the primary

So I assumed he was ring to tell me something and being a careful cyclist stopped about 2/3 of the way up to check my panners were secure, and the bike was OK.

By this time the lights had changed and a line of 4 vehicles (including a bus) came over the rise. I simply cycled off along the cycle lane leaving him face to face with the queue and having to reverse back down the bridge