Are you a Flasher

[Onelife]

I feel a little nervous in saying this but I have been known to flash, indeed it was only yesterday that I did the dastardly deed again.

Before you reach for your phones I am of course referring to the flashing of oncoming vehicles warning them of pending danger...this of course can arise for many different situations but the one I’m referring to is one where you flash oncoming vehicles warning them that there is a mobile speed camera waiting to issue them with a fixed penalty speeding fine.

Flashing isn’t something I do often and certainly not in a built up areas where the speed limits is 30mph but when I see a mobile speed cameras situated on a long straight road with a 50 mph speed limit (as was the case yesterday) I do feel inclined to flash more frequently even though I know the speed limits are there for a purpose and not just to fill the coffers of the Government.

Am I the only flasher on this forum?

Regards

OL

Oh and if any of you want to give me grief then please only do so if you have never broken the speed limit yourselves.

[GillD46]

I don't flash at all - ever.

[Boris+]

Well of course I do - especially if there is a hazard or danger ahead. I should be very grateful if someone flashed their lights to give warning to me, and I simply return the compliment.

Talking about speed traps though, today I saw a bunch of old codgers pratting around with 'speed trap guns' on the side of the road ....... on somebody's private front garden lawn, waiving the speed guns around and dressed in fluorescent yellow jackets.

Why on earth these men couldn't do something more useful like collecting up leaves (not, repeat not, blowing them about and rearranging them) or ironing?

If I'd had a tank I'd have almost felt inclined to run this bunch of timewasters over, and hoped it wouldn't have damaged my paintwork.

Em

[david63]

My policy is - I drive my car and I expect everyone else to drive their car.

If someone is speeding in an area where there are fixed or mobile speed cameras and they get caught then that is their problem not mine (and yes I have been done for speeding, but only once in 45 years)

[Stephen]

Didn't know Smurfmobiles went that fast

[qbman1]

Mind you don't get done for flashing like this chap !

[Stephen]

Mind you don't get done for flashing like this chap !

I thought Onelife said he had hair........the lying so and so.

[Manoverboard]

Yep and for a whole variety of reasons, just this past week or so ...

Twice for those pesky pseudo cops with radar guns trying to make a name for themselves in an area that is not actually in a built up area but is technically within one although the 30mph sign is hidden by foliage, plus several more times due to a ' Road Closed ' barrier which had been erected without any warning signs further along the road and finally several more due to an overturned tractor trailer on a blind bend.

Very grateful for anybody who returns the courtesy.

Tis actually a very common practice here in friendly and helpful Darzet.

[Kendhni]

Just be aware that sometimes the police put a second car further up the road and watch out for people flashing to warn others. Apparently this is also a bookable offence and can attract fines and penalty points (there were a few done for this a while back). I used to flash to warn other drivers, but now i Know that I may attract the long toe of the plod's size 11s I rarely do now.

[Stephen]

I flash the idiots that don't have any lights on when the light and or the weather is very poor. You get some clown driving along in a dark coloured vehicle when it's persistently pouring down with poor visibility and there they are trundling along with no lights on.

If you are one of them, GET YOUR BRAIN INTO GEAR AND PUT SOME LIGHTS ON you ignoramus.

[towny44]

I flash to signify to other drivers that I am giving way to them, either in traffic as they try to join my lane, or when someone is turning right across and in front of me and I flash to indicate I am going to slow down and let them cross etc.
Of course I realise I will be flamed for this since some folk consider this a dangerous practise, but as for mobile speed camera units, I have done but don't do it regularly mainly because I have not seen one in quite a few years, I assume the police are back in the office filling in fairly useless forms.

[Manoverboard]

Just be aware that sometimes the police put a second car further up the road and watch out for people flashing to warn others. Apparently this is also a bookable offence and can attract fines and penalty points (there were a few done for this a while back). I used to flash to warn other drivers, but now i Know that I may attract the long toe of the plod's size 11s I rarely do now.

I am actually talking about ' Community Officers ' who are NOT in the Police Force, they simply record the violation and send it to County Hall, plod then sends you a warning else a fine.

A Police car is NEVER in evidence, in my experience anyway, hence the involvement of the local ' Community Officers ' ... I guess you don't have any of these guys.

[Dancing Queen]

Yep will always flash, if someone flashes me I automatically slow down and I don't doubt it has probably saved me a few speeding fines.

It's ok Keefy I agree with you there are roads you do adhere to the speed limits there are also other roads where the limits are ridiculous, I was once pulled by the police for doing 60 in a 40 limit at midnight ( they did let me off ) during the day I wouldn't have dreamt of doing more than 40 but late at night on a road with hardly any traffic I certainly wasn't a danger to anyone.

[Onelife]

Hi Jo,

There is a road near to where I live which is notorious for picking up speeding fines... so if you’re ever in my neck of the woods travelling between Alcester and Studley ( A435) be very careful as you could join me and I dare say thousands of others who have fallen foul to the 5 most profitable speeding cameras in Warwickshire.

What make s driving along this 5 mile stretch of road a complete nightmare is that the speed limit fluctuates constantly between 50, 40 and 30 mph which leaves even the most conscious of drivers confused.

Well Jo as they say forewarned is forearmed which when all things considerd has to better than having Keefy flashing at you

Regards

Keith

[Silver_Shiney]

I flash the idiots that don't have any lights on when the light and or the weather is very poor. You get some clown driving along in a dark coloured vehicle when it's persistently pouring down with poor visibility and there they are trundling along with no lights on.

If you are one of them, GET YOUR BRAIN INTO GEAR AND PUT SOME LIGHTS ON you ignoramus.

Quite right, Stephen, these dangerous clowns don't seem to understand that the law requires you to put your lights on, not so that you can see, but so that you can be seen. I managed to flag one driver down when I was on foot and pointed out that, in a silver colour car in the thick fog prevalent at the time, without lights at speed he was invisible. I think he learnt his lesson.

Back to OP - no, I don't flash. If they're speeding, they deserve to be caught and punished. It's not a hardship to keep within the speed limit. If I went at the same speed as all the other idiots who think they're above the law, knowing my luck I'd be the one to be caught - I cannot afford to pay a speeding fine, so I don't break the law.

I don't agree with warning signs telling motorists there's a speed trap ahead. They only slow down temporarily and accelerate above the limit once they're past, which defeats the whole object of having the detector.

[Onelife]

Hi Alan,

There was a time many years ago when driving was a pleasure but time has moved on and you now need eyes in the back of your head to get from A to B. The thought of having to look down at my speedometer every few hundred yards certainly isn’t going to make me any safer behind the wheel; on the contrary I think it is downright dangerous in certain situations.

I’m not opposed to speed cameras which are located in known black spots but I totally disagree with speed cameras that have no other purpose than to feed the government’s coffers.

Regards

Keith

[Silver_Shiney]

Hi Keith

I certainly agree that driving is no longer the pleasure that it used to be - rising petrol prices have had some part to play too!

I don't have my eyes glued to the speedo, just a glance every couple of minutes when it's safe to do so, and an awareness of the position of the pointer in my peripheral vision.

Kind regards

[emjay45]

I used to flash when I was living in the UK. Only to let someone know I was letting them out at a junction or giving way to them, and to thank people when they did the same for me.
Since moving to the island, I no longer flash as I don't want to confuse the often already confused who drive over here.

[Delboy]

Let's put the cat amongst the pigeons, in my mind it's the drivers who keep 'rigidly' to the speed limit, who cause a lot of the accidents, they keep their eye more on the speedometer than they do the road. Always funny how they seem to speed up when others go to overtake.

I always feel nervous when following somebody who sticks 'rigidly' to the speed limit, they do not appear to me, as somebody who has full control of their vehicle, and would be slow to respond in an emergency.

I think I have posted this before, but personally I always drive as the road conditions and traffic at the time allow, sometimes under and sometimes over the speed limit, but never 'rigidly' to it.

As for flashing I cannot remember the last time I saw a mobile speed camera, especially in this area, I don't know if its because the Essex police are a little more lax. The same with personalised number plates with incorrect letter spacing, the police don't seem to worry about them in this area, judging by the number of them about, but in some counties they would come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Yes I often flash to give somebody the right of way, the same as some drivers do to me, and also to acknowledge their curtesy. Have flashed in the past to drivers who are approaching a mobile speed trap, but not for a number of years, because it's been a number of years since I have seen one.

[ShirleyT]

Hi Jo,

There is a road near to where I live which is notorious for picking up speeding fines... so if you’re ever in my neck of the woods travelling between Alcester and Studley ( A435) be very careful as you could join me and I dare say thousands of others who have fallen foul to the 5 most profitable speeding cameras in Warwickshire.

What make s driving along this 5 mile stretch of road a complete nightmare is that the speed limit fluctuates constantly between 50, 40 and 30 mph which leaves even the most conscious of drivers confused.

Well Jo as they say forewarned is forearmed which when all things considerd has to better than having Keefy flashing at you

Regards

Keith

Guilty Milord Onelife of driving along the A435 at 7.15 am on a Saturday morning, and for once, losing concentration, and driving at the outrageous speed of 43 mph. When the letter arrived I was mortified! My unblemished 41 years of driving was tarnished in one careless moment. That happened seven years ago and I have managed to remain within the law ever since. As you correctly say, that stretch of road is notorious. I regularly travel between Alcester and Wythall and the changing speed limits are a nightmare but I am determined that I will not be caught out again.
PS. I hope the escaped prisoner is not lurking about in your neighbourhood. He has apparently visited our neck of the woods, so it was very quiet around here at Halloween.
Shirley T

[Silver_Shiney]

Let's put the cat amongst the pigeons, in my mind it's the drivers who keep 'rigidly' to the speed limit, who cause a lot of the accidents, they keep their eye more on the speedometer than they do the road. Always funny how they seem to speed up when others go to overtake.

I've never come across that.

I always feel nervous when following somebody who sticks 'rigidly' to the speed limit, they do not appear to me, as somebody who has full control of their vehicle, and would be slow to respond in an emergency.

Why? As a good, law-abiding citizen who doesn't break the law, as I am sure you are, you'd be observing the speed limit too - whether or not it is "safe" to drive faster. Just because it is "safe", doesn't make it legal. It's the prats who accelerate sharply and veer out to overtake me who are more likely to cause the accidents.

[david63]

Don't need to take my eyes off the road to know what speed I am doing as it is projected onto the windscreen.

Likewise with lights - cannot forget to put them on as they come on/go off automatically as and when needed

[Silver_Shiney]

Don't need to take my eyes off the road to know what speed I am doing as it is projected onto the windscreen.

Likewise with lights - cannot forget to put them on as they come on/go off automatically as and when needed

alright, flash git!!

[Onelife]

Guilty Milord Onelife of driving along the A435 at 7.15 am on a Saturday morning, and for once, losing concentration, and driving at the outrageous speed of 43 mph. When the letter arrived I was mortified! My unblemished 41 years of driving was tarnished in one careless moment. That happened seven years ago and I have managed to remain within the law ever since. As you correctly say, that stretch of road is notorious. I regularly travel between Alcester and Wythall and the changing speed limits are a nightmare but I am determined that I will not be caught out again.
PS. I hope the escaped prisoner is not lurking about in your neighbourhood. He has apparently visited our neck of the woods, so it was very quiet around here at Halloween.
Shirley T

Hi Shirley,

Yeah! I felt like a criminal when I first received my first speeding fine but I’ve got used to them now.

The last one I received gave me the option of a speed awareness course (for an extra £20) which I readily accepted as it was held at Warwick race course...Yippee I thought...but soon came back to earth having checked the racing calendar

Now I don’t want you to think Onelife is a little tear away as I can assure you all my speeding fines have been for speeds of no more than 8 mph over the speed limit which is nothing compared to the speed most cars do passing our house on a regular basis (30 mph zone) must be more lucrative takings elsewhere?

With regard to the escaped murderer we’re not too worried as we are all huddled up in our barricaded bedroom...please post and let us know when it’s safe to come out

Kind regards

Keith

Btw it’s pretty windy in our neck of the woods this evening don’t you think?

[ShirleyT]

Hi Shirley,

Yeah! I felt like a criminal when I first received my first speeding fine but I’ve got used to them now.

The last one I received gave me the option of a speed awareness course (for an extra £20) which I readily accepted as it was held at Warwick race course...Yippee I thought...but soon came back to earth having checked the racing calendar

Now I don’t want you to think Onelife is a little tear away as I can assure you all my speeding fines have been for speeds of no more than 8 mph over the speed limit which is nothing compared to the speed most cars do passing our house on a regular basis (30 mph zone) must be more lucrative takings elsewhere?

With regard to the escaped murderer we’re not too worried as we are all huddled up in our barricaded bedroom...please post and let us know when it’s safe to come out

Kind regards

Keith

Btw it’s pretty windy in our neck of the woods this evening don’t you think?[/quote]

They didn't give me the option of a speed awareness course, just demanded money. Anyway, stay where you are, as far as I know they haven't recaptured him, probably too busy chasing speeding motorists. Helicopters have been circling overhead all afternoon and apparently the police have been touring the area in a vehicle with a large screen displaying a photo of the wanted man. He was last seen in Inkberrow, my home village, he has been in the village where I now live and also in Alcester. Bit scary really.
The gale is still raging, just when we thought we had escaped the problems of last week. Plus of course the firework display at Ragley Hall, so quite a night here in the peace of the countryside. Never rains but it pours as they say!
Shirley