[hchang]

Just out of curiousity, do you guys warn other drivers of a speed trap? If so, how?

My dad taught me to flash my high beams lights on to the opposite direction if there is an upcoming speed trap for them.

Tap brake lights if the police is on your side of the road where you cannot be flickering your high beams, or putting on your hazard lights.

I've noticed that nobody seems to flash their lights here in Canada, nor do Canadians seem to understand what it means. So am I just a retard on the road high beaming?

I started doing it ever since I've been saved once by a fellow motorist in the states during the night. I saw this SUV in the opposite direction flickering his high beam, so naturally I slowed down and sure enough saw a police officer hiding under the bridge. I really appreciated the gesture and how it saved me money, and definitely felt good from it, so now I pass it on to every other motorist I can.

Does anybody have a light to shine on this or personal experience/habit?

[Energy]

I always flash my high beams when there's a speed trap even if people might not understand. If I save at least one guy from a ticket then that's enough.

The tapping on brakes or hazards is something I didn't know though.

[CRS]

Either flash highbeams OR turn lights on and off.

[ShadowBun]

I have been flashed from the opposite way to warn me of speed trap but never the tap brake thing.

[MR_BIGGS]

I know people who say they flash their lights to warn others of speed traps or whatever, and I do myself, but never have I had someone do it for me.

I don't think a lot of people do it.

[jpark]

i remember i flashed my highbeam couple times to oncoming cuz there was a speedtrap, and the 1 guy starting highbeaming me back sigh......

[jtanner_]

I've also never heard of tapping of the brake lights... but I flash my high beams to notify oncoming cars of a speed trap...

[Noir]

Never heard the tapping of breaklights. But I do the highbeam flash all the time and had the highbeam flash happened to me a couple of times which I appreciated.

One thing that I wish we had was the blinking of hazard lights twice for a thank you when someone lets allows you to merge, change lane or lets you pass by them changing lanes.

This is a normal courtesy practice in japan that I'd follow here but I doubt it anyone would get it if I did it.

[bloodmack]

alot of people do it everywhere else in BC except in the lower mainland Lol

[ToneCapone]

first time I saw this was in russia, everybody does it. But cops down there know, and will pull you over if they catch you doing it. Say you high beam a cop by accident lol... good luck chuck.

[ToyotaPowah]

I flash my highbeams to oncoming traffic as well. Always slow down when I see it being done to me too.

[TOS'd]

i remember i flashed my highbeam couple times to oncoming cuz there was a speedtrap, and the 1 guy starting highbeaming me back sigh......

Yea me too. One time heading west on that S section of marine way after boundry, I flashed high beams to warn some guy and then he flashed me back, possibly to thank me? Other times on like lougheed if i flashed anyone, they would then high beam me and leave theirs on for some reason.

Ive always flashed HBs if i see it but ive never been flashed first.
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[hchang]

So it seems like most car guys understand the gesture.

Never heard the tapping of breaklights. But I do the highbeam flash all the time and had the highbeam flash happened to me a couple of times which I appreciated.

One thing that I wish we had was the blinking of hazard lights twice for a thank you when someone lets allows you to merge, change lane or lets you pass by them changing lanes.

This is a normal courtesy practice in japan that I'd follow here but I doubt it anyone would get it if I did it.

I usually just either stick my hand out the window, or raise my arm inside of my car.

I'd be afraid of somebody not understand the hazard light gesture and end up slamming on their brakes and honking at you.

[Porschedog]

Yeah I flash my highbeams to oncoming traffic too. Just hope you don't get caught (by cops) doing it.

[monkeywrench]

Have seen the high beaming signal since I was a kid, been doing that since

Never heard of that tap braking though

[vafanculo]

One guy flashed beams at me warning me for a road block.

Personally I wouldn't do it cause 1) I don't want it to backfire on me and I get in trouble and 2) I like watching people getting pulled over lol
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[ASG111]

Never heard the tapping of breaklights. But I do the highbeam flash all the time and had the highbeam flash happened to me a couple of times which I appreciated.

One thing that I wish we had was the blinking of hazard lights twice for a thank you when someone lets allows you to merge, change lane or lets you pass by them changing lanes.

This is a normal courtesy practice in japan that I'd follow here but I doubt it anyone would get it if I did it.

i do the blinking of hazard lights now as a courtesy rather than sticking my hand out or waving. Noir, together you and I can take over the world... mauahhahaha

[shenmecar]

I never knew of such thing. I do flash my hazard to thank someone if they let me merge in front of them. =)

[Sir_Loin]

Been saved by car high beaming me coming down from SFU. Now every time I'm on the way down SFU and there's a speed trap I do the same.

[Bouncing Bettys]

I flash my highbeams and I have been spared a ticket numerous times because of other drivers highbeaming. As for breaklights, I watch for breaking cars far ahead anyways because it suggests there might be a good reason to slow down like a hazard or a cop. People seem to instictively put the breaks on when they see a cop but not to give warning to other drivers.

[marksport]

I normally do it as well, and some even understand and give you a "Thank you" wave.

[RCubed]

Never heard the tapping of breaklights. But I do the highbeam flash all the time and had the highbeam flash happened to me a couple of times which I appreciated.

One thing that I wish we had was the blinking of hazard lights twice for a thank you when someone lets allows you to merge, change lane or lets you pass by them changing lanes.

This is a normal courtesy practice in japan that I'd follow here but I doubt it anyone would get it if I did it.

I use my hazards to thank all the time.
I also use them on the highways when the traffic starts slowing down significantly. It gives a "heads up" for the drivers behind you.

[TheSalesman]

I only do this to bikes. Not so much cars...too many dumb drivers out there don't even know what it means and like some people said, they just high beam you back.
I'd tap my head on my bike or high beam in my car if I can to the bikes I see out there.

[Graeme S]

When someone flickers their highbeams at me, I go through three steps:
1) Slow down
2) Check to see if my lights are on
3) Make sure I'm not doing anything else retarded

Then, if everything's all clear, I figure he was signalling the guy in front of him.

I highbeam when there's a roadblock or speed trap and I'm always appreciative of others who do it for me.
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[Warp9Racing]

always do it on a bike...either tap the lid...gesture sirin...or wave slow down...

[FN-2199]

I've always done it as well. I used to see my dad doing it when I was young, and naturally it just passed onto me.

OP, I feel the same way you do when you're the only one flashing high beams to warn others, and it seems like nobody gets it.

[quasi]

I do it and I've been saved tickets by others doing it to me.

[TOS'd]

Buses apparently have this system, i think. Just driving tonight down 49th and letting multiple buses in after they pulled over at a stop, they then double flashed their hazards. And I knew what it meant from reading your post. Seems like a hassle though, for cars that don't have that, or for ones where the hazard button is kinda out of the way.


One thing that I wish we had was the blinking of hazard lights twice for a thank you when someone lets allows you to merge, change lane or lets you pass by them changing lanes.

This is a normal courtesy practice in japan that I'd follow here but I doubt it anyone would get it if I did it.

[taylor192]

I've noticed that nobody seems to flash their lights here in Canada, nor do Canadians seem to understand what it means. So am I just a retard on the road high beaming?

It is just the left coast. I've noticed most people don't warn here, while in Ontario/Quebec it was more common.

[taylor192]

I'd tap my head on my bike

Or give the "whirly bird" aka 1 finger straight up and make a few circles.

[TheSalesman]

Or give the "whirly bird" aka 1 finger straight up and make a few circles.

or that too...depends on what im doing..

[_TiDy_]

i always flash my highbeams if i see a speed trap, somebody else did this before and saved me a ticket

[TomBox_N]

I do both the High beam and the hazard thank you. Ppl in the states r more receptive to these gestures. Ppl in van r generally quite clueless. I had a frd who went apeshit on the highway cuz someone highbeam him. Told him to slow down and sure enough, 30 secs later we saw a popo.
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[keifun]

couple times a person on the opposite side flashed their headlights and warned me. Thanks to them, they saved me, but then I already knew that those places are high risk for speed traps.

Once was heading southbound on granville. There was a cop around 49th ave just lurking.

Second time was today at the bottom of the knight bridge this afternoon, cops on motorbikes were catching ppl speeding down to the bridge towards richmond.

[fliptuner]

I flash my highbeams for roadblocks and speedtraps.

If your headlights are off and I'm in front of or coming towards you, I switch my lights off and on.

If you let me into traffic, I flash my hazards.

If you're behind me and your signal is on, I'll do the same signal, followed by hazards.

If you're highbeaming me on the freeway, be prepared to go 50.

If you're driving slow in the passing lane and I have to pass you on the right, I'll signal right and go left.

[rsx604]

I've flashed high-beams on 16th before going Westbound near UBC. Unfortunately, I was pulled over by a speed trap on my side and the officer threatened me with "Obstructon of Justice" and gave me a warning. Doh!

[w00tgasm]

Ahaha, I was going down SFU and was high beaming traffic to warn them about cops.

Next day my DRL was burnt out.

I tap the brakes to let the guys behind me know that there's a cop ahead. Or generally if it's a high risk area for speed traps.

[Jgresch]

I got pulled over for this before..... The cop said I could choose between a malfunctioning headlight, or warning others or a speed trap... I went with the later and he let me off...gave me a big speech about just trying to save lives. I asked him how many people have died on the SFU mountain:troll:

[ASG111]

If you're highbeaming me on the freeway, be prepared to go 50.

.

i understand everything you posted and agree except for this... Why 50? I'm going to assume you are in the passing lane, in which case you should move over. If you're on the slow lane, that's another story.

[you!]

i thought these were all common knowledge for all drivers out there

[bartone]

At first I never knew about these signals until one day someone told me about the warning for speedtraps. Then less than a month later I noticed a fee cars high beaming me while coming done cypress and there was a speed trap.
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[!e.lo_]

Yea this is something that was passed down to me by my father as well.

I flash highbeam, indicating speedtrap ahead, or just a Police car and telling them to slow down.
I do tap my brakes warning those behind me.

I also do the hazards as a thank you or throw up the peace sign.

[death_blossom]

I also flash my high beams to warn ppl in the opposite direction. let's spread the word and try to get this happening more often, hehe.

[underscore]

When I was a kid I remember my parents seeing this all the time when we were on the highway. Nowadays I rarely see it. It has saved me a ticket once though, people got mad that I slowed down on the highway and ripped past, only to get pulled into a huge speedtrap (there's a prime spot here that they use a few times every summer).

My methods are:

-toggle highbeams fast at oncoming traffic if there's police ahead/any kind of reason to slow down (stalled car, etc)
-put on the hazards when I'm at the back of slow moving traffic
-toggle my highbeams slowly if I'm behind you and your lights aren't on at night (has gotten me yelled at and flipped off a lot though...*sigh* I'm just trying to help!)
-take my foot off the brake and slowly toggle my lights on and off if I'm in front of you at a light and your lights are off
-just barely touch the brake pedal to light up my brake lights (without actually braking if I feel you're tailgating

I've never heard of/seen the hazards as a thanks for merging before, but I'll add it to my usual wave.

[PiuYi]

One thing that I wish we had was the blinking of hazard lights twice for a thank you when someone lets allows you to merge, change lane or lets you pass by them changing lanes.

This is a normal courtesy practice in japan that I'd follow here but I doubt it anyone would get it if I did it.

i do this all the time too, i've thought about highbeaming but i didn't think anyone would get me, they'd just think they have their own highbeams on or sth.... *sighh* c-lai's....

[rk604]

I only do it to other riders...either than that too many drivers in Richmond don't even bother looking when getting honked at, so why would they understand what high beaming is
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[rk604]

Always do it when I'm riding too, never on a car. I really don't see a point high beaming since people don't even seem to give a shit in Richmond when I honk at them...they don't even look, so obviously they're not even aware that there are other drivers
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[StealthFighter]

i high beam people if there's a trap ahead.

i high beam people if they are going too damn slow in the fast lane.

i highbeam people who put HIDs in reflectors or have their highbeams on for no reason and it blinds the crap out of me.

[TRDood]

Been saved by car high beaming me coming down from SFU. Now every time I'm on the way down SFU and there's a speed trap I do the same.

Yup. A lot of people do it for SFU. I have been saved many times. :)
I do the same for others to slow down as well.
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[sonick]

Buses apparently have this system, i think. Just driving tonight down 49th and letting multiple buses in after they pulled over at a stop, they then double flashed their hazards. And I knew what it meant from reading your post. Seems like a hassle though, for cars that don't have that, or for ones where the hazard button is kinda out of the way.

I always feel warm and fuzzy when I get the hazard double-flash by the bus drivers for letting them in :p

[danned]

seems alot of people just do it

[fliptuner]

i understand everything you posted and agree except for this... Why 50? I'm going to assume you are in the passing lane, in which case you should move over. If you're on the slow lane, that's another story.

First off, I would never get caught in the passing lane not passing, unless someone else was blocking it. Blocking the left lane is a huge peeve of mine.

50 might be an exaggeration but if the guy in front of me is slowing me down or I'm in the driving/slow lane doing the limit and I get highbeamed, I'm slowing down.....and by slowing down, I don't mean hit the brakes - downshift and pop the clutch. If the guy gets around me, on my highbeams go.

[Phil@rise]

I do it. My parents taught me and theirs them. Other gestures I was taught were to give a wave of thanks when someone lets you in and a wave of apology when you screw up.
When I was a kid some 25-30 years ago everybody did this. Now very few seem to. I always associated it with our growing multiculturalism and assumed other cultures weren't so courteous or concerned of others when behind the wheel and just stuck to their bubble of glass and steel.
When I moved to Richmond 3 years ago I was shocked to see nobody here does any of these things.Instead it seems everybody drives with blinders on. It really makes you feel everyone is out only for themselves.
The only gesture I see from some of Richmonds more recent transplants is the bird assumingly they learned from watching the many old timers that lived here forever and its the only one they picked up.
Or its the gestured shared round the world when you've been wronged lol

[bloodmack]

fog lights work better 2x on and off. I usually think people who highbeam me are telling me my lights are too bright, cause I know they are. When I screw up I give a wave trying to apologize but most of the time people assume im flipping them off so they go nuts :P.

[gdoh]

i only flash my lights/tap breaks when driving with friends

[ForbiddenX]

Didn't know this! Will start doing it and looking out for it from now on.

I always do the wave when I'm trying to say thanks or sorry.

[will068]

I do this as well. Learned it from down the states when I started driving.

Didn't know about the hazard light thank you message though.

[Cman333]

I do it. Ive been saved a few times.

[punkwax]

People flashing their highbeams have saved me a few times. A big THANK YOU to those who do it. :thumbsup:

[Mr.HappySilp]

Try flashing your highbeam for fun XD

[q0192837465]

I do on the highway but never in the city. People get too angry too quickly

[SDU]

http://www.speedtrap.org/state/54/British%20Columbia

[gilly]

some1 flashed me once and i assumed it was a speed trap so i slowed down. And around the corner, there was a speedtrap. Thank goodness that person high beamed or I think I woulda been pulled over.

[124Y]

I'll always flash my high beams to warn others of a speed trap on the opposite side of the road. I'll pump my brakes if I see a speed trap ahead of me to warn the drivers behind me.

[optiblue]

I high beam to warn people... I don't know if people know what it means though~

[hchang]

"Sorry officer I was speeding cause some guy on the other side of the highway highbeamed me causing me to accidentally hit the accelerator"

Wonder if this excuse works...

[johny]

got flashed by 2 cars in a row yesterday before a cop. do it to others as well.

[penner2k]

alot of people do it everywhere else in BC except in the lower mainland Lol

I'm just happy when I see someone that actually knows how to drive in the lower mainland..

[d1]

i high beam people if there's a trap ahead.

i high beam people if they are going too damn slow in the fast lane.

i highbeam people who put HIDs in reflectors or have their highbeams on for no reason and it blinds the crap out of me.

These are my 2 main ones since I rarely run into speed traps but unfortunately 95% of the time, flashing high beams when you're behind someone slow in the passing lane does not work.

[wasabisashimi]

I never knew of such thing. I do flash my hazard to thank someone if they let me merge in front of them. =)

why dont u just wave your hand to gesture gratitude?

[wasabisashimi]

There are so many people with HIDs on during day time and HID fog lights on during day time (especially in big dodge ram or ford trucks). I can barely see flashing highbeam cuz their low beams are already blinding.

just curious why people turn on their HIDs during day time. (is it to show off?_)

[TomBox_N]

New Benz alway have their hid on for some reason. The retrofitted hid r always on since they r 35W and all halogen day time running light & low beam r 55W, so they can't really turn it off.
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[Mugen EvOlutioN]

There are so many people with HIDs on during day time and HID fog lights on during day time (especially in big dodge ram or ford trucks). I can barely see flashing highbeam cuz their low beams are already blinding.

just curious why people turn on their HIDs during day time. (is it to show off?_)




new lancers if they have aftermarket HID than its gotta be always on, thats their DRL

[taylor192]

New Benz alway have their hid on for some reason.
Bi-xenon - low beam and high beam.

[TRD Rs200]

I started flashing my highbeams at oncoming traffic when I was in hk, someone flashed me on the other side letting me know that there was a radar ahead, then I've been flashing my highbeams ever since, even in vancouver
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[Energy]

I was heading down south No2 Rd in Richmond today when I saw a white SUV flashing high beams repeatedly in the oncoming lane. I slowed down and sure enough there were four cops hiding in a side street aiming a radar gun at my lane. The guy possibly saved me a ticket. If you go on RS, thanks!

Keep the flash alive guys!

[MG1]

I always flash oncoming cars to warn them of a speed trap. A lot of people think I'm pissed off or something. I get the wave of thanks once in awhile, but get the finger or the "WTF?" look quite a bit. LOL.

I also tap the brakes when I am following a ghost car and see a car speeding toward us. Most people get it and slow down. Others..... well. They're just stupid and end up getting ticketed. What's really dumb is someone whipping down the freeway and not seeing a marked police car until they pass it, LOL.

[OTG-ZR2]

my ass got saved by someone in a tracker on tuesday night. i was coming down stewardson way in new west, and he was flashing his hi-los at me so i just slowed down a bit and sure enough there was 2 cops hiding behind a skytrain pillar and a 3rd no far away. Thanks guy in the tracker :clap:

[AzNightmare]

People have highbeamed me to tell me to "slow down" before...

lol, not sure if its warning me or just telling me to drive properly.