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Should you ignore people flashing their headlights on the test?
I've been learning to drive and my instructor has always told me to go when someone flashes, but last night a flatmate told me they failed their first test for just that. If someone flashes their lights at me on the test, should I go or sit there and probably confuse them?
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You shouldn't ignore them, but you should show that you know it's safe to go/proceed etc. as well - don't just purely rely on what they do.
Sometimes looking out for vehicles doing this is actually a necessity - for example, large vehicles turning into junctions from which you're emerging. They'll often flash you to let you out so they can fit into the junction (i.e. they'll stop the flow of traffic and wait for you to emerge before proceeding). If you miss that kind of signal, you'll be sitting and waiting for a long time
So in short: Don't ignore them, but don't blindly follow them either. Think.
Sometimes looking out for vehicles doing this is actually a necessity - for example, large vehicles turning into junctions from which you're emerging. They'll often flash you to let you out so they can fit into the junction (i.e. they'll stop the flow of traffic and wait for you to emerge before proceeding). If you miss that kind of signal, you'll be sitting and waiting for a long time
So in short: Don't ignore them, but don't blindly follow them either. Think.
just flash back and look angry while mouthing "Go on ya numpty, I'm doing me test" and waving them on aggressively.
DavidR1991
So in short: Don't ignore them, but don't blindly follow them either. Think.
The people who struggle to understand "what will fail me on test" are those who rigidly cling to a set of rules without thinking outside the box.
@OP: Your instructor should have explained WHY you should go when each driver flashed in each scenario. Your flatmate won't have properly understood the reason they failed, but I can imagine it wasn't safe at the time or the flash was for someone else / a mistake / not a flash at all. Understand circumstances then you can understand how to make decisions. For me, approach speed and deceleration rate is the clue to whether you can go; all a flash tells you is that their bulbs work.
DominF
I've been learning to drive and my instructor has always told me to go when someone flashes, but last night a flatmate told me they failed their first test for just that. If someone flashes their lights at me on the test, should I go or sit there and probably confuse them?
This is what my instructor told me. watch the flash, wait for them to stop.. watch that there is no other vehicle coming across (like someone overtaking the vehicle that stopped) and go.
In summary.. do not ever ignore the signal but be sure that the act of the driver and his intention (by flashing signal) are consistent and then if it is safe,move.
You have to judge every flash on its merits.
was it accidental???
where they just flashing to say "im here" (like highway code suggests) because they thought you were too far over??
was there no flash and it was just the dip in the road that made it look like theyd flashed???
they might be flashing about speed camera or accident ahead of you.
They might have been flashing at someone else!!!!
was it accidental???
where they just flashing to say "im here" (like highway code suggests) because they thought you were too far over??
was there no flash and it was just the dip in the road that made it look like theyd flashed???
they might be flashing about speed camera or accident ahead of you.
They might have been flashing at someone else!!!!
It generally means that they're letting you go, not that it's safe. So it's still up to you to check if it's safe for you.
Check and see if they're slowing down. Then, in case your examiner is a prat, say loudly, 'oh good, I see that car is slowing down'. Then go.
DavidR1991
You shouldn't ignore them, but you should show that you know it's safe to go/proceed etc. as well - don't just purely rely on what they do.
Sometimes looking out for vehicles doing this is actually a necessity - for example, large vehicles turning into junctions from which you're emerging. They'll often flash you to let you out so they can fit into the junction (i.e. they'll stop the flow of traffic and wait for you to emerge before proceeding). If you miss that kind of signal, you'll be sitting and waiting for a long time
So in short: Don't ignore them, but don't blindly follow them either. Think.
Sometimes looking out for vehicles doing this is actually a necessity - for example, large vehicles turning into junctions from which you're emerging. They'll often flash you to let you out so they can fit into the junction (i.e. they'll stop the flow of traffic and wait for you to emerge before proceeding). If you miss that kind of signal, you'll be sitting and waiting for a long time
So in short: Don't ignore them, but don't blindly follow them either. Think.
This- someone flashed me on my test to let me out. I didnt get marked down for it.
Personally I think you should 'ignore' the flash, in that you should react to the other person's vehicle stopping or slowing rather than them flashing you. Having a good look around before pulling out or whatever it is you're going to do would communicate this to the examiner.
SleepyGrad
in case your examiner is a prat, say loudly, 'oh good, I see that car is slowing down'.
DominF
I've been learning to drive and my instructor has always told me to go when someone flashes, but last night a flatmate told me they failed their first test for just that. If someone flashes their lights at me on the test, should I go or sit there and probably confuse them?
Don't do your test in the dark. Simplez.
ignore them let ur driver instructor do it 4 u.
Advisor
Yeesh, you don't have to give a commentary to the examiner; they're not stupid. They can see exactly what you can see and whatever you do, they'll know exactly why you've done it. They'll decide after the event whether the action was appropriate or not and will even see things that many test candidates haven't seen, such as the bicycle pedalling down the inside of the flashing car or the pedestrians crossing the side road. It's the things that drivers don't see that fail them on test, not examiners being "deluded". They take into account all circumstances, including how drivers behave "in the real world".
Depends how good the examiner is. Sounds like you've got good ones, but they are only human beings, and human beings who (tba) would probably be doing a better job if they were brighter or more motivated.
My examiner was really thick. She did everything absolutely by the book and when she went through my test she said, 'well, I'm going to ask you a question. What was the speed limit on road ---?' I told her it was 70, and that I always took care on that road when it was wet, because the surface isn't very good and there's a roundabout coming up.
She said, 'Oh - yes, the rain would make a difference, wouldn't it?'
Honestly. Some of them are not that bright. If they are, they'll just grin a bit at you 'narrating', but where's the harm? Just as long as you drive safely anyway, it'll reassure you and them.
Btw, I passed, and I've never had a problem since, so I'm totally in favour of talking to them.
Doing my test in three weeks for the second time. I failed first time by not going in the right hand lane coming to a roundabout, even though my turn off was before the 12 o'clock rule.
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