Signaling Right of Way
Judge right of way by road markings and the position/movement of vehicles. Give right of way by the speed and position of your vehicle'.
Fair enough, but what about headlamp flashing? I hear you ask...
Scenario: You approach an unmarked cross-roads and see another vehicle approaching the same junction from your right. You see the headlamps of the vehicle flash and then the vehicle stops. Is the driver giving you right of way? Probably - not because the headlamps flashed but because the vehicle stopped. By all means take note of the fact that the driver flashed and was trying to tell YOU something, but ignore the flash as an indicator of right of way. Look at SPEED and POSITION.
The Highway Code is clear on this point. Headlamp flashes are to be used like the horn - to inform other road users of your presence. Nevertheless, many drivers 'flash' to give precedence. The problem is that flashing is likely to be seen by other road users, not just the intended recipient. To these 'other road users' the flash may well be ambiguous and may encourage them to do something sooner than they would otherwise have done, with possibly dangerous consequences. As advanced drivers, we must be disciplined enough to follow the tenets of the Highway Code and not give ambiguous signals.
Disclaimer:
Driving is never a black and white
activity, but full of grey areas, therefore neither I nor my fellow
Observers in the St Helens Group of Advanced Motorists are liable
for any consequences you may experience as a result of reading our advice. You are the driver. You
should be in control of your vehicle at all times.