Do people in northern states not flash brights to warn for cops?

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hoppyrules@reddit

No we do it up here, though I would say I see a lot less of it than I did 20 yrs ago.

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You must be a democrat... being upset that people aren't helping you undermine law enforcement who are just trying to do their job. I'm kidding, I know you're conservative because you're all massive hypocrites. You all undermind law enforcement, police act lazy, then you both balme democrats... it's almost as if you don't care about how your community actually is, you just wanna complain about democrats, which is a hilarious white trash way to live, and is now the norm. Sad.

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GrouchyDeli@reddit

People do it everywhere, and fuck people who do. Im not going to get pulled over, if someone is driving too fast or recklessly, fuck em, let them get fined. Im not bros with people just because were on the road together.

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Alternative_Image_22@reddit

We do it to warn about deer.

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NeptuneHigh09er@reddit

It’s not just a southern thing. We do it in New England.

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Sirhc978@reddit

It could mean a cop is back there, or it could mean "watch out there a bunch of turkeys in the road".

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NeptuneHigh09er@reddit

For sure. To me it’s just a signal that I should stay alert. Only later will I realize what the warning is about. I’m also a granite stater and yeah, here flashing lights is basically always a signal about turkeys or cops.

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SummertimeThrowaway2@reddit

Yup, slow down to speed limit and keep your eyes peeled

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shiningonthesea@reddit

It can be a sign just to slow down for whatever but it’s usually cops . The more frantic the flashing , the more likely it’s an animal crossing or a branch blocking the road, or ice.

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alwaysboopthesnoot@reddit

Mass here, was from PA. There, it’s for deer and cops. Here it’s for cops, geese, or turkeys.

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tasareinspace@reddit

you flash for geese? I'd just run the fuckers over.

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SarcasmIsMySpecialty@reddit

In MO, I do it for deer, cattle (when they get out), or cops.

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Devtunes@reddit

Is always been my experience in New England that flashing high beams means hazard, turning off/on headlights means police.

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SheenPSU@reddit

I assume animal over cop personally

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nullpassword@reddit

Prolly wouldn't for turkeys.. def for deer..

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davdev@reddit

I do it for deer as well

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BeholderLivesMatter@reddit

What’s the difference?

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ohcouplelooking4f@reddit

Yes turkey! I hit a damn turkey with my car last week. It popped right out in front of me. A few years ago I was driving and my son was in the passenger seat with the window down and a turkey almost flew in the car and did manage to smack my son with its wing.

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Kimber85@reddit

I do it for deer on the side of the road.

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traisjames@reddit

I am in Iowa. I only flash lights to warn of animals or people, and only report police in Waze if they have emergency lights on. If you’re speeding or driving dangerous, I want you to get caught.

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thatoneotherguy42@reddit

Waze is so much better than the detectors i grew up using. Escort and passport were number 1 for a log time along with..... damn, don't remember the other one.

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mcm87@reddit

Detectors are also illegal in some states and usually will ensure that you won’t be getting a warning.

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Rudytootiefreshnfty@reddit

I think they’re only illegal in Virginia

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auricargent@reddit

Also Michigan. If a cop pulls you over and you have one, the standard way he deals with it is to ask you for it, put it behind your tire, and have you back over it. If you comply, it’s typically a warning and you aren’t written up. If you don’t, you get your speed ticket, plus being fined for having the illegal detector and the detector is confiscated as evidence.

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boatmanmike@reddit

Took a look and they are not illegal in Michigan. They are illegal if you cross over into Canada though

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jmsnys@reddit

I’m fairly certain that’s illegal.

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pinksprouts@reddit

Cops kill people without cause and get away with it on a daily basis. Don't think they are gonna care one bit about a little bit of peasant property damage.

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jmsnys@reddit

Daily basis is a bit exaggerated

The majority of cops are good people trying to do a good job. The bad ones just spoil it

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Thick-Travel3868@reddit

The “good“ ones never report or punish the bad ones. Ergo, the “good“ ones are bad ones too. Selectively enforcing the law, and not doing so when it’s your coworkers, makes you a shitty cop even without doing anything else wrong.

The ones that do report wrongdoing by their fellow officers are exposed to violence and quickly pushed out of the force, think Frank Serpico.

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capt-bob@reddit

I've seen a few YouTube videos of good cops getting bad ones fired, but ex cops tell me you aren't suppose to expose misconduct to the public, you handle it in house. Obviously many houses don't though.

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jmsnys@reddit

Never is an awfully strong statement

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Thick-Travel3868@reddit

So’s “fuck the police and fuck bootlickers like you” but I’ll say that too.

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jmsnys@reddit

Jesus dude who pissed in your cereal?

I mean based on your flair you live in a dogshit state so maybe the cops are ALL dogshit too but damn

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CauseSpecific8545@reddit

The blue code is a real thing. This is why the police profession has the largest number of uncharged domestic abusers and DUIs of any other profession.

However, it seems that more agencies are trending more towards transparency.

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PoxyMusic@reddit

They’ll understand better when they get older. For now, enjoy the downvotes.

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pinksprouts@reddit

No they are all bad.

They work for a broken fascist system and are proud of it.

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RachelRTR@reddit

A lot if things they do are illegal. I have a friend whose brother is a sheriff's deputy who will confiscate illegal fireworks, and then shoot them off during holidays and their parent's property.

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eiebe@reddit

Live in northern Wisconsin, no mountanlions near us. Had a deputy off duty at his home shoot his cousin who was hiding in the bushes making mountain lion noises all with his service pistol.

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Dekutr33@reddit

I'm 100% certain he's talking out of his ass

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PlayingDoomOnAGPS@reddit

Like laws apply to cops!

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Aware-Influence-8622@reddit

That’s a fairly common practice. I’m not sure what people are going on about. It happens all the time, but I haven’t seen it happen personally for a while. Probably because when I was younger, a lot more people used RD’s and a lot more people I rode with sped.

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T00luser@reddit

why the hell would just leave it in sight while being pulled over?

I never have even though i don't use them much. The apps are pretty accurate now.

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No_Dance1739@reddit

Ironic that they instruct people to litter instead.

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Away-Revolution2816@reddit

Radar detectors are legal in Michigan in private vehicles. Not legal in commercial vehicles.

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DontReportMe7565@reddit

In Michigan?! Wtf?! Thanks for the warning.

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gogozrx@reddit

I was painting things for the B2 when it was still a black project. We had radar absorbing paint.

I painted the case of several people's radar detectors. 🙂

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n8ertheh8er@reddit

Well cloaking devices are illegal too. Goodbye!

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randoperson42@reddit

Only Virginia as far as I know.

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WildMartin429@reddit

Waze stopped working as well for me for some reason and I had to start using Google maps. But was already having a trouble with the cops were catching on and started keeping the app up and marking themselves is not there when anybody would report them

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CCWaterBug@reddit

Aerotyne Industries

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SlightPickle@reddit

Cobra I think

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thatoneotherguy42@reddit

I really want to say it was cobra but i'm not certain. Fuck it, we're going all in on cobra at 3.50. let's do this!

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Crissup@reddit

Way back in the day, it was Fuzz Buster, which basically became synonymous with radar detector. That’s back when they were much simpler devices. My father’s was about the size of 4 decks of playing cards and just had a big indicator light on the front of.

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HobsHere@reddit

Valentine was the other premium brand.

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bemenaker@reddit

Valentine, the guy who created Escort/Passport. He sold the company and created a new one under his name.

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LiqdPT@reddit

Mike Valentine died in Sept 2024

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Past-Apartment-8455@reddit

Waze can only help if people report the cop. Plus, radar detectors are really, really good now. I've gotten up to a 4 mile warning with my Uniden R8.

Plus, waze has been neutered these days, only giving you a 1/2 mile warning. There are other applications that can extend that to 5 miles while also looking for VASCAR in the air.

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ShiteWitch@reddit

Cobra maybe? 🐍

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tcspears@reddit

Same here, Waze is always on, but I’ll still flash the high beams if I see a speed trap.

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foolproofphilosophy@reddit

Google maps recently added police reporting. I’m doing my part!

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mallio@reddit

For some reason you can't do it on Android Auto (if you have a car screen) otherwise I'd do it too.

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WitchoftheMossBog@reddit

Yeah, I can't speak for Wisconsin, but in NE we were definitely flash our lights for cops and anything else hazardous.

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jhumph88@reddit

I always have Waze going even if I’m not using it for navigation. The “object on road ahead” has saved me many times

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Bender_2024@reddit

Edited to add: We also use Waze and report police sightings, hazards, etc. I’ll often have the app on even when I know where I’m going.

Google maps has started doing the same. On my trip to Maryland from CT I got several notifications of police, stopped cars on the side of the road, and such.

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shelwood46@reddit

I think Waze is a subsidiary of Google now. Also, Apple maps shows hazards, speed traps and slowdowns etc. I switched a few years ago and find it world's better than Google Maps.

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VelocityGrrl39@reddit

I noticed this, but I don’t find them to be as reliable as Waze.

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ostrichesonfire@reddit

I never bother to do it for cops; I was taught to do it when you just saw a deer crossing the road, there’s always some stragglers

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Stop_Already@reddit

I always do and people have for me. It’s saved me.

I’m from MA but live in SW CT now.

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Red_Beard_Rising@reddit

Yea, it was more of a thing back before GPS navigation that told you this. In the 90"s we did it all the time.

These days there is enough traffic on the interstate even in rural Wisconsin that if everyone up ahead is slowing from 15 over to 5 over, there is a reason and we all know why before we see the speed trap.

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1000Bundles@reddit

I used to do it in New England but got tired of all the assholes speeding through school zones and quiet residential areas. They deserve whatever they get.

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BluRobynn@reddit

I lie on Waze in hopes that Waze will find me unrealiable and stop asking.

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PitifulSpecialist887@reddit

The cops in some states will make up excuses to ticket you if they see you flashing your high beams as a warning.

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VVeZoX@reddit

I assume you're a law abiding citizen and therefore shouldn't need to be wared there's a cop around. Just behave

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Sorry_Ad6764@reddit

We do it in Kansas

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Boozeburger@reddit

Everywhere I've driven people do it. I grew up on the west coast, spent time in Mass and Wisconsin, and currently in NC. I've seen people warn other of speed traps. I think perhaps that younger people might not, because they never learned or they just don't think about others.

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thewittman@reddit

It's illegal in Pennsylvania you will be cited without a 2nd offense.

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Atmosphere_Eater@reddit

I stopped beaming to warn people of cops after that girl was kidnapped and murdered.

They had her in the trunk, and instead of getting pulled over and saving the girl, they got beamed, slowed down, and now she's dead.

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traisjames@reddit

I am in Iowa. I only flash lights to warn of animals or people, and only report police in Waze if they have emergency lights on. I don’t consider them a hazard. If you’re speeding or driving dangerous, I want you to get caught.

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Suppafly@reddit

We definitely warn people in the midwest.

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lokicramer@reddit

In some states it means you want to fight the other driver.

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Jumpy_Engineer_1854@reddit

Is this an East coast/Midwest thing? As a native Southern Californian who's done more than their share of road trips up the 15 and down the 5, I've literally never done that myself, and I don't think I've ever seen it in person.

It might also be that I grew up in San Diego, CA and no one drives through San Diego -- they drive to San Diego, and freeways end here, so we don't have the same thru-traffic patterns for non-locals.

If I flash my brights at you it's either because you've got yours on or I'm trying to get your attention or signal you about a hazard or something.

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shaunamom@reddit

still done in the southwest, every state I've been to, at least.

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Linesey@reddit

in north western OR, flashing brights is “Turn your brights off dude” more than anything else.

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Rei_Rodentia@reddit

I'm from up north and it's definitely a thing.

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wildwill921@reddit

If I had to do it every time I see a cop in NY it would look like I’m driving a strobe light 😂

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Rasp_Berry_Pie@reddit

Agree just saved me from a speeding ticket the other day. I do think some younger drivers don’t know it tho so not everyone does it in every state

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Rei_Rodentia@reddit

agreed. I live down south now, and asked a couple kids that I work with if anyone does it down here and they said no.

So I guess it's not a regional thing, just an old person thing. 😅 Which makes sense, since I learned it from my father.

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Panda_Milla@reddit

Fk cops. We flash to tell some idiot they have their brights on or they didn't turn their lights on at all. And yeah, cops'll get you if either is happening so in a roundabout way, sure! We flash lights briefly for cops.

But even if you know where you're going, good thing to have GPS going at all times. It tells you of objects on roadways/accidents to look out for and yep, if cops are on your route.

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alicat777777@reddit

We do it in Kentucky.

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SeaSnowAndSorrow@reddit

Grew up in New England, learned to drive there....it's used, but not ONLY for cops.

At least in the more rural parts of New England, you use it for any and every type of road hazard:
- wildlife in or right next to the road (keep in mind, parts of New England have moose and black bears and most areas outside of cities have deer and turkeys)
- debris in the road
- ponded water or black ice or other natural hazards.
- accident up ahead (a lot of rural New England roads are twisty, so there may be something you can't see from here and you need to cut your speed).

Also, if your lights are off and they need to be on.

Also, we're at a stop, and I'm telling you to please just effing GO.

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GreyEyedMouse@reddit

It's not a south thing either.

I live in Louisiana. You go flashing your high beams at people, and you're likely to either get shot or get pulled over by the police.

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THELEGENDARYZWARRIOR@reddit

I put on my hazards to warn about accidents or road work, I don’t care if police pulls anyone not me over. Heck that’s money for the state/city.

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ArsenalSpider@reddit

I got pulled over for doing that once in Michigan. No ticket but the cop was pissed I flashed my lights and let me know it.

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GoddessOfOddness@reddit

Yes. What you may be finding is that with the ubiquity of apps like Waze, we get notified of speed traps, and may not think that some people don’t get those warnings.

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Capable-Sock9910@reddit

We use Waze/Google Maps up north. Even in the smaller areas their hiding spots get marked real quick.

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Bastilleinstructor@reddit

I stopped when someone said to me "what if you just warned a drunk driver and they go on to kill someone". I used to be a firefighter and I've run a lot of wrecks where a drunk killed someone. I only flash lights for road hazards now. I'd never thought about warning folks in that context.

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MeowMeow_77@reddit

I’m in California and I’ve never heard of this. I’ve been told never to flash your lights unless you want to get shot.

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SpellNo3829@reddit

We do it over in Utah too so it’s definitely not just a southern thing. Though I do admit a lot of southern culture somehow makes its way over here

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melanthius@reddit

Can't speak specifically for northern states. But generally Flashing brights is a really poor form of communication as it could mean any number of things and also be an accidental flash.

There is not a lot of coherence in the way anyone does it and if someone does it to me or you, it's really your best guess what they are trying to tell you:

"Cops" , "your headlights are too bright", "I think you're an asshole for some reason" , "look our trucks are the same" , "your gas door is open" "where's my windshield fluid sprayer"

who the hell knows

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trelene@reddit

Alas, we only have poor ways of communicating with other drivers. There's the horn, flashing your brights, and then I'm sure most of us add any number of idiosyncratic gestures, facial expressions and comments; the last of which can be satisfying but are useless.

So is someone flashing their lights at you, after determining that your lights are on and you don't have your brights on, really is there any reason not to just go with "there must be a cop up ahead?"

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ODaysForDays@reddit

If someone flashes you use caution for a few miles. That covers most your bases.

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Dear_Musician4608@reddit

After those few miles let caution fly out the window

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alexandria3142@reddit

Exactly. That’s what it means. Where I live, there’s not any sidewalks and you can’t run along the side of the road on backroads. People often run ON the road. I flash cars if I’ve passed by a person on the road, or if a dog is out, or recently there’s been kids playing in a creek right by a road I drive on. It means slow down and keep a look out. I don’t know any other way to convey that something or someone is in the road

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jeremy9001@reddit

Could be warning about deer, other animals, or road debris, too.

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travelinmatt76@reddit

Somebody flashed their brights at me one morning on the way to work. It pissed me off and I flashed back to show i didn't have my brights on. Then around the next turn the road was full of cows that had jumped their fence.

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Ok-Selection4206@reddit

Flashing your light to tell someone they are blinding you with their high beams means nothing in Florida. They just keep driving, no change.

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Karen125@reddit

Either way, slow down.

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No_Dance1739@reddit

But your lights were off

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14Calypso@reddit

In Minnesota it's always either "turn your lights on dumbass", "turn your brights off dumbass", or "deer"

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LuvliLeah13@reddit

Yep. Basically it’s a heads up to slow down and look sharp

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charliedog1965@reddit

Exactly. Could be cops, deer, accident ahead, high water, ice, etc.

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nwbrown@reddit

Either way, the reaction is too slow down and be careful.

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abbot_x@reddit

It can also be hard to distinguish an actual high-beam flash from a car going over a bump, causing its lights’ apparent brightness to change.

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Genepoolperfect@reddit

I've had someone flash their brights at me from behind and one lane over. I had put on my signal to move into that lane & took it as a 'hey, I'm here." Happened 3 times with the same vehicle and they never sped up to go past or anything. Best I can assume is that they were giving me the 'go ahead' but it gave the absolute opposite impression and made me anxious about changing lanes, and/or something was wrong with my car that I didn't know about or see.

Moral of the story: don't flash your brights at someone bc they don't know what you're trying to communicate & you may confuse or piss them off. Signed, lifelong NYer

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michiplace@reddit

Typically the "you are clear to move into my lane" sign is turning your regular lights (not brights) off and on a couple times.

At least that's how it is used / recognized in my region (Michigan), especially by truck drivers.

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InevitableRhubarb232@reddit

Brights simply mean : be aware

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abakersmurder@reddit

The idea is keep aware. There's something ahead.

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SavannahInChicago@reddit

I’m used to it communicating something about your headlights. I’m from Michigan.

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Feather757@reddit

Yes, me too. Someone flashes their lights at me, I figure they're saying to dim my lights, so I flash mine back to say my brights aren't on, dude.

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anotherrandomuserna@reddit

Then fix your damn headlights. If you're brights aren't on and you're constantly blinding people, your headlights are aimed too high.

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Feather757@reddit

Nobody said I was constantly blinding people. Learn to read.

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SuccessfulHospital54@reddit

If people are flashing you with your brights off, your lows are blinding people.

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balthisar@reddit

Or you have an older car without automatic headlights, and you think that the daytime running lights are headlights.

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maximumhippo@reddit

Also Michigan. about a third of the time, they've just hit a pothole.

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WildeRoamer@reddit

🤣 Truth!

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sas223@reddit

The whole point of those is there’s some hazard to be on the look out for.

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PlayingDoomOnAGPS@reddit

Same is true of the horn. I wish we had separate horn for "excuse me" and "fuck you!" I don't think the brights are all that confusing. If you're trying to get in my lane and I flash my brights, that means I'll let you in. If you coming toward me and I flash my brights, it's either your headlights aren't on or I saw something back there you should watch out for. So just check your lights, check your speed, and be extra careful for hazards (including cops).

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byebybuy@reddit

Completely agree. Growing up I always thought it meant my brights were on. I only learned the "look out for cops" thing later in life and I still have yet to verify that one.

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CinemaSideBySides@reddit

Same, except I thought it was code for "turn your headlights on"

Which makes sense that the only time I've had other cars flash me was when I was accidentally driving with dim lights (I was a newish driver and didn't realize my car has a setting below regular headlights. Like DIM LIGHTS - REGULAR - BRIGHTS). I'm still not sure what that first setting is for, but I've learned to never use it.

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curlyhead2320@reddit

They are probably daytime running lights. https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/daytime-running-lights/ They are dim lights that make your car more visible to others, especially in dim conditions that don’t require regular headlights (overcast day, not yet sunset but the sun is blocked by tall trees along your road, etc). In some cars they are automatically on whenever the car is on, in other cars you manually turn them on/off. Mine are manual like yours, but I generally try to keep them on because there is some evidence they reduce accidents.

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todaysanoncct@reddit

This is how I've always used them.

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Drew707@reddit

I've see higgbeams and hazards used as warning for things on the road, but more often than not flashing higgbeams means turns yours off, but turning your lights off and on means turn your shit on. However, the Venn diagram of people that drive with stupid lights and those that pay attention to other lights is nearly a circle.

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Inside-Run785@reddit

Live in Wisconsin. All my life, it’s been a sign that there’s something up with your headlights.

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SteveArnoldHorshak@reddit

If you flash slowly, it means there’s a pig. If someone has their brights on you, turn your brights on and burn out their retinas you don’t flash. Also, a quick turning off and then back on means there is a pig. But that doesn’t work with automatic headlights.

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BoldBoimlerIsMyHero@reddit

I thought flashing high beams was just “hey asshole your brights are on!”

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UnabashedHonesty@reddit

Lifelong Northern Californian. I have only flashed my brights (or lights) for two, maybe three reasons … 1. Oncoming traffic appears to have brights on 2. Twilight and a car is running without lights and is difficult to see 3. Traffic driving the wrong way on a one way street

It has never occurred to me to warn people about the cops.

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SteveArnoldHorshak@reddit

Where I’m from it only means that there is a pig to look out for. We don’t use it for other types of hazards or anything else to avoid confusion.

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lostdragon05@reddit

That’s weird, I thought it was a universal language. My dad used to be a trucker and always told me one flash means thanks, two means cop ahead, three means an accident or road hazard.

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lefactorybebe@reddit

I do it similarly, but not exactly like that. One flash is "turn off your brights", two flashes is "go ahead" or " I understand/thank you", three or more is " cop or hazard ahead".

I really only use flashing for thank you when someone warns me of a cop or hazard, I don't do it when someone lets me go cause that causes too much confusion.

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SkylineFTW97@reddit

That's what I do. I flash it twice like flash codes on an OBD1 car. 2 repeated flashes of 3 in quick succession as a warning to keep alert ahead.

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byebybuy@reddit

I could see that being true for truckers, but among the general population I'd have to agree with the person you replied to.

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bigchilla777@reddit

it’s even worse abroad

you can add both “stop, i’m not waiting for you” and “go, i’ll wait right here”

at this point i just don’t like seeing brights flash because it doesn’t mean shit to me

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mis_no_mer@reddit

I’m originally from a northern state (coincidentally now living in TN) and right after I got my license (25 years ago) I saw a cop doing a speed trap so I flashed my lights at the next oncoming car. Turns out that car was also a cop and they turned right around and pull me over. I was also very very stoned and with my friend who had a bong in his backpack which we were smoking out of just minutes prior as we were driving around. Somehow the cop didn’t notice and just gave me a warning and told me to not do it again. Got lucky that day!

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Guard_Bainbridge_777@reddit

We do it in Maryland for cops or for anything that drivers need to be alerted to - animals, downed trees, accidents, etc.

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Quirky-Jackfruit-270@reddit

where I live people never turn their hi beams off. I think they are too busy texting to notice oncoming cars.

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cowgrly@reddit

We do it in Washington (state, not DC)!

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New-Grapefruit1737@reddit

I don’t flash for a speed trap. If you are speeding, get busted! Deer near the road, you bet.

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Quenzayne@reddit

I didn’t drive when I lived in Massachusetts so I don’t know about there, never saw anyone do this in California, and haven’t seen it so far in Florida.

Only place I’ve ever seen it is Georgia tbh. So maybe it is a southern thing.

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foozballhead@reddit

I learned it in CA and do it everywhere I’ve lived, including OR/WA. It seems hit or miss whether i notice folks do it here.

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Weiz82@reddit

In some states it’s illegal to flesh your bright lights or lights at all . I use Waze app, it’s never let me down.

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

Got a ticket in south ga. No waze reports and bro was hiding on the on ramp

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AFartInAnEmptyRoom@reddit

Everyone just reports it on Waze

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YeoChaplain@reddit

Depending on the state, you can get a ticket for that.

Do it anyway.

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YaHeyWisconsin@reddit

It is indeed a thing in Wisconsin. Of course every single person does not do it but it’s common. Usually turn lights on and off to warn others to turn lights on. Flashing brights is recognized as cops, deer, or warn them they left their brights on and are blinding you

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letsgooncemore@reddit

My experience is probably in line with yours, I think. It's something done in rural Pennsylvania, but not urban.

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Creative-Fan-7599@reddit

I saw it plenty even in urban PA, but it’s been like almost ten years since I left the area. I grew up in Delaware, so I’m referring to the parts of Pennsylvania like Delaware County.

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byebybuy@reddit

The sheer number of things it could mean ensures that it's an ineffective means of communication.

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YaHeyWisconsin@reddit

Haha yeah sort of true. If someone flashes me I will 1. Make sure my brights are not on. 2. Slow down because there’s either a hazard like a deer or a cop.

So I guess it is fairly effective

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Sleepygirl57@reddit

I agree. You know it means caution ahead for some reason.

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TheSxyCauc@reddit

I mean not really. The main thing you’re trying to communicate is “hey watch the fuck out there’s something up ahead you should be aware of”. Whether that be cops, deer, a bicyclist, or whatever

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Lovebeingadad54321@reddit

It can only mean 2 things, you left your brights on and are blinding everyone, or you need to slow down. It is pretty easy to see if your brights are on.

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RealisticParsnip3431@reddit

It's effective in helping someone realize that there's SOMETHING they need to be paying attention to instead of auto-piloting down the road as they have been.

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maamaallaamaa@reddit

Really?! I'm 34 and have lived here all my life and it's not a thing as far as I know besides the one to let someone know to turn their lights on. But I also had a mom who would tell us we would get shot doing something like that so....

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YaHeyWisconsin@reddit

Get shot? Haha dang I wouldn’t really worry about that unless I was in Milwaukee. You never know though. I do worry about people and road rage so I don’t honk at people often. Some folks just react weirdly

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maamaallaamaa@reddit

My mom was just so gullible. My dad grew up in Milwaukee so we would go down to visit family and my mom was always so paranoid while my dad was chill.

Anyway, my go to move with road disputes is to smile and wave eagerly. Drives them crazy but usually diffuses things lol.

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imaginaryrum@reddit

From Milwaukee, it’s done there

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loweexclamationpoint@reddit

Yeah, I was driving between Burlington and Milwaukee and somebody flashed. Didn't know what that meant until I saw the cop just over the next rise.

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theyjustappear@reddit

I’m from Wisconsin and I concur. I learned it back in the 90s when I got my license. My dad told me about it and I thought it was so cool.

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runnerennur@reddit

I’ve only seen flashing brights at someone used as a “turn on your headlights” communication tool in Wisconsin. Never to warn about cops

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YaHeyWisconsin@reddit

Really?? I know for sure a lot of people do. I even asked my coworkers after seeing this to make sure it’s not just me 🤣. Actually a friend of mine did it in high school but it was at night and the cop saw him flash the next car. Cop followed him for a while, probably just to fuck with him

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YaHeyWisconsin@reddit

Really?? I know for sure a lot of people do. I even asked my coworkers after seeing this to make sure it’s not just me 🤣. Actually a friend of mine did it in high school but it was at night and the cop saw him flash the next car. Cop followed him for a while, probably just to fuck with him

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

She lives a little west of Milwaukee in a little town called dealfeild plenty of cops from the Illinois state line all the way to her house

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YaHeyWisconsin@reddit

Gotcha. Yeah it’s a thing in Waukesha county. Maybe not on the freeway as much or highways. County roads people will. 🤷🏼‍♂️ like I said not everyone will

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Sleepygirl57@reddit

In Indiana it means turn on lights, a cop ahead, deer or another animal in the road so be cautious.

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ka-bluie57@reddit

We only flash our brights when we know oncoming traffic has wildlife on the road ahead of them, where I just came from. But well I live in the mountains. And wildlife on the road happens alot. No we do not flash for law enforcement being out and about. In fact that is so rare, I'd be shocked to see Highway Patrol.

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FeenieK@reddit

We do flash brights for cops and animals in northern plains. But now it’s illegal to do it.

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u6crash@reddit

Done here in Northern Illinois, but I've seen it more on rural roads, or at least longer stretches of road. I've never seen it in the suburbs or cities.

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Kestrel_Iolani@reddit

Flashing brights is "your headlights are off"

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hopping_hessian@reddit

That, or "your brights are on and blinding me."

[-]

zeezle@reddit

Or these days more likely, "your shitty improperly aligned LED headlights look like brights that are on and blinding me even though they're not even your brights and whoever allowed these monstrosities to become legal should be drawn and quartered"

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Dear_Musician4608@reddit

"You think these are my brights‽ THESE ARE MY BRIGHTS!"

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SimplGaming08@reddit

As someone from SE Michigan, I have never heard of this

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Recent_Permit2653@reddit

When I lived in western NY, it was definitely not as prevalent. But surprisingly, it wasn’t that needed, either. Everyone from local PD (depending on jurisdiction) all the way up to state troopers really weren’t interested in pulling people over.

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PANIC_EXCEPTION@reddit

New York here. Happened to me a couple times. I also warn drivers too.

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cubecasts@reddit

It's everywhere wtf

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Medical_Boss_6247@reddit

Flashing lights just means there’s something to pay attention to. Maybe your lights are off at night, maybe there’s a cop up ahead, maybe there’s a tree on the road. Just means to perk up and pay attention

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Prestigious_Look_986@reddit

It’s a thing in New Jersey. Either means, your lights aren’t on or there’s a cop ahead. I haven’t seen it as much in Maine.

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McGauth925@reddit

All the time. It's odd, because it would be better for me if traffic passed my house more slowly. And, I wouldn't do it for somebody going *really* fast.

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SueBeee@reddit

We do it up here in the northeast!

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9405t4r@reddit

I wish people will stop doing that. You can’t complain there are no cops to do anything when you see something and at the same time tell on a cop to others.

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DMC1001@reddit

I know that used to happen in southern NY but I haven’t seen it in a long time.

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jamzDOTnet@reddit

Maryland, I absolutely do. But I don't see others doing it as much.

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Proof_Lengthiness185@reddit

You can get pulled over for interference. Sometimes the second cop is actively watching for it. A good way to get yourself in trouble for no reason. If they are breaking the law, that's on them.

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JustATaddMaddLadd@reddit

I do in MI. I think some areas do it more than others tho.

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Xellicle@reddit

Yep, the double flash on high beams is used, though less often as people are scared of getting tickets for it

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Sarcastic_Rocket@reddit

This is a thing in Utah and Massachusetts where I have lived

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Most-Silver-4365@reddit

In PA it is common to do this but it is illegal so some people don't do it.

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SchwillyMaysHere@reddit

We did it all the time in MA/RI.

Nobody in the PNW seems to do it.

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mitshoo@reddit

I’m from Indianapolis and I have never heard of this. Now, if someone is behind you and they notice something is off on your car or something, they might flash their lights to get your attention in your rear view mirror. But if I saw someone from oncoming traffic flash their lights at me, I wouldn’t interpret it as meaning anything and I might think they even hit a bump in the road, changing where their lights shine.

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fredSanford6@reddit

I'm in Northern Illinois and it does seem to be used less but still gets used. Often more for deer and turkey on it near road warning but police too. Definitely used to be way more common.

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Odd-Ad-9634@reddit

Where I am from (PA) we pretty much all do it to warn about cops and as a sign to give up the right of way. But I moved to WA, and nobody here understands or does it.

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Qedtanya13@reddit

It’s illegal in a lot of states.

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Zappagrrl02@reddit

It’s not really a thing in Michigan that I know of.

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6gravedigger66@reddit

I'm in Wisconsin. I flash for these reasons, and so do some others.

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Meat_Bingo@reddit

I do it all the time, northeastern resident here.

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messibessi22@reddit

I’m not in a northern state but we def do it in Colorado

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paleolith1138@reddit

CA does not do this

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hobokobo1028@reddit

Wisconsin here. I do it

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battleop@reddit

It also means turn your lights on. Of which 2% of drives seem to understand.

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VillageSmithyCellar@reddit

I'm in Massachusetts, and I've never heard this, and I don't think I've seen this either. I've been told flashing brights is for telling someone to move without honking, or letting them knows their lights are off when it's too dark.

I've also been told that flashing your lights could make you the target of a gang, but I don't know if that's true.

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EveryDisaster@reddit

Don't flash your brights. Turn your regular lights on and off

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michaelincognito@reddit

Around here, flashing high beams is equal parts “Watch out for cops” and “There’s a deer in the road.”

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DanDanDan0123@reddit

Used to do this 40 years ago in San Diego CA. I stopped because drivers have gotten CRAZY and they deserve tickets!

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epicgrilledchees@reddit

We do in PA and NY

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wesleyhroth@reddit

Growing up saw it all the time in NJ, also lived in VT for a decade and they definitely do it there too 🤷‍♂️

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Piney1943@reddit

Means dim your damn lights ahole!

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SuperPomegranate7933@reddit

My mom told me not to do that back in the 90s because "it's a gang thing" (southern New England)

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print_isnt_dead@reddit

Can confirm, moms all over new england said this in the 90s

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NemeanMiniLion@reddit

Urban myth

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nwbrown@reddit

Probably spread by cops who are mad people are slowing down to safe speeds.

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SuperPomegranate7933@reddit

I have no doubt about that. I love her to bits, but my mom falls for all that stuff. I was a little kid, then, so I just never picked up the habit of flashing. To me it's the "go ahead" signal.

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catawampus_doohickey@reddit

I heard in the 80s that it meant you were going to play chicken and swap sides of the road with the other car. (I never really believed that one because it seemed so improbable to have everyone know that rule).

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Yankee_chef_nen@reddit

There was definitely a belief in the 90s that a certain gang’s initiation was that the new gang member had to drive around without lights on and kill the first person that flashed their headlights. So people said to not flash lights. I’d bet that’s what your mom was talking about

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sas223@reddit

I honestly think it was spread by law enforcement because they were actively fighting people having the right to warn each other about cops in this way. They were ticketing people for it but eventually lost the case in court. It is now recognized as freedom of speak.

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foco_runner@reddit

I remember hearing that in the early 2000's in South Dakota

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47-30-23N_122-0-22W@reddit

My mom believed that one haha

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SuperPomegranate7933@reddit

That sounds accurate.

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willgreenier@reddit

Lol. I knew somebody was going to say it...

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GoddessOfOddness@reddit

It’s all over. My Dad lived from California to New Jersey to Texas to Wisconsin.

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Odd_Cranberry_9918@reddit

I mean it doesn’t really happen a lot but yeah we flash our brights to warn people about anything (cops, deers, moose, crashes, etc.)

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RobbyWasaby@reddit

I do, cincinnati here

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_aelysar@reddit

I think flashing your lights is kind of fading away for a few reasons. First- younger generations didn’t learn it as much as we (Gen X and older) did (because of the other two reasons). Second- so many vehicles now have automatic or always on lights so drivers aren’t used to ever touching their headlight controls and finally- Waze and other apps alert drivers more specifically

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Ok_Relationship2451@reddit

Oh I flash my lights, people wave back and stab their brakes... As if slowing down for a cop. I'm just trying to get the dude in the asphalt colored car to turn his headlights on in the rain. Just because you can see doesn't mean anyone can see you

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ConsiderationFew7599@reddit

I've lived in northern Indiana and southern Ohio and we do it here, too. It's usually for cops. But, it also can just mean you should slow down.

I take a lot of back roads to work and there are a lot of curves. So, I've often flashed my lights because a lot of deer are crossing the road just behind where I came from. I recently did because a truck had gone into a ditch near a curve and there were a couple of emergency vehicles in the road. The oncoming car wouldn't have seen the accident until getting into a curve and they were going really fast. It would have possibly caused another accident.

So, flashing lights just means slow down. It could be for a cop or other issue.

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sneezyailurophile@reddit

People in Arkansas don’t do it, I’ve noticed. Weird.

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gothicuhcuh@reddit

I don’t personally. Let them get pulled over it isn’t my problem they’re a shit driver.

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GSilky@reddit

I always figured y'all were trying to initiate someone into a gang and were going to attack the first person to flash you back...

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Forsaken_Distance777@reddit

Never heard of that.

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Mental_Freedom_1648@reddit

I know someone in NY who got a ticket for that

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Affectionate-Cap-918@reddit

I think that’s why people don’t do it here - it can definitely get you ticket. Not worth it.

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isolatedinidaho@reddit

I know their have been a couple cases like this in idaho as well they always end up in court but I still don't do it for cops , animals and brights is all I do it for anymore

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DaddyIssuesIncarnate@reddit

I think it's more of a generational thing

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jabber1990@reddit

its actually illegal in some places

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Standard-Outcome9881@reddit

I’m in Southeatern Pennsylvania and I haven’t really seen people flashing their lights for warning about police in a long time. Like the others have said most people seem to use Waze.

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NWXSXSW@reddit

No one should be flashing brights. I don’t know how this stupid shit got started. Flash your lights — turn them off and back on. In the split second that you have no headlights, you will not die, I promise. People who drive at night for a living are getting blinded nonstop by idiots who forget to turn their high beams off, or by modern cars with automatic high beams that never work the way they should — we don’t need people also flashing their brights at us intentionally, thinking they’re doing us a favor.

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born_digital@reddit

“You will not die” ok and you won’t go blind from one second of a high beam flash

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NWXSXSW@reddit

After a few months of working nights I had a noticeable decline in my eyesight. 5-10 times in a 12 hour shift I’d get hit with someone’s high beams and it was bad enough that I’d see spots briefly afterward. I started wearing night driving glasses and took a different job where I wasn’t on the road as much, and my vision gradually improved. So one guy flashing his brights instead of just flashing his regular headlights, the way professional drivers do it, isn’t going to make anyone go blind, but it will contribute to eye damage over time. You’re cool with that apparently.

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Sensitive_Maybe_6578@reddit

Motorcycle riders tap the top of their helmets to other riders, to alert for cops. No one in Washington would know why you’re flashing your brights; so many people drive without lights on already, which is the only reason why I flash my high beams.

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DOMSdeluise@reddit

I don't do this because I think the correct way to avoid getting a speeding ticket is not speed.

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Superlite47@reddit

So you don't want people to slow down?

Because that's what flashing your lights does: slows people down so they don't speed.

That's why you don't do it...because it causes them to slow down.

That's like hitting people in the head with a hammer because you don't want them to feel pain.

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dcm510@reddit

Better for the police to get them to slow down by writing them a ticket

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Rob_LeMatic@reddit

No, these people don't actually care about safety, they care about punishing rule breakers.

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DOMSdeluise@reddit

perhaps the speeding ticket and higher insurance rates will make them slow down in the future

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trotting_pony@reddit

Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, all do that.

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Foreign-Marzipan6216@reddit

I grew up in northwest Ohio and remember my Dad teaching me how to flash headlights for hidden police, an accident or bad weather ahead. This was during the 80’s and 90’s. It should still be a thing, we should all be looking out for one another.

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Gold-Leather8199@reddit

I just did it yesterday, but I do semis,

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ToTooTwoTutu2II@reddit

High beams can mean literally anything.

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babybird87@reddit

There’s a funny video on YouTube about a guy getting a police citation for flashing his lights.. police man was a real ass.. started to arrest the guy for laughing…,

ticket was later overturned.. it is protected speech

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notyogrannysgrandkid@reddit

I was taught to do that back home in Wyoming and saw it in Idaho when I was college and Hawaii when my wife was in college. See it all the time in Arkansas, too.

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Alert-Potato@reddit

Yes in Pennsylvania. Yes in Utah.

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Difficult-Big4033@reddit

We do it in PA.

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nwbrown@reddit

It's a thing across the country. Cops hate it. Because apparently encouraging people not to speed is a bad thing. And they occasionally arrest people they see doing it. But courts have repeatedly found those arrests are bullshit.

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LoriReneeFye@reddit

I just drive the speed limit and don't worry about it.

Everyone else should be doing the same thing.

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mulletmeup@reddit

I've never heard of this, I'm from Detroit area in MI (from metro Detroit but I spent most of the last 4 years in Detroit for college). I see people flashing their lights but usually it means you left your brights on, i don't think I've seen it used for cops ever. But there's cops everywhere on busy roads or in the city in general so it wouldn't mean much to flash your brights lmao

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EbbPsychological2796@reddit

It used to be common in the PNW... Seems less common now, but people still do it particularly in rural areas...

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YoureInMyWaySir@reddit

NY here. We flash lights. But some cops spread the BS rumor that you'll get a ticket if they catch you doing that. Theres no offical rule against flashing high beams.

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BankManager69420@reddit

I can’t speak for other places, but it’s definitely not a thing in the PNW. If someone flashed me randomly while driving I’m gonna assume something is wrong with my car.

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I_Keep_On_Scrolling@reddit

I spent most of my life in Hawaii, and people there do it often. I've been in TN for 3 years, and I haven't yet seen anyone do it.

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Think-Departure-5054@reddit

Illinois does

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shelwood46@reddit

I first learned it in NJ, where I learned to drive. That said, I grew up in WI, and I don't recall that being a thing there, but I wasn't driving so it probably was. I sincerely doubt it is region (or even US) specific.

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a-fabulous-sandwich@reddit

Not something I'm familiar with in Michigan. Here flashing your lights is just an attempt to let another driver know they haven't turned theirs on.

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Drachynn@reddit

We did it even in Northern Ontario, Canada.

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prevknamy@reddit

I’m Midwest. It’s not done here. Don’t know why

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OrthodoxAnarchoMom@reddit

I flash regulars. New Hampshire

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Pinkgabezo@reddit

I live in the Midwest and flash them. Most people I meet don't and I think it's because they are under the age of 30. So when driving, observe the speed limit.

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North_Artichoke_6721@reddit

We do it in Massachusetts. I got saved from a speeding ticket that way.

I also used it recently to warn oncoming drivers of a tree across the road and emergency vehicles up ahead.

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Dapper-Tomatillo-875@reddit

Northeaster, we flash. Or I do, at least.

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AvaLLove@reddit

I’ve lived between Ohio and Indiana and I always flash people. I’ve seen people flash me. It’s pretty common.

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Forward_Ad4727@reddit

I’ve road-tripped the US and have lived in both the north and the south and I have never seen anyone flash their brights for cops.

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DaCrowHunter@reddit

The only place I have lived that it didn't happen often was Washington state. It did happen but I had spoken to few people that had gotten pulled over for flashing brights. Something about interrupting law enforcement work.

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mew5175_TheSecond@reddit

Happens all the time in New York. Both around the city and upstate.

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therealbamspeedy@reddit

Rural SW wisconsin here. It was very common in the 90s, pretty rare to see now.

Even speed patrols are rarer now from what I remember from the 90s. Cops are busy with alot of other stuff than catching speeders. But, can still count on them to be hanging out together parked in the same parking lot at 2 AM.

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hatchjon12@reddit

Yes, we do in New England.

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unsurewhatiteration@reddit

I'm from NY (like, the northern part, then the western part...so always rural and redneck if that makes a difference) and learned this before I even learned to drive.

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Infinite-Hold-7521@reddit

We do it in Oregon.

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kgxv@reddit

They do this in NY, where I was born, raised, and currently live. They also do this in Maryland, where I went to college.

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inscrutiana@reddit

Last time I did this I was pulled over by an enraged officer. Among the things learned that day, by inference, was that accident fatalities deeply impact police.

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MyOwnGuitarHero@reddit

I do it for cops, for deer, for accidents ahead, any kind of road hazard.

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TheRoyalCrimson@reddit

Up here, it's either someone broke down and is in the road, animal/animals trying to cross, and, first reposnders on a scene and /or police ahead.

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liziguana@reddit

Yeah here in Utah it’s fairly common. Sometimes it means, turn your lights on, watch for cops, other warnings. Honestly I use it the most for the first thing because apparently people don’t notice they don’t have lights on in the dark??

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Gabaloo@reddit

I've never dreamed of warning oncoming drivers about police.

I've only flashed lights if another driver has their lights off, and even that's rare.

Who cares if a stranger gets pulled over?

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Sekshual_Tyranosauce@reddit

Used to. But that practice has died out. Maybe Waze killed it. We got more sophisticated.

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Forward-Repeat-2507@reddit

In my neck of the woods it’s a signal to turn off your brights. Never used it to warn of police activities.

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Zingobingobongo@reddit

We do it in the UK but I haven’t seen it once in 10 years living here in California. Mind people never wave thanks or flash you through to turn, can’t filter for toffee and are generally completely lacking in even the most basic manners on the roads here in general so it figures.

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Glitch_Ghoul@reddit

It has definitely fallen out of vogue in Ohio.

I still do it. Fuck speed traps.

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trainboi777@reddit

I can’t speak for everyone, but I always try to do this in Virginia

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TheProofsinthePastis@reddit

Native Minnesotan, (36 from the TC area for reference) up there we were taught to flash high beams if your lights were off. It was also an urban legend that it was a gang initiation to follow and murder someone who flashes their high beams at you, so people stopped doing it altogether. Probably an Urban Legend passed down by the police if this used to be en vogue.

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whatevertoad@reddit

This was common in the PNW on rural highways when I was younger. Most people just have an app for that these days. I've not seen anyone do this in many years. Though I drive less in rural areas tbf.

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Torch99999@reddit

I grew up in MA and flash high beams to warn other drivers of hazards.

Currently living in TX, and flashing high beams is rare. Way too many people down here drive with their high beams on all the time (which is blinding) so not much to flash.

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HotAdministration817@reddit

Well the cops up a bit north of Tennessee started a rumor that people that were flashing their high beams were being chased down and assaulted. Do it doesn't happen all that often anymore. And honestly, people would have to not ride their high beams all day and night to make an impact, which is a brutal problem in Ohio. Both urban and suburban.

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RealSidDithers@reddit

Actually the warning is turning your lights off and on again a few times. Not flashing brights.

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Jswazy@reddit

I live in Texas and have never heard of this

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vt2022cam@reddit

They do. It’s more common in rural areas because people in cities don’t drive with their high beams on usually due to street lighting. In rural areas you switch it often manually as cars pass you, so it not that unusual.

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DangerDugong1@reddit

In WA we also try to do it sometimes but more often than not it’s someone telling another driver that they need to put their lights on. People around here forget that a lot.

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Sir_Nuttsak@reddit

I'm north of Ohio river. I do it and others do it for me, it is common knowledge.

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BigDaddyReptar@reddit

They are everywhere in Ohio can't be flucking then that often

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ObjectivePretend6755@reddit

I will never do it to warn other drivers who are speeding that the police are nearby. If you are speeding then its your problem I'm not helping. What I do quite often is randomly flash my lights to make everyone think the cops are near so they slow down. You all drive too fast.

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MingleLinx@reddit

My brother went to Kenya and his driver accidentally went on the wrong side of the road on the highway. While the driver was figuring stuff out on the shoulder, a passing car flashed their lights to warn him a cop is coming.

I think the gesture is universal

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Nodeal_reddit@reddit

Nope. Moved from AL to OH and people here don’t do it.

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Francie_Nolan1964@reddit

I live in Minnesota and I always flag my brights as a signal for them to turn on their lights..

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FalseBuddha@reddit

There are only two things falling your brights ever means. "Cops ahead" and "turn your fucking lights on".

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MamasCupcakes@reddit

Not sure if this would affect it, but I wonder if more and more cars having automatic brights has a factor with this at all. I never even think about turning them on anymore.

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No_Dance1739@reddit

Grew up in the PacNW and no we did not do this. I used to flash people who didn’t have their lights on and then there was an urban myth about them leaving their lights off on purpose, and whoever flashed them would be their victim for initiation. I just mind my business nowadays.

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Anon-John-Silver@reddit

I live in Utah and I’d assume they were telling me my headlights were off or one was broken or something. Never heard of it as a warning for law enforcement ahead.

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Northman86@reddit

You don't do that in the midwest, that is this message "fucknuts, your doing something stupid and dangerous".

Another reason is that we learn to drive dealing with ice on the road, which makes the brights even more blinding.

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Crissup@reddit

As a Chicagoan, it usually caused me to respond with “Screw you! I don’t have my damned high beams on!”

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Exact-Truck-5248@reddit

Come to think of it, i don't see it as much as I used to.

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2bad-2care@reddit

I usually turn my high beans on for a second, then off if I'm trying to tell someone their high beams are on. I'll rapidly flick the high beams to warn of a hazard coming up, like deer in the road. For a cop, I'll usually switch my regular headlights on and off a few times.

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ChuckYeagerWV@reddit

I do in PA but not everyone gets it. Maybe it's a generational thing?

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HoneyWyne@reddit

I did for years until I moved to Minnesota. I've lived all over the country, always did it. But nobody really seemed to do it here.

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SomeDetroitGuy@reddit

In Michigan, I've only seen people flash lights to tell folks their lights are off or brights are on, never heard of it as a warning for cops.

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Decent-Morning7493@reddit

People do it all over, but the added light-flashing behavior I see in the north is that if you are in the left lane and the car behind you flashes their lights, it’s actually a polite way to ask you to move to the right lane so they can pass you. If I did that in the south someone might follow me home but when I lived up north it was common. Are there ragey people in both places, yes, but I actually loved this about driving up north.

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Bottled_Penguin@reddit

In Montana, we use it to warn for deer or any other large animal. At least in rural parts anyway.

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OvenHonest8292@reddit

Everyone does this everywhere.

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languagelover17@reddit

I’m from WI and I’ve never heard of this!

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Dear-Resist-5592@reddit

We do it up north too.

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fiftyfivepercentoff@reddit

This is a lost art. Many of the younger generation don’t know this signal. Or a warning.

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Particular_Owl_8029@reddit

my kids told me that gangs would drive with lights off and if you hi beamed them to say your lights are off they would attack you. Most likely an urban legend. So yes I still do it anyway

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Naroef@reddit

I've heard it was gang initiation they would shoot you. But it's probably bullshit lol

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imuniqueaf@reddit

Something like 35,000 people die in traffic crashes in the United States every year.

Slow the fuck down.

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Naroef@reddit

I'd wager that distracted driving is worse than speeding. But yes don't speed excessively.

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Oceanbreeze871@reddit

I don’t care if you get caught for speeding or reckless/drunk driving. Frankly it makes the roads safer for them to get caught.

I’m not your dad.

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sylphrena83@reddit

People have done it everywhere I’ve lived or traveled…except Ohio. I flash to warn of deer sometimes and I think it just confuses people.

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MerelyMortalModeling@reddit

I flash for deer and use apps for cops.

Seriously, no one likes to get pulled over but getting ended buy having a 300 pound buck smash through your window at 55mph is worse.

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Myshkin1981@reddit

Out here in California it means, in descending order:

1) Your lights are off

2) Road hazard ahead

3) Cops!

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Naroef@reddit

Or your high beams are on. I've found turning my lights on and off works better than flashing, and is seen as less aggressive.

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Naroef@reddit

I don't do that. If you're breaking the law you deserve to get pulled over.

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Live_Badger7941@reddit

In New England we do this but it doesn't automatically mean "cop."

It might mean that your lights are off when they should be on/your brights are on when they shouldn't be, or anything else about your car.

It could mean there's a turtle or any other animal in the road, or any other type of hazard in the road ahead that you should watch out for.

Or, yes, it could mean there's a cop.

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akmjolnir@reddit

We're smart enough to use Waze, and mark the fucker.

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RangerMatt76@reddit

I grew up in a very small town. If an oncoming car flashes its headlight at you, I usually means that the person wants you to stop in the middle of the road so that you can hear the latest gossip.

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topher929@reddit

I don’t do it because in some places it’s interpreted as a gang sign.

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Dry-Sky1614@reddit

I don’t particularly care if someone gets a ticket for breaking the law, so no.

Anecdotally I have heard of people doing this and getting tickets for “dazzling” headlights.

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kaimcdragonfist@reddit

Same. I feel like the cops here already don’t pull enough people over (especially on the freeways), heck if I’m gonna warn someone who is driving dangerously that they’re gonna get caught

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Electronic_Stop_9493@reddit

No they target working professionals who go slightly above because they’re more likely to admit it and fight it less in court.

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Dry-Sky1614@reddit

Cops here don’t do shit but sit around and play candy crush.

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CinemaSideBySides@reddit

1) Speeding is speeding. Even if everybody does it, we all still know there is a chance of getting pulled over for going over the posted speed limit

2) What a skill, to be able to pick which car has a "working professional" driving it lol

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Electronic_Stop_9493@reddit

Many cities have sub par infrastructure not built for the density and encourage speeding through design and sporadically and arbitrarily enforce it. Sometimes it’s unsafe to go the speed limit because it’s safer to go the speed of the other vehicles and the officers arbitrarily pull over a soft target

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Stardragon1@reddit

In some states it's explicitly protected speech, but people do use the brights for non cop hazards too, especially deer by me

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mechanicalpencilly@reddit

Yeah we do it in PA but it's also illegal

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HotButteredPoptart@reddit

It's a thing. I don't do it though, if you're driving unsafe I'd rather you get pulled over.

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Commercial_Can4057@reddit

I’m in southern Ohio. I barely see anyone do that anymore but it used to be common when I was a kid. Here it could mean anything from “cop ahead” to “watch out I saw a deer.”

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HRDBMW@reddit

I do it, and I am JUST south of the Ohio. People stopped doing this when cops started to give out bogus tickets for warning other drivers of speed traps. But the courts have ruled it a 1st amendment right.

"As stated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Spence v. Washington, where there is intent to convey a “particularized message” that recipients are likely to understand, the speech is protected. “Irreparable injury” arises when a person loses his or her First Amendment freedoms, even for a minimal period of time."

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IsisArtemii@reddit

There was a big thing here in the 90’s, (PNW), that people you flashed would shoot you. I think people stopped doing so after that.

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No_Entertainment1931@reddit

Wisconsin drivers are too drunk to care

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Vern1138@reddit

Yeah it's generally considered illegal to flash someone without reason (and no, warning them about a speed trap that the cops themselves have set isn't considered a reason). And you really wouldn't want to flash a cop to warn him of another cop. So I don't do it.

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Ultimate_Driving@reddit

No. There are a myriad of reasons someone could be flashing their lights at you. I never have any idea why anyone's flashing their lights anymore.

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Nawnp@reddit

It's not just the South, but rather universally known region wise, but it's becoming a generational thing as it seems younger people go and report it on mapping apps rather than the old school headlight flash.

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glitterfaust@reddit

I’m also a TN native and I never do this. Don’t speed if you don’t wanna get caught, I’m not risking getting in any kind of trouble for flashing my lights (even though technically you’re not supposed to get in trouble for it) because you wanna drive like an asshole.

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Neb-Nose@reddit

I live in Pennsylvania and we do that all the time.

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LadyGreyIcedTea@reddit

I rarely see people do it anymore but that's because they flag warnings on Google maps, Waze, etc.

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worrymon@reddit

Used to be a thing. Now I have GPS tell me.

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

Waze is good and all but that real time driver camaraderie can be more accurate.

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worrymon@reddit

The other drivers stopped doing it so I've had to switch to waze.

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sas223@reddit

Some of the founding case law establishing flashing highlights as protected under freedom of speech is based on a case out of NJ in the 90s. It is very much a northern state thing.

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CantHostCantTravel@reddit

Nope, never heard of such a thing.

When someone flashes their high beams at you here in Minnesota, it means they’re trying to signal to you that your lights aren’t on.

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dwintaylor@reddit

Funny, I’m from New England and when I moved to Texas I wondered if people in the South don’t do flash headlights as a warning. Definitely more prevalent up north

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gidgetstitch@reddit

In southern CA it can mean several things:

High beams are on
Headlights are off
You are driving to slow (move over)

One and two are from drivers on the opposite side of the road. 3 is when they are driving behind you. Never heard the cop thing.

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Doomryder1983@reddit

TN native also, and I always warn people by flashing my bright lights. But I have also noticed not as many people are doing that anymore.

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SoupSandwichEnjoyer@reddit

Depends.

Some gangs flash their lights to find someone friendly enough to flash back...

And murder them as a gang initiation.

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Mental-Intention4661@reddit

They’re self centered and unpleasant in the northeast.

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LL8844773@reddit

Gang high beam initiation trying to get us… nice try.

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mackelnuts@reddit

I do it, but I don't see many other drivers warning each other.

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Electric-Sheepskin@reddit

I think this isn't as common as it used to be, because 20 or so years ago, there was an urban myth that if you flashed your headlights at someone, they might follow you and kill you as part of a gang initiation.

After that, I noticed people flashed their lights much less frequently, both for telling people that their headlights are off, and for warning people about speed traps.

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

I’m 29 and I never actually heard of that

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Minute_Associate_436@reddit

It's not as common as it was 30 years ago.

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famousanonamos@reddit

I try to basically sign 5-0 sometimes, I have actually had someone do it to me recnetly too which was cool. People don't flash their brights so much anymore, ever since some weird email about gang initiation murders went around in the 90s. I do see people flash them for hazards and I have done the same. That or flash the hazard lights.

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Solid_Camel_1913@reddit

I think that you can be charged with interfering with an investigation if you’re caught

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YarYarNeh@reddit

It’s light off an on or on and off for cops

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runnerlife90@reddit

There was a decrease in doing it, even for us in the south because people would target the flashers and assault them awhile back

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Lo_Blingy@reddit

It used to be more popular when I was a kid (80’s-90’s) I live in Chicago and then there was a rumor about gangs and different things so I think people kinda stopped doing it as much around here, but you know that’s just my recollection of the situation…

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The_Bjorn_Ultimatum@reddit

Where im at it means your brights are on and they are telling you that you are blinding them.

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BudNOLA@reddit

Where I’m from, flashing your lights means move over I am coming up behind you and going faster. We turn our lights on and off to warn for police.

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TAODyna@reddit

We do it in PA.

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GothHimbo414@reddit

I live in Wisconsin and we do flash our lights to warn about cops.

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Highway_Man87@reddit

I do that to warn about cops, deer near the road, etc.

I've only had people warn me by flashing headlights a few times though, but I always appreciate the heads up when it does happen.

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Nothingelsematters22@reddit

I lived most of my life in Minnesota and I remember seeing that a long time ago. So I guess maybe not anymore? But also I now live in Mississippi and I’ve never seen it here.

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parabox1@reddit

We do in northern Mn

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Street_Breadfruit382@reddit

It’s an old thing. Not a regional thing. My dad will warn you about cops. He taught me about doing this when I was 7 or something. I will do it too out in rural areas where you’re likely speeding down straightaways. He ain’t warning you about no fn deer, you should know there are deer. It’s MN/WI/MI. “Golly gee, is there a deer up ahead?” Yes. …Yes. This isn’t a question. I don’t understand all this confusion about doing it. Flashing your brights at someone who also has their brights on or more likely doesn’t know how to set a headlight lamps properly, just blinds you both. What an idiot move. And this is why I’m just as well with people not doing it anymore. It used to mean something to boomer and X…

I also flash my lights for semi trucks or whatever the word of choice where you live is. Big rigs, tractor trailers, 18 wheelers… (I just put in “semi” and predictive text is like “Semiautomatic?!” Never typed that word in my life. Murica.) I used to do a lot of long nights driving and being able to communicate things like “you’re past me now, you can change lanes.” was just common curtesy at the time. They often flash a thank you back. Yeah… I don’t think many from my gen do any of this. But as a “xennial” I relate more to X than the kids younger than me.

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Artistic-Salary1738@reddit

Yeah, it’s cops or headlights are off/to bright in every Midwest state I’ve frequented.

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notreallylucy@reddit

PNW. I've always known flashing high beams to mean either turn on your headlights or turn off your high beams.

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imperfectcastle@reddit

I’ve definitely heard of this but lately, the only reason I see it is if someone is trying to get me to go faster.

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Lumbergod@reddit

If you are speeding and putting others in danger, I hope you get a ticket. No warning from me.

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Traditional-King-211@reddit

Nah, I just use Waze.

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RogueCoon@reddit

It's a thing in Michigan

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Frequent_Tangelo1826@reddit

I’m in New England and we definitely do this.

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hughgrang@reddit

Because of Apple Maps, I just mark it on the map

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DontRunReds@reddit

The only time I flash bright it to tell an oncoming car that it's lights are off in the dark.

I didn't know flashing to warn about cops was a thing.

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blueponies1@reddit

I always just check to make sure my brights aren’t on and then if that isn’t what they are communicating I slow down anticipating a cop, wild animal, or a wreck coming up.

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PDub466@reddit

In Michigan, a flash is either warning of a cop or deer spotted near the road.

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hiimwage@reddit

It is a thing in Illinois and Indiana for sure.

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pasarina@reddit

Yes they do it.

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Plus_Carpenter_5579@reddit

Never heard of it.

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born_digital@reddit

Not a useful comment without knowing where you’re from lol

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Plus_Carpenter_5579@reddit

Not a useful criticism, since obviously I am from a northern state. That's who was asked, right? No lol.

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born_digital@reddit

I’m from a northern state too and have heard of it. I was wondering what “northern state” hasn’t. Then again I don’t immediately think of Wisconsin when I think of “northern”

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esk_209@reddit

I do it, but I stopped for quite a while a few decades ago when the small town where I used to live started ticketing people who did it -- they were ticketed for improperly using their high beams, which is a bullshit charge, but everyone knew why they were doing it. Some places have (or at least used to have) laws about where you can use your high beams (not within so many feet of oncoming traffic or somesuch).

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VT911Saluki@reddit

I don't because if you are going to speed, you are on your own.

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Rojodi@reddit

No, we do it in upstate NY, especially when state troopers are in the medians on the Thruway, the "Northway", and I-88

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High_Hunter3430@reddit

I’m in the south and it’s so common that cops have made it a crime… obstructing investigation or some shit like that. 🤷

No one cares and we all do it more because of it. FTP.

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Leaf-Stars@reddit

They tried that shit in PA as well and it got thrown out of court.

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Leaf-Stars@reddit

We do it in PA. It was so common they tried to make it illegal at one point.

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Comfortable-Owl-5929@reddit

I grew up in PA and have lived in SC last 20 yrs. Ppl are dumb drivers in the south.

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

How so? I’ve never left TN except a 2 year stint in Florida.

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thewayshesaidLA@reddit

I was taught to do it in Illinois. I actually had someone do it a week or two ago to me and sure enough there was a cop ahead.

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lucifersperfectangel@reddit

We usually use it as a "hazard ahead" kind of warning. People used to do it for police too, and rarely, I still see someone do it. But I'm pretty sure you can get a ticket if you get caught doing that to warn of police nowadays

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Anyashadow@reddit

We do it for deer usually. If you do it for cops and they see you, you can get a ticket.

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born_digital@reddit

I got pulled over for it and he couldn’t give me a ticket because there’s nothing on the books that says you can’t do it. I guess this could vary by state. I was pissed he even pulled me over for it considering there’s no real violation. He just wanted to be a dick

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DMDingo@reddit

Nah, I only flash for hazards. If your dumbass is driving in a way that would get you pulled over, you deserve it.

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sikhster@reddit

I’ve seen people do this in California as well bikers tapping the top of their helmets to let people know. I think people who know will do it, but if you don’t, you don’t.

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GOTaSMALL1@reddit

Ridden in a lot of States and this is a common thing everywhere I've been.

We only do it for other bikes usually though.

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Karen125@reddit

I do for everybody but I think only orher bikers get it.

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TankDestroyerSarg@reddit

Some people do. But you do have cops who will get a giant bug up their butt and try to jam you up if they see you flash high beams or brake lights.

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born_digital@reddit

We do it in New England. I now live in Nebraska and it’s not a thing here. Like they don’t flash their brights for anything, not to indicate you’re letting someone go, etc. It’s just not a thing here

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Art_Music306@reddit

I was told that this was illegal when I was a kid, in the south, and even have a friend who claims he was pulled over for it in high school. I can’t find anything online about this thing against the law though.

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Guinnessron@reddit

I think it’s an age thing. The youth counts on Waze so they don’t flash. I absolutely do.

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AccomplishedGap3571@reddit

To warn of cops? Depends on the approaching traffic; a family loaded into a beat up minivan? of course. Audi/BMW/etc? No. Eff them.

It still gets used a lot to warn approaching traffic of an unseen hazard. Something they'll miss if going around a bend.

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Sad-Corner-9972@reddit

Upper Midwest-more likely whitetail deer

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lavasca@reddit

If you flashed your lights I’d be confused and assume you meant my lights weren’t on. My lights are automatic and I already have Waze.

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gcsouthpaw@reddit

Nah. Not just the South. We do in West Virginia too.

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DontReportMe7565@reddit

Yes, I still do that in the North (Michigan).

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GooseneckRoad@reddit

I'm from the West Coast and have never heard of this. In Oregon, no one turns their brights off for anything lol

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doko_kanada@reddit

Lol. I was once flagging down drivers to warn about a flipped car blocking both lanes around a bend and these mf were still speeding right into it. New Yorkers are dumb as shit

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

Drivers in general are dumb

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Katskit89@reddit

I live in a northern state and I always flash my brights to warn people about cops.

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postitpad@reddit

It is still a thing, but I feel like I don’t see it as much as I used to. Honestly though, I think we’ve all moved on to using Waze for that. It’s way better.

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cmcrich@reddit

People in New England definitely do it. I thought it was universal.

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Talshan@reddit

I was really confused when I was 18 and had just started driving when a police car flashed their high beams at me. Found out they just wanted me to turn my headlights on. I had only been on the road a minute.

I had no idea anyone used lights to communicate before that.

I drove in Italy. It is common there for someone to give a quick honk when passing. I figured that one out quickly.

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SteveArnoldHorshak@reddit

We do in New England. I tried to warn as many people about pigs as possible.

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digawina@reddit

It's done, though I feel like I don't see it as much as I used to.

That said, I had to take a safe driving class after getting in an accident that was my fault. One thing the instructor, a former cop, said stuck with me: "We're not always looking for YOU. When a cop is on the side of the road, you don't know really what we're doing. Maybe we're looking for speeders, but maybe were on the lookout for someone specific. And when you warn people we're there, maybe we'll miss the person we're looking for." So now I never do it anymore.

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iampatmanbeyond@reddit

Homie I live in metro Detroit I've seen one cop in the last month when I was doing 60 in 35 in the city and I didn't even bother tapping the brakes. Cops will flash their lights at you if you're going too fast

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tinypicklefrog@reddit

Slow flash/blink = cops ahead, slow down

Fast flashing = hey you're driving like a douche / something you're doing is wrong (i.e no headlights on at night)

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tooslow_moveover@reddit

I don’t know about northern states. Here in California, I’ve never heard of flashing your brights to warn for cops.

I’d assume it meant they’re telling me my headlights are off, but who knows?

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DonBoy30@reddit

It’s a very common thing in PA, however it’s a 50/50 if it’s for a speed trap, or deer. Lol

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bonzai113@reddit

Indiana here. people flash their lights here aswell.

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Notdustinonreddit@reddit

Washington state- I have not noticed people doing this

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my_clever-name@reddit

Lots of people drive with the brights on all the time. Kind of hard to flash them on when they are already on.

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Kevo_1227@reddit

We do that in New Jersey

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BitOfAZeldaFan3@reddit

Side note, Wisconsin drivers education (when I took it) said specifically never to flash brights at night, as it may dazzle the other car and damage night vision. I've also been told (but not verified) that flashing brights to avoid law enforcement is illegal.

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Stardragon1@reddit

Strongly depends on the state, some state courts have ruled it is explicitly protected speech, but there isn't national clarity

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ventitr3@reddit

Grew up in New England and feel like it was more common up there than the states I lived in in the south.

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camelslikesand@reddit

In many states it's illegal to flash your high beams. Turn the headlights off and on instead. It's been ruled as protected free speech by at least one circuit court.

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AlternativeLychee751@reddit

Wisconsinite here. We definitely do it. When I was in high school, leaving a field party because it got busted, I definitely flashed my brights at a car headed in the direction of the party to let them know the cops were there—only to discover I flashed my lights at another cop.

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Subterranean44@reddit

Oh. I thought this meant “your brights are on dummy!!” Well now I feel dumb.

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Hatta00@reddit

Slow down.

I'm not flashing my brights because I want you to get that ticket. Stop endangering everyone else on the road.

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sanesociopath@reddit

Were you just not seeing the flashes or were you not seeing them and then coming up on cops or other hazards?

Im familiar with the practice but I never see it or would think about it in the moment because it's rather rare for me to see cops doing speed traps or come across road hazards to warn oncoming traffic about.

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FomerWeightPusher@reddit (OP)

You’ll see thp a lot on the highways here they definitely make a presence but not as bad as Georgia. My dad taught me the practice so I tend to recognize it.

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West-Resource-1604@reddit

Never heard of it. Why would you need to be worried about highway patrol? Do you speed, use cell phone while driving, skip seat belt, or break check??

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TwincessAhsokaAarmau@reddit

In the Midwest, yes.

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FredDurstDestroyer@reddit

I mean in PA I’m more likely to assume you’re trying to tell me that there are some dumbass deer in the road ahead rather than warning me about a cop.

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SkullFoot@reddit

In Pennsylvania people flash for deer and other dangers like that. The local cops are not allowed to use radar or other devices. Only state police can use radar and they are mostly on the highways. Local cops can pull you for speeding though if you are going way too fast and they can pace behind you. They can also time you between lines and people do flash for that. They also might flash for DOT stops that are set up to check trucks and trailers.

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taftpanda@reddit

In Wisconsin, flashing brights is usually a warning for deer.

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BobsleddingToMyGrave@reddit

I'm not sure how many people know what it means. I do it, upper Midwest here.

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InsertRadnamehere@reddit

No one does it in California. I used to when I first moved here decades ago since I was so acclimatized to it from learning to drive on the East Coast. But I gave it up years ago. I think I was confusing the other drivers more than anything.

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Ok_Remote_1036@reddit

Have lived on the East Coast, Midwest and West Coast. My experience in all three is that flashing brights means the other driver is alerting you to something. You then do a quick check to make sure your lights are on, your brights are off, slow down, and look out for deer, cops, or other road hazards.

I’ve flashed my lights at someone twice in the past month. Once it was night and the person’s lights were off. The other there was a deer standing in the road ahead of them around a curve.

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macoafi@reddit

It was a thing in Pittsburgh when I learned to drive there 20 years ago. I guess depending what part of town you’re in, that may or may not be “north of the Ohio River”.

But mostly if I flash my lights at someone, it’s because theirs are off.

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er1catwork@reddit

Growing up in Ohio, we always flashed out lights. Not low to high but off to on to off or at night just the opposite. Flashing high beams get outta the way g’damnit!

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TreeOfLife36@reddit

Well we don't do it in NJ but then again, it's NJ.

Waze is a great app that notifies you of such things though.

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briefadventure999@reddit

I've done this in the South and usually get the finger.

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kaimcdragonfist@reddit

To be fair I feel like I’d flip someone off for flashing their brights at me too lol

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UnfairHoneydew6690@reddit

I’ve only ever encountered this during the daytime. Idk what’s going on around OP but night time flashing typically means “hey turn your high beams off”

For reference I’m also in the south.

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PlainTrain@reddit

One flash for brights on. Multiple flashes for danger.

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Kitty-Kat_Kisses@reddit

This is what it means in MN too.

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mocha_lattes_@reddit

Or turn your lights on

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Ranbru76@reddit

Agree with night flashing brights means the other car needs to turn off their brights. I, too, am in South.

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briefadventure999@reddit

I do it for cars that should have their lights on too and they act like I am in the wrong.

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PlainTrain@reddit

Turn your lights off and back on to signal that. Less aggressive. Got to use that on a cop going the other way at a stop light last month.

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daveescaped@reddit

My experience has s the opposite. Never seen this in the south.

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Jaci_D@reddit

We did in Pennsylvania when I lived there

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Feather757@reddit

I assume you're flashing me because you think my brights are on, so I'd flash you back to say no, my brights aren't on. Never thought it would have anything to do with cops.

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Mental_Internal539@reddit

I don't do it, drive at your own risk.

I've also had someone with LEDs do that to me once and I got blinded for half a second.

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Classic_Cauliflower4@reddit

In the Dakotas. A flash during the day usually indicates cops. A flash at night could mean “Hey, your brights are on!” or possibly “Hey, there’s a cow on the road ahead.” Sometimes it means deer, but they’ve usually moved on, whereas black cows are both hard to see and not particularly inclined to hustle off the road.

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runicrhymes@reddit

I'm directly above the Ohio river (SW Ohio). Here flashing your lights generally means either "hey, your brights are on, knock that shit off" or a general "there's something you haven't noticed, pay attention" (I've seen it used to warn of upcoming hazards, to let someone know their gas cap was open, to let them know something was dragging beneath the car, to let them know their headlights WEREN'T on... Etc)

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Carebear7087@reddit

I don’t warn others.. Ted Bundy was caught during a traffic stop.

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audvisial@reddit

We do it in Nebraska.

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korey_david@reddit

No one does it in Colorado but that’s probably because there are no cops here. /s

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Midnight_Marshmallo@reddit

I'm from New England and live in North Carolina. Nobody here flashes their brights to warn you about cops, but they do up north.

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Mesoscale92@reddit

Never seen people do it up here. Traffic laws aren’t mysterious cyphers, and idgaf if other people get tickets for going out of their way to break them.

You can argue all you want about whether speed limits are set right, but the government literally tells you what they are for every road.

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ExampleSad1816@reddit

I do it in Northern Nevada and No. California, some people do it back.

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9mmway@reddit

Grew up in AZ and my Dad taught us about it when we were kids.

As an adult, driving at dusk I passed a speed trap and flipped my high beams on top warn oncoming traffic.

The cop in the speed trap then rushed up and pulled me over... He was pissed that I screwed up his ticket writing quota. He yelled at me: That's against the law!

I explained to him that I grew up observing my dad and my grandfather doing this and I believed it was legal.

He let me go with a warning... To this day I still believe that if it really was against the law, he could have ticketed me. I know it's hard to believe that a cop lied to my face but...

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Humbler-Mumbler@reddit

They definitely do. I’ve lived in basically every region of the lower 48 and it’s a nationwide thing. Thing is a lot of people won’t do it. You’ve probably just had the bad luck of passing people who didn’t do it when you came across cops. Might be less frequent up north too. It’s a common courtesy and I definitely find Southerners stick to common courtesies more as a group. Really they’re just more polite to strangers in general.

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Dirk_McGirken@reddit

We don't do it as often in my state ever since ever since Google maps started letting us report cop locations.

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LawrenceSpiveyR@reddit

I'm in Ohio and we do it. (or I do it anyways)

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alvysinger0412@reddit

I've only ever used it or seen it used to either mean that I'll wait for the other person to go first, or that someone's lights aren't on despite it being dark out. I've lived in western Washington and currently in New Orleans.

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ErinGoBoo@reddit

It's illegal in some states.

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Conchobair@reddit

It's not. When it's gone to courts, it's been found to be protected speech under the First Amendment. It might draw the attention of the cops and they might fuck with you though.

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Superlite47@reddit

I've been pulled over for warning oncoming traffic of a speed trap.

I asked the officer if he wanted oncoming traffic to go slower or faster.

When he answered that he wanted them to slow down, I asked him why he was pulling me over for slowing them down if that's what he wanted them to do?

It seems to me that they want them to go faster in order to give them a ticket.

The actions aren't matching the words.

That is incontrovertible proof that speed traps aren't about slowing people down, they're about revenue.

If they were about making people drive slower, they wouldn't be pissed at you for causing people to drive slower.

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realsalmineo@reddit

Oregonian here. Flashing brights means they are trying to tell me that my high beams are on. Turning lights off and then on means that my headlights are off after dark.

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Lugbor@reddit

I'll flash brights to warn of hazards, sure, but if you're doing something that's going to get you pulled over, it's probably for the best to let the cops have you. We have enough unsafe drivers on the road.

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hobohobbies@reddit

Same. We live in a speed trap town -think, when it works, we have one light. All locals know not to speed. I'm ok with tourists getting tickets. My husband and I have a game we play "where are they from" when we see someone pulled over 😁

I flash for dogs, road crew, random tire in the road, etc.

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changing-life-vet@reddit

I lived in a tourist town where the cops pulled over in state tags during the season and out of state tags in the off season.

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Foxy_locksy1704@reddit

In Colorado we do it for a lot of things, I don’t do it for police, because like they could be looking for someone who’s been abducted or something like that, but I do it for deer or elk crossing on blind curves or road hazards like a broken down car that couldn’t make it to the shoulder or obstructions like rocks in the road or snow or dangerous ice.

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ScatterTheReeds@reddit

That’s why I stopped doing it (New England). The cops only pull people over when they’re driving dangerously fast.

You can be doing 50 mph in a residential area, and not even realize you’re going that fast. Well, you should realize it. You have to slow it down.

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Thrillhouse763@reddit

I live in Wisconsin and do this and other people do it also. Was less common in Minnesota where I'm from.

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MontEcola@reddit

It happens in New England.

I do not ever do it. If you drive like an ass you deserve a ticket.

I have been a passenger in 3 car crashes that ended in fatalities. I will skip the gory details about what I saw. I never want to see that again. I was 8 years old at the time.

It aint worth it Bub.

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dchikato@reddit

Not really in Minnesota especially in the metro area. We flash for deer though.

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chickenintendo@reddit

Not my job to warn you of shit

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AdamOnFirst@reddit

Maybe some people do this, but danger or cops ahead is never the message I would receive or intend to send when sending or receiving high beems. Most frequently it means “turn your high beems off, they’re blinding me.”

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rawbface@reddit

My wife got pulled over for doing this in Jersey. The person she flashed at also happened to be a cop.

I have never done it. Don't drive like an a-hole, and the cop won't concern you.

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jettech737@reddit

We sometimes do in Illinois, I usually forget about the cop though seconds after passing his spot.

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MonsieurRuffles@reddit

My dad did this once many years ago in our hometown in North Jersey and the local yokels gave him a ticket for some BS “obstruction of justice” charge. He just paid but he definitely should have appealed it.

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-Random_Lurker-@reddit

I think it's not a north/south thing, but more a city/town thing. Like waving to people you pass is. In most cities, there's so many cars on the road that other drivers are just potential assholes and another obstacle to be avoided.

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FrostyCoffee_@reddit

Idk if where I’m originally from is north enough but we would flash our lights to warn for deer lol

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breebop83@reddit

Central Ohio chiming in and I do the same.

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IndicationOk72@reddit

DMV native my friend and yes high beams at dawn or dusk when it is from forest to field is peak flashing of brights from around here, everything else gets ignored but when your scanning the sidelines for buckeyes in the area then the next car comes through that bend flashing at ya, you know what’s up!

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FrostyCoffee_@reddit

Also a DMV native!

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ShiraPiano@reddit

I truly thought it was an everywhere thing. I still do it to this day. I learned how to drive in Mass, it is a widely done thing in New England for sure.

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harpejjist@reddit

No one is taught how to properly drive anymore. Pulling over for ambulances, slow traffic keep right, letting people pass on narrow roads, flashing lights once for cop and multiple for “your headlights are off”, how to merge in a weaving lane, how to share with bikes, where to pull over after a fender bender….. no one teaches the real rules of the road anymore.

And don’t get me started about what cyclists don’t learn all t

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brzantium@reddit

I learned it from my parents (NJ/NY). More often, though, I'm fishing other drivers because they don't have their headlights on.

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elpollodiablox@reddit

We did it in Illinois when I was growing up. I remember someone doing it when my dad was driving me somewhere. In that case it was daytime, and the driver just turned his lights on and off. When I got my license I did the same.

Out west nobody does it.

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cmb15300@reddit

Haven't driven in a while, but throughout time I've taken flashing brights to mean a) your brights are on or b) speedtrap/other hazard ahead

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leonchase@reddit

Definitely a thing we did growing up in Michigan.

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Rudytootiefreshnfty@reddit

I learned this while growing up in the north

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bellegroves@reddit

I only flash brights to tell people to adjust their own lights, more often for driving with them off in the dark or fog, but sometimes for having their brights on in town. If they're doing other stupid shit, that's their problem. Also, I probably didn't even notice the cops.

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GlobalTapeHead@reddit

In some states it’s not legal.

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Helo227@reddit

It’s not common here in Maine. Usually if someone flashes their lights at you it means “turn your fuckin lights on asshole!” And we don’t flash high beams, we turn our regular lights off then on a few times quickly.

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WhompTrucker@reddit

I Wisconsin and Colorado we do it for cops and wildlife or some road hazard.

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Suitable_Fly7730@reddit

Never seen that that I’ve noticed in Michigan or Ohio

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Silly-Resist8306@reddit

I won't warn someone of a cop ahead. I will warn someone of a hazard ahead. It's rare to see someone pulled over for less than 10 mph over the limit. If you are going faster than that, you are on your own.

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bemenaker@reddit

I'm in Ohio, and I still see and sometimes do it.

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DeFiClark@reddit

Very often.

In the north: three blinks typically means a cop or a road hazard ahead, something to slow down for anyway: a long blink means turns your brights off.

Turning your headlights on and off rapidly used to mean that the oncoming driver or driver in front of you has their lights off, but it feels like very few people respond to it these days.

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capscaptain1@reddit

I’m from Maryland and I can say I’ve never done it. The cops are usually not hidden though because Maryland is so developed and so much highway that I don’t think it’s too useful. I’ve never had it done to me either up here

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brian11e3@reddit

I flash to notify people of hazards in the road, like deer. I flash to let trucks know they have enough room to get over.

I don't flash for cops.

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FunProfessional570@reddit

I do it all the time and also to let oncoming driver know their lights are off in hazardous conditions. No one seems to know what that means anymore.

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ctcaa90@reddit

We quick double flash for police and any hazards ahead. Either way, it means slow down. At night, if I’m flashed I just automatically know to check my lights and if all good, police or hazzard ahead. I don’t always do it at night bc you can’t tell if you’re flashing another police.

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BreakfastBeerz@reddit

It's a thing in the north, but it has become less common. Google Maps and Waze both have police reports on them so it's less important for other drivers to flash their lights. Also, there's so many shitty drivers anymore, I'd just as well the speeders get pulled over anyways.

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BottleTemple@reddit

I’m originally from New England and people do that there.

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BeBopBarr@reddit

This was a thing in PA when I was growing up, I have not noticed it on the west coast where I live now

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allaboutwanderlust@reddit

I’m in the PNW, and someone did that once

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kae0603@reddit

Grew up in NH and we all did and in PA now and still do.

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ARoboticWolf@reddit

Wisconsin born and raised. Yes we flash our lights to warn for cops.

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morosco@reddit

I saw it a lot growing up in the northeast in the 80's - not as much now.

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tranquilrage73@reddit

In Ohio we always do.

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nippleflick1@reddit

Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. Also, for deer, etcetera on the road.

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Chickenman70806@reddit

My Michigander parents taught me that and I taught it to my Louisianan daughters

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Different_Ad7655@reddit

Happens in New England all the time

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SnapHackelPop@reddit

I feel like it’s something the older generation didn’t pass down as much. I’ve heard of it but haven’t seen it a ton

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anclwar@reddit

High beams get used for a dozen warnings/alerts and I've never gotten the intended meaning correct. Someone once flashed their high beams at me from behind and I thought they were trying to pass, so I moved over. Turns out, my taillights were off because I was driving on such a well lit stretch of highway that I didn't realize only my DTR lights were on.

If someone flashed their high beams at me in the middle of the day, I might assume they are warning about cops/speed traps and then find out it's about a bunch of ducks crossing the road. It's just too ambiguous. The only thing that seems to have only one meaning as a warning about cops is motorcyclists tapping their helmets. If they're using it for other things, I'm unaware.

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sippinondahilife@reddit

From the north as well, and I used to always do it. I was cited by the police however, had to appear in court and pay a fine

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Fearless-Boba@reddit

I only do it to warn that emergency vehicles are up ahead like an accident or hazards. People have done that for me in the past too and it's been helping to know you're going to have to stop or severely slow down cuz of an accident or tree down or something. Especially since a lot of times things happen and there isn't enough time for people to put up hazard signs or anything.

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alphaturducken@reddit

There's so many things that "flashing lights" means, people probably don't know which one you mean

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Sick-a-Duck@reddit

I’ve only flashed my brights to signal for someone to go at a stop sign or to try to warn them that they don’t have their lights on.

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squashed377@reddit

I might be a minority, but I do it in California.

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Murderhornet212@reddit

We do it in NJ

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Trai-All@reddit

Navy brat here who couldn’t stop moving for years after I grew up… people do it everywhere but it is getting less common as people have started using apps like Waze instead

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According_Pay_6563@reddit

Did this here in New England when I lived in a small town, the kind where everybody knows everyone. The poor state troopers that were assigned to us didn't have much to meet their quota, so they would rely on petty shit like going 4 over the limit or pulling a California roll through a stop sign. I'm not saying we didn't bend the rules a bit here and there, but it was rarely if ever egregious. So yeah, we looked out for each other. Us vs them.

Now that I live/work in a bigger city where every stranger drives like a certified maniac, fuck it. Get pulled over. Hope they take your license. If your bullshit is reckless enough, I'll call it in myself and provide your plate number with video evidence.

I miss my small town.

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selimnagisokrov@reddit

I flash high beams if there is anything that may cause a delay on your part: deer, stray dog, police, accident, etc

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12B88M@reddit

Not really. The cops here don't care if you're a few mph over, but 5 over is when they start pulling you over.

However, our speed limit is 80 mph so going 5 over is really cooking along and most people are content with 80-83 mph.

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althoroc2@reddit

I'm in the Northwest. I still do it but not many people do anymore.

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MomRaccoon@reddit

I live in the middle of nowhere in NYS and several towns nearby have annoying speed traps. Flashing is considerate and happens on the regular.

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Rlyoldman@reddit

In Missouri you will get a ticket.

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ace-maverick1986@reddit

Canada too

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Fun_in_Space@reddit

I don't. Maybe you will have more incentive to stop driving dangerously if you get a ticket.

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Lacylanexoxo@reddit

Hazards ahead, yes. I got pulled over because the car I tried to warn was a cop lol. It was dark so I didn’t realize it was a cop coming towards me lol. I found out that’s illegal. Also was told you don’t flash to let someone know their bright lights are on. He said having 2 cars that can’t see at a time is not good lol

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HailMadScience@reddit

In Pennsylvania, we also use it to indicate general road hazards. And if we spot deer along the roadside at night.

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Tom__mm@reddit

Colorado here: flashing your lights is generally reserved for warning oncoming drivers that wild animals are nearby or standing in the road. Bull elk in particular seem to enjoy just standing on highways to mess with the humans.

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Manderthal13@reddit

We do it in New England.

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pluck-the-bunny@reddit

As a stupid teenager I warned other people about cops. As an adult, if they’re speeding/driving recklessly I want them getting pulled over.

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AStegmaier072@reddit

We do that in Illonois also. I have lived in both northern and Southern Illinois, and have done it/seen it in both locations.

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No-Professional-1884@reddit

We did a lot in the 80s and 90s. Now I don’t see it ever done.

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holiestcannoly@reddit

I’ve done it in Pittsburgh, PA

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NE_Pats_Fan@reddit

Not since GPS is a thing.

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Deekifreeki@reddit

Definitely a thing here in CA. Generally only on more rural, long stretches of highway though.

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Spud8000@reddit

not much.

now there is waze, which does the same thing.

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dotdedo@reddit

I always thought this was weird when I went south or to New England. Like, thank you, I have eyes. I can see him in the bright daylight with nothing hiding him.

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BitOfAZeldaFan3@reddit

I live in Wisconsin, and flashing brights has a vague meaning. Sometimes it means cops ahead, sometimes it means "turn your headlights on", sometimes it means "get out of my way" and sometimes it means nothing at all. I guess it has sorta cried wolf.

I drive a tiny car (mini cooper), and large SUVs and trucks behind me will hit bumps and the angle of the lights will flash into my mirrors. Not because they're flashing brights, but because nose of the car rising over a bump causes the low beams to raise higher than my mirror. I have since learned to ignore flashes as I have no way of knowing what they're trying to communicate, if at all.

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AnnaNicole2015@reddit

I’m in michigan and do it for Deer/ another animal in the road. Cops, everyone for themselves

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RayBuc9882@reddit

I stopped doing it because people don’t understand it in the mid-Atlantic region.

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Yankee_chef_nen@reddit

Grew up in northern New England and it’s done there. Or it was in the 80s.

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IAlwaysSayBoo-urns@reddit

I will, because fuck the police and their generating revenue.

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sheimeix@reddit

I don't do it because there's no way to communicate -what exactly- the brights are for. If someone flashes that at me, I'll sooner think "oh shoot, sorry I had my brights on! w-wait, but I didn't... are they broken and stuck turned on?" or "do I know anyone that has that car that's just saying hi?" way before I think "ah yes, they're warning me of a cop half a mile down the road"

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Curmudgy@reddit

In most places in eastern MA, the police aren’t raising revenue by pulling over people going 4mph over the limit. That’s why the typical non-rush hour speed on 95 outside Boston is over 65, even though the limit is only 55 for most of it here.

So my view is that there’s no need to flash for cops. If they’re going so fast a cop will pull them over, they deserve it.

On the other hand, I will flash for road hazards, such as icy spots or tree limbs down in the road.

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Regular_Ad_6362@reddit

I’m born and raised in Florida. There, it’s a constitutionally protected activity under freedom of speech. I did the same thing in New York, and got pulled over for it.

I told the officer I didn’t know it was illegal, and that back home it’s freedom of speech. He didn’t believe me. He then looks it up, and to his surprise, im right. He informed me of the law in NY and I went on my way.

TLDR: laws vary by state, and some may have restrictions regarding flashing brights at night