Vehicle Headlights; To Flash or Not?

SYZ · 14-03-2016, 01:45 AM

I've noticed an apparent anomaly in the Victorian road rules.

Section 219 of the Australian Road Rules (2006) prohibits you from flashing your lights at oncoming motor vehicles. If you get caught doing so in Victoria, you could face an on-the-spot fine of three demerit points and a $455.01 penalty.

But...

The Victorian government’s installation of concealed speed cameras in 2013 caused the media to raise the question of whether "flashing warnings" to other road users would see more fines. Victorian Police Traffic Superintendent Dean McWhirter responded by encouraging road users to continue the practice in the hopes that it would build awareness about those newly installed concealed cameras. He said he "was happy for motorists to flash their lights to warn other motorists they were approaching a speed camera".

Incidentally, in Victoria 510,000 motorists paid more than $103 million (!) in mobile speed camera fines in 2013.

marty351 · 14-03-2016, 02:05 AM

If it is illegal to use your flash, it would not be built in to the indicator stalk of the vehicle. Using highbeam in a built up area can be illegal, but flashing oncoming drivers of a hazard is in the interest of motorist safety. The only cops to to fine people for doing that deserve to be shown the door.
Visibility saves lives. (and money)

Express · 14-03-2016, 02:37 AM

This was discussed in detail not so long ago.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ash+headlights

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law...-1226739895665

BFGasUte · 14-03-2016, 07:54 AM

Hello,

A Flash is a warning of a Hazard. If you " think " there is a hazard, like a Skippy or Kid at risk it is normal to warn others. If there is a Cop on the side of the road, there may be a crash, so if you warn others so the Cop is less likely to get hit. Kids and animals come and go, so it will never be proven that it wasnt there. Snakes are also protected, I would much rather run over a politician though. ( one eats vermin, the other is ! ) Remember, Cops ask angled questions to make you admit, like why were you speeding. The correct answer I wasnt, not I was running late for work, which is saying Yes, I was speeding.

RANGEREST · 14-03-2016, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

If it is illegal to use your flash, it would not be built in to the indicator stalk of the vehicle. Using highbeam in a built up area can be illegal, but flashing oncoming drivers of a hazard is in the interest of motorist safety. The only cops to to fine people for doing that deserve to be shown the door.
Visibility saves lives. (and money)

If it is illegal to speed, it would not allow the accelerator pedal to go all the way to the floor of the vehicle.......

Carrion · 14-03-2016, 11:08 AM

I thought the flash on the blinker stalk was a pass signal.

Flash the car in front of you to show your intention to over take him.

cro142 · 14-03-2016, 11:16 AM

Speed cameras and police radars are used to prevent drivers from going over the speed limit.

Therefore any assistance from the public in achieving this goal should be welcomed by the police and road safety authorities.

**Silver Ghia** · 14-03-2016, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrion

I thought the flash on the blinker stalk was a pass signal.

Flash the car in front of you to show your intention to over take him.

Must be a NSW thing.

Here in Vic it would be interpreted as road rage.

Franco Cozzo · 14-03-2016, 11:20 AM

I don't care if its illegal I do it all the time to warn people of cops sitting on the side of the road or speed cameras, lots of money goes out in fines but our roads are disgraceful, I wouldn't mind them being there if the money went back into our main road linking us to Melbourne where they have mobile speed cameras all over.

BFGasUte · 14-03-2016, 11:21 AM

Carrion,

That was mentioned in owners manuals back in the 70's Things evolve and change though. Still a warning device, emergency vehicles also have flashing headlights.

Franco Cozzo · 14-03-2016, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFGasUte

Carrion,

That was mentioned in owners manuals back in the 70's Things evolve and change though. Still a warning device, emergency vehicles also have flashing headlights.

They flash differently though, one on, one off etc.

BFGasUte · 14-03-2016, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I don't care if its illegal I do it all the time to warn people of cops sitting on the side of the road or speed cameras, lots of money goes out in fines but our roads are disgraceful, I wouldn't mind them being there if the money went back into our main road linking us to Melbourne where they have mobile speed cameras all over.

That is my point about warning other Cars of the potential accident, and to protect the Cops. ( that is what you say at least ) Going back they used to have another Car near a Radar trap to book people that flashed others

aussie muscle · 14-03-2016, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFGasUte

If there is a Cop on the side of the road, there may be a crash,.

given that everyone slows down when they see one, this is not as ridiculous as it sounds.

tonys6550 · 14-03-2016, 07:40 PM

[QUOTE=SYZ;5615542]I've noticed an apparent anomaly in the Victorian road rules.

Section 219 of the Australian Road Rules (2006) prohibits you from flashing your lights at oncoming motor vehicles. If you get caught doing so in Victoria, you could face an on-the-spot fine of three demerit points and a $455.01 Penalty.

What's with the .01 of a cent?

Trump · 14-03-2016, 07:51 PM

[QUOTE=tonys6550;5616056]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYZ

I've noticed an apparent anomaly in the Victorian road rules.

Section 219 of the Australian Road Rules (2006) prohibits you from flashing your lights at oncoming motor vehicles. If you get caught doing so in Victoria, you could face an on-the-spot fine of three demerit points and a $455.01 Penalty.

What's with the .01 of a cent?

That's one cent, .01 of a dollar.

One cent multiplied by untold millions (across the various fines they enforce) equals tens of thousands of dollars that would go begging normally due to rounding down.

Express · 14-03-2016, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYZ

If you get caught doing so in Victoria, you could face an on-the-spot fine of three demerit points and a $455.01 Penalty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonys6550

What's with the .01 of a cent?

That’s just proves it’s a money making exercise.

‘Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves’.

Itsme · 14-03-2016, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYZ

I've noticed an apparent anomaly in the Victorian road rules.

Section 219 of the Australian Road Rules (2006) prohibits you from flashing your lights at oncoming motor vehicles. If you get caught doing so in Victoria, you could face an on-the-spot fine of three demerit points and a $455.01 penalty.

But...

The Victorian government’s installation of concealed speed cameras in 2013 caused the media to raise the question of whether "flashing warnings" to other road users would see more fines. Victorian Police Traffic Superintendent Dean McWhirter responded by encouraging road users to continue the practice in the hopes that it would build awareness about those newly installed concealed cameras. He said he "was happy for motorists to flash their lights to warn other motorists they were approaching a speed camera".

Incidentally, in Victoria 510,000 motorists paid more than $103 million (!) in mobile speed camera fines in 2013.

Your post is ill informed, you are allowed to flash your lights onto high beam briefly, one such example would be for overtaking another for flashing oncoming cars if they are on high beam to to warn them to go low beam, never been booked yet even after flashing police cars.
Why don't you re-read what section 219 really means.

Itsme · 14-03-2016, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Must be a NSW thing.

Here in Vic it would be interpreted as road rage.

Read your road rules, quite legal to flash a car when overtaking, section 218 of Road rules.

I have done this practice all the time especially on country roads.

XR Martin · 14-03-2016, 09:09 PM

Hadnt been flashed in ages, yet a few weeks ago I was driving in the country and a car hit me with its high beams. I was like WTF, why would cops be out here? Then go up over a crest and there is a damn sheep in the middle of the road. Although I wasnt speeding and I didnt really slow down after the flash, it did get me to pay a bit of extra attention so I was kind of ready for something.

And a week or two later I was out in the country again and repaid the favour as there was a dog running about the road. Guy coming the other way even gave me a thankyou wave.

Tokyo Geoff · 14-03-2016, 10:10 PM

[QUOTE=tonys6550;5616056]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYZ

What's with the .01 of a cent?

I think these silly amounts have come about due to inflation and not beng able to make a profit or loss, ie the original fine may have been a nice rounded amount but over the years indexation leads to whacky amounts that can't be rounded. Just a guess though.

And, I always flash. I don't mind being pinged by a HWP out in the open ( not the new sneaky ones that can't be identified front or rear) but I loathe the Macquarie bank hidden cameras and cops hiding in bushes... So I will continue to flash.
Cheers
Geoff