Nearly 28pc of drivers flash headlights to warn other drivers about speed vans, survey shows Stock image

by Complex_Hunter35

50 comments

  1. I do this to boy racers. They always give me a wave and slow down. Then I drive on laughing thinking of them doing 50kmph for the next half hour looking out for a speed van that isn’t there.

  3. Sure it doesn’t work anymore cause it looks like every cunt with LEDs is flashing you every time they hit a minor bump 

  4. I don’t know why people bother. The majority of people passing will know that the spot the speed van set ups and will slow down for that patch of road.

    What’s really bizarre is it’s often the people who complain about other drivers speeding that will be the ones flashing about a speed van up ahead.

  7. Ms Frazer said the findings also highlight some “concerning behaviours – such as flashing oncoming drivers or alerting others to the presence of speed vans – which can undermine the purpose of these safety measures”

    What a nonsense!

    If I earn other users about presence of speed an, I make them slow down, thus possibly saving lives and contributing road safety. Whether the van is there or not.

  10. There are map apps that tell you about speed vans and cameras anyways

  11. Upon my first visit to Ireland, I saw that sign and thought it meant “scenic viewpoint” … I eventually figured it out, but it took a few days.

  13. The point of speed vans is to get people to slow down. The flashing of lights gets people to slow down.

    If you want to *catch* people, put another speed van further up the road.

    Imagine what the comment section would be like if it did… ( #moneygrab )

  14. What happened to %? This is the second new headline I’ve seen recently that said “pc” to mean percent.

  16. It comes down to do you want to catch people speeding or get them to slow down coming up to an accident black spot where these vans operate. If it’s to change driver behaviour to pay attention to speed signs via punishment then the RSA need to admit that and put the vans all over the place with no warning signs.

  19. If people didn’t speed this wouldn’t be an issue. Same idiots who go from 100 to 60 in half a second when they spot one. You’re allowed do 100, quit jamming on the brakes.

  21. But Google maps warns you that other users have reported a speed van up ahead?

    I don’t know how accurate it is, since I wouldn’t have it on most of the time when passing a speed van, but I’m surprised reporting a speed van or Garda is even allowed in app.

    Unless its just some kind of protection against the people who are driving below the speed limit anyway, but still somehow feel the need to come to an almost screeching halt, when they spot one.

  22. I do it for speed vans but never for check points. If you’ve no tax or insurance or you’ve a kidnapped kid in the back I want you checked.

  23. I fucking hate this. Driving along at 100 in a 100 zone on a road and someone flashes their lights, for some reason people slow down to 80. What the hell are those lads doing?

  25. I used to flash to warn people all the time, now I dont bother because some people need a bit of cop on, a fine and some penalty points!!!

    Maybe they will learn to slow down then.

  26. I heavily used Waze on my last trip there which helped out quite a bit to locate the vans

  28. If someone flashes their lights at me I automatically think there’s something ahead. If that’s an accident or a speed van then whatever but I take my ease for the next few minutes.

    I do it in return then also. The amount if times ive just gotten a happy wave back instead of the “message received” salute makes that 72% figure match.

  33. It’s better than the pricks who overtake you at speed and then see a van in front of them and almost cause a 5 car pile up they break so hard.

  34. >Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of motorists believe speed cameras are an effective deterrent to speeding, especially in accident prone areas, the survey findings show.

    >However, 29pc of respondents are either unsure of their impact (20ps), believe they are not very effective (4pc) or not effective at all (5pc).

    Who cares if motorists *believe* they are an effective deterrent? Surely, the only thing that matters is whether or not they *actually are* a deterrent. Or more importantly, have they reduced the number of accidents?

  36. …isn’t that ultimately the point of the vans, to slow the cars down?

  37. As someone that’s immigrated to Ireland from Canada, speed vans are such a lazy way to catch speeders and the majority of the time they’re not catching the real problem drivers. Not to mention at least near where I live they aren’t placed in the true problem areas, but seem to be placed near speed change zones where they’re most likely to catch someone out who didn’t slow down in time or didn’t realize etc. Yet in many other places in which I never see these cameras I constantly am passed by people and boy racers going 20, 30, 40 over the limit. In Canada speed enforcement is done by Police Officers who can use more judgement when stopping people for speeding and citing them instead of mailing every person going 5+ over the limit a ticket and slapping 3 points on their license.

    It’s hard to argue with this kind of speed enforcement that it’s anything other than a money racket. This coming from someone who worked for the Police in Canada and has many friends in Law Enforcement.

    Edit: Grammar

  39. Google maps also shows speed camera locations provided some other driver has updated the map

  40. I don’t flash to warn them about a speed van. I flash them to warn them about an upcoming hazard. Namely, people braking suddenly when they see a speed van.

  41. I’ll say what I always say when this comes up. The stated purpose of speed vans is to reduce speed and therefore reduce road fatalities. Flashing headlights assists the speed vans by ensuring other road users slow down. It is in fact your civic duty to warn other drivers.

  42. The other 72% are lying surely? Does anyone *not* flash others when you pass a camera van or the gardaí hairdryer corps?

  43. If you’re speeding and you also don’t you Waze than it’s on you.

  44. I flash for the speed vans. I don’t for Garda checkpoints or checks.

    I don’t believe speed vans have made our roads safer.

    I am currently in France and the automatic speed traps and average speed zones appear to keep everyone in check. It certainly appears that there is more compliance with the speed limits.

  46. I flash for speed vans not Garda. Those vans are leeches cops have atleast ABIT of lee way

  48. We should just have speed cameras all over the place. The rules of the road are simple to follow, and driving is a privilege, not a right. Getting somewhere 3 minutes faster is not worth a single car crash, let alone a life.

  49. I’m usually too busy trying remember how to flash my lights back at them in case I know them.

  50. Could also be “Over 72% of drivers are dickheads who don’t flash for speed cameras”

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