As the number of vehicles on the roads continues to increase, greater caution is required when driving. Do you have a clear understanding of the language expressed by vehicle lights? During vehicle operation, especially for special vehicles such as truck-mounted cranes, wrecker trucks, and oil tankers, vehicle lights play a vital role. Today, let’s embark on a journey to understand the language of vehicle lights.
When the green light is on but the vehicle in front doesn’t move, the light language: Flash the headlights once.
While waiting at an intersection for the traffic light to turn green, you might sometimes encounter a situation where the vehicle in front remains stationary. This could be due to a novice driver having a slow reaction or the driver simply not noticing the change in the indicator light. At such times, constantly honking the horn is not the most appropriate approach. Instead, you can utilize the method of flashing the headlights to provide a gentle reminder. If there is still no response after the first flash, you can repeat it. However, it’s crucial to avoid continuously flashing the headlights as this is highly disrespectful and can easily trigger the other party’s rebellious or annoyed emotions.
The act of flashing the headlights once serves as a polite and non-intrusive prompt, giving the driver in front a chance to realize that the traffic has started moving and to proceed accordingly. It’s a more civilized and effective way of communicating on the road.
When encountering a vehicle that wants to merge lanes, the light language: One flash of headlights means “agreement”, and continuous flashes of headlights mean “refusal”.
While driving on the road, lane merging situations are quite common. If the communication between vehicles is not smooth during these instances, it can significantly increase the risk of vehicle scraping accidents. When lanes merge or at the intersection of traffic flows, competing for lanes forcefully is highly dangerous. Vehicles that need to merge lanes should not do so abruptly or without proper indication. When a vehicle signals its intention to change lanes, the following vehicle must provide a clear indication of whether it consents or objects to the lane change.
A single flash of the headlights indicates acceptance and willingness to allow the merging vehicle to proceed. On the contrary, continuous flashes of the headlights convey a message of refusal or caution, indicating that it’s not a suitable time or condition for the lane change. This clear communication helps maintain traffic order and reduces the potential for conflicts and accidents.
When the following vehicle is too close, the light language: Periodically flash the brake lights.
When driving on the highway, maintaining an appropriate and safe distance is an essential measure to prevent accidents. However, there are occasions when some vehicles insist on tailgating, maintaining an uncomfortably close distance. In such scenarios, the driver of the vehicle in front is inevitably forced to divert some attention to monitor the following vehicle and naturally worries about the possibility of a rear-end collision due to the following vehicle’s late braking. At this point, the vehicle in front must find a way to offer a subtle warning to the trailing vehicle, indicating that it should not follow too closely. The use of the brake lights serves as an effective means of communication.
By periodically flashing the brake lights, the driver in front is sending a signal to the following vehicle to increase the distance and be more cautious. This simple yet effective gesture helps create a safer driving environment and reduces the potential for rear-end collisions.
Encountering strong lights flashing at night, the light language: Two flashes of headlights for reminder, and double flashes to express dissatisfaction.
During night driving, one of the most exasperating experiences is encountering drivers who insist on keeping their high beams on throughout the journey. The failure to switch to low beams when encountering other vehicles is a common occurrence during night driving. In sections with good lighting conditions within urban areas, there is no necessity to have the high beams on. In areas with poor lighting, not changing the lights when encountering other vehicles greatly increases the risk of accidents.
Two flashes of the headlights can be used as a polite reminder for the other driver to switch to the appropriate lighting. However, if the situation persists and causes significant discomfort or danger, double flashing the headlights can express dissatisfaction and emphasize the need for the other driver to correct their behavior.
To remind pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles to pay attention, the light language: Continuously flash the headlights, and suddenly change from low beams to high beams.
At night, pedestrians crossing the road haphazardly and certain non-motorized vehicles pose significant safety hazards to driving. In such instances, frequent flashing of the headlights can be employed as a means to dissuade them and prevent potential collisions. There is also another scenario where pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles may have difficulty accurately judging the vehicle’s speed and distance and might attempt to cross the road despite the risk. In such cases, a sudden switch from low beams to high beams can be more effective in dissuading them. This is primarily because the high beams have a longer irradiation distance and stronger light intensity, providing a more visible and cautionary signal.
Be careful when entering or exiting alleys or blind spots. The light language: Flash the headlights three times and assist with honking the horn.
In certain areas with numerous alleys and lanes, blind spots are prone to occur. At such locations, vehicles or pedestrians emerging from these alleys or lanes might be unable to perceive the situation of vehicles at the entrance. Therefore, when entering or exiting an alley or lane, it is advisable to flash the headlights three times to alert approaching vehicles or pedestrians to exercise caution. Some drivers have a tendency to turn on the high beams when entering alleys or lanes, believing this serves as a warning. In reality, this notion is incorrect. Since many pedestrians or drivers struggle to accurately assess distance based on the intensity of the lights, the act of flashing provides a much clearer and more effective warning signal.
In conclusion, understanding and effectively using the language of vehicle lights is not only a matter of courtesy but also a crucial aspect of ensuring road safety. By communicating clearly and appropriately through these visual cues, drivers can minimize misunderstandings, reduce the likelihood of accidents, and create a more harmonious and safe driving environment for all road users.
