To flash or not to flash

Following the prosecution of a Grimsby driver who flashed other motorists to warn them of a speed gun, Confused.com’s Owe Carter questions the motives of such a law.

 

Earlier this month, Michael Thompson was charged and convicted after flashing his headlights at approaching motorists to warn them of a speed gun ahead. He was fined £175 and ordered to pay £250 costs at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court.

Thompson defended his actions as his “civic duty”, explaining that he “flashed motorists to warn them of a hazard.” He was nonetheless found guilty of wilfully obstructing a police officer in the course of her duties.

It strikes me that there are two ways of looking at this. One is that, if motorists are breaking the law by speeding, then vehicles coming the other way shouldn’t prevent them from coming to justice by warning them that they’re about to get caught.

Thompson, however, claimed that he warned oncoming drivers as he thought that they would brake hard when they saw the speed gun, which can be potentially dangerous. If he had the safety of other motorists at heart, can we really take such a dim view of his actions?

This also highlights a wider issue. By warning other drivers, Thompson was effectively trying to get them to obey the law. In addition to punishing those who break the law, isn’t prevention of crime also on the police’s agenda?

And what happens if you remove the speed gun from the picture? If I flash motorists because they are unaware of an obstruction (such as congestion) up ahead, or because I simply think they’re driving too fast, am I breaking the law? Presumably not. Would it be too cynical to suggest that the reason for prosecuting Thompson might have been that he was preventing the generation of revenue?

What do you think? Do you feel that the law is missing the mark in this area? Or that Michael Thompson was deserving of his conviction? Feel free to let me know by commenting below.

Comments

[phil taylor]

I Think that this is definately preventing the generation of revenue, as once again the motorist as been targeted. The government know the easiest way to generate revenue is to target the long suffering motorist. This case should never have gone to court. I know, personally of a motorist doing 95 m.p.h on a motorway, being stopped by traffic police and getting let off with a warning. So i believe that this story say's it all.

[Tony Rea]

I believe we do indeed have a civic duty to warn oncoming motorists if there is a hazard ahead, whether or not it is a police speed trap. Similarly, if I feel the oncoming car, or car that has just overtaken me, is travel much too fast then I feel it is perfectly in order to warn them by flashing my headlights. APR.

[Vince]

Speed cameras are supposed to be there to prevent drivers speeding. That is what Mr, Thompson seems to have been doing so why fine him? It can only be loss of revenue, sour grapes by the police for being prevented from getting their quota of speeders for the day and getting drivers off the road to ease congestion and force them to use overpriced and shoddy public transport.
I for one appreciate and thank Mr. Thompson for his efforts

[Bill]

I'm confused! Remember the law that was brought in some years ago to make fixed speed cameras highly visible to approaching traffic? But the law in this case seems to be suggesting that mobile cameras held by police officers should not be known about by advancing traffic. Why would that be?

It is so easy to be distracted by more important things like traffic and road hazards to always closely monitor the speedo. I gave up and bought a GPS box that warns me where the cameras are (or could be) so at least I can concentrate on safe driving rather than the speedo. It also warns me in some areas if I go over the speed limit. If the government really cared about speeding from a safety perspective, they could make these boxes compulsory on all cars. But then the revenue would disappear!

[peter]

yes i agree with all above comments,but then where would all the mps( expenses ) be without our funds in there pockets if they removed all speed cameras(taxes)peter

[suz]

A flash of lights means i am here so when i flash the cops through i wonder if they think i am here or i am letting them through,i had this question from IAM i said i would warm a driver who`s job is driving as i dont agree with the police hiding i stick to the speed limit maybe i go a wee bit over or under i need all round observation.but i`d laugh at the ones who pay no attention and speed up and down usually yappy women time they woke up and the wee daft boys who speed time they remembered their in a lethal weapon in stupid hands improve the training after the test