While you are behind the wheel of your car, turning on and off the headlights of another vehicle coming in front of you, that is, making a flashlight, may often seem meaningless to you. Especially if they do it during the day and not at night…
Selector throwing can have several different meanings depending on the situation. Fortunately, it will only take you a second to check the key things the other driver is trying to warn you about (your own headlights and potential hazards on the road).
If you’re driving at night and you forgot to turn on your headlights, it might be another driver telling you to “turn on your headlights” in a friendly way. If your headlights are already on, they may be letting you know that you left your high beams on. Remember, “high beams” are only meant to illuminate the empty road ahead, and you must switch to regular headlights when other drivers approach. In most countries, you are required to turn off your high beams when you are within 200 meters of an approaching vehicle or within 100 meters of a vehicle you are following.
Throwing a day selector…
If your headlights are working properly or it is daytime, the approaching vehicle is probably trying to warn you of something ahead. Usually this is a speed trap, i.e. a police car waiting on the roadside with radar to stop speeding drivers. With the warning you get beforehand, you can slow down and avoid being caught.
Even if there is no radar ahead, it may be important to view the flashing of an oncoming vehicle as a recommendation to slow down and pay attention to your surroundings. Although the reasons vary depending on where you are, an animal or group of people trying to cross the road, a roadwork or other similar danger may be waiting for you.
Another use is to signal to another driver waiting to make a turn on the road that they can pass. For example, if you’re trying to get off a side road onto a busy road, one of the oncoming vehicles may slow down to make room for you to get on the road, and their selection will let you know they’re slowing down on purpose. But it can also be the other way around; A speeding vehicle may throw a selector for you to notice it.
There may also be a sign that the road is suitable for overtaking or changing lanes, but it is still important to do your own checks before changing lanes or attempting to overtake to avoid a potential accident.
Finally, drivers may also be using their selectors to thank each other…
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