Quote:
Originally Posted by anles
I have the advantge of having learn't to drive here... it's part of the standard teórico learning to decipher the flashes. There are four main instances...
1) The first instance when someone overtaking comes t close so you have raise your foot from the accelarator, three swift furious flashes signal...you f****** stupi w****, you're gonna kill us all (swearing colourfully is also part of standard Spanish driving lessons).
2) When someone ahead of you is about to maneuver invading your space... as you're not in a hurry, still have ten minutes till kids come out and you remember how grateful you were when somene last allowed you to complete an awkward maneuver, you magnanimously slow down and flash once to say... ok, you can pull out... normally they don't trust you are actually letting them out... so you slow down a little more, and flash twice to say.. come on then, don't take all day... if they still don't move, you flash finally once more as you put your foot down to say... please yourself, too late now...
3) The third instance is when you see a familiar car, you flash your lights (just once) to say... wow, long time no see, how are the kids, let's meet up and have a drink soon ...often to find a complete stranger who will automatically slow down as he thinks you are applying the fourth instance
4) The fourth instance... the one I really hate is a random flash when you're doing a nice steady speed, complying with all the regulations, but inevitably results in your foot immediately reducing your speed by at least 20km per hour even if you're below the limit and means, the guardia are round the next bend... I don't agree with this one, they are there to catch all the uninsured drunkards who are speeding, but I still react by instinct.
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Boas nena - thanks for that!!!
I'd almost forgotten about the fourth one - and it is a classic. In fact, I can't believe I'd forgotten because I have it on good authority from one of the OH's many relatives in many places, including Trafico, that that is one flash that no-one can take the hefty fine off, if caught doing it. Apparently, the Guardia have been known to set up "stings" where the motorbike cops would be in clear sight for all to see and around the bend, as you put it, would be a parked civvy car whose sole purpose was to catch the flashers. Amazingly then, if your enchufes and chupito buddies are good contacts, parking, minor speeding, touching the continuous white line and various other minor offences can be, shall we say, lost in the system - but flashing oncoming traffic to warn cannot.
I guess I can understand as looking at it harshly, it is preventing the course of justice and one could say the others mentioned above are you and only you, whereas flashing to warn is perhaps "aiding and abetting"?!?!
So thanks for reminding me! Must remember not to flash - or flash with caution, having just passed the police.
Tally.xx
BTW - always surprises me to see
GC in full uniform enjoying a couple of vinos and tapas and a smoke in my aunt's bar....is it normal they get breaks whilst on duty? Or is this country really that chilled out??
