The question is what do I do with this information? Did I miss something and they were turning their lights off, is there a hidden police officer ahead, or is there some type of danger around the bend in the road.
Motorists have been flashing their headlights to warn of danger for many years and this is sometimes called an optical horn. When I researched this communication I read several lawsuits against cities for tickets issued when a motorist warns others of a speed trap. All of the cases I read the motorist won and the cities changed their policies. Flashing of headlights does not always mean there is an officer ahead it can mean there is danger around the next bend.
Something that I seem to be noticing more is a car flashing their lights when they are going to pass me on the interstate. This practice is very frustrating as it momentarily blinds me and I know it cannot be good for my eyes. On an interstate I do not understand the need to let someone else know you are going to pass him or her as there are two lanes traveling in the same direction and I clearly am using only one of these lanes.
In this situation on the busy two lane road the motorist was warning me that there was a trash can that had blown out of someone’s vehicle laying square in the middle of my lane and no shoulder to go around. I had plenty of time to slow and wait till traffic cleared to go around the trashcan and continue safely on my way.
Thank you to the many unknown people over the years that have taken the time to flash their lights to warn of danger around the bend. Their small act has been appreciated many times over the years and no way to thank them.