Flashing your headlights can be a quick way to communicate with another driver, but Georgia's driver's guidance outlines specific situations where using your lightscan help make your presence known.
According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, drivers should use signals and lights to communicate their intentions and make their vehicles easier for others to see.
Here's what to know.
Can you flash your lights to warn of a police officer in Georgia?
In Georgia, there is no specific state law that prohibits drivers from flashing their headlights to warn other motorists about police or a potential road hazard.
However, Georgia law does place restrictions on the use of high beams, as it could be determined to be a distraction to oncoming drivers.
High beam restrictions in Georgia
Under Georgia Code Section 40-8-31, drivers approaching an oncoming
vehicle within 500 feet must use their headlights in a way that prevents glare from being projected into the other driver's eyes.
Drivers following another vehicle within 200 feet must also use a lower beam, except while overtaking and passing.
In other words, while a driver may flash their headlights as a warning, they still need to make sure their use of high beams does not violate Georgia's headlight rules.
When can you flash your headlights?
Georgia's driver's manual says that when you are passing another vehicle, pedestrian or bicyclist at night, you can flash your headlights from low beam to high beam and back when passing is legal.
The guidance says drivers should assume the person or vehicle they are passing may not see them and should continue driving carefully enough to avoid a collision.
What about warning another driver?
The state's guidance also discusses using your vehicle's lights to warn drivers behind you about potential hazards.
If you see something ahead that will require you to slow down, the manual says you can flash your brake lights to warn drivers behind you.
That could include situations involving:
- A hazard in the roadway
- A tight turn that requires significant slowing
- Stopping on the roadway
- Driving significantly slower than surrounding traffic
For vehicles that are driving very slowly or are stopped, the guidance says four-way emergency flashers should be used when legal.
Can you flash your lights to tell someone it's safe to go?
Georgia's driver's guidance says you should not.
The manual specifically warns against using signals to direct another driver when it is safe to pass.
That's because the other driver may rely on your signal and enter traffic without seeing another vehicle. The guidance says doing so could contribute to a crash and potentially leave the driver who gave the signal responsible.
What about flashing your headlights during the day?
The guidance says drivers should make themselves easier to see when visibility is reduced, including at dawn, dusk, rain or snow.
In those situations, drivers should turn on their headlights rather than relying only on identification or clearance lights. The manual recommends low beams because high beams can bother other drivers, including during the daytime.
What if your vehicle is stopped?
Georgia's guidance also recommends using four-way emergency flashers when pulling off the road and stopping, particularly at night.
The manual warns that relying only on taillights may cause another driver to mistake a stopped vehicle for one that is moving normally.
For the full report, visit dds.georgia.gov/section-25.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: When can you flash your headlights in Georgia? Know the rules
