...to think warning other drivers about police presence is a courtesy not enabling bad drivers?

[Boomerwang]

Yesterday the police were making traffic stops near a school as it was the first day back (Sweden) and I put it out on facebook, reminding people to check over their cars, go another way if they are in a hurry and watch their speed etc. I put it in a local community group. I was roundly chastised and the thread was removed not long after. Coming from England I thought it was normal that people gave a heads up but their argument was that this way the idiot drivers and people with alcohol or drugs in their system were now warned and won't be taken off the road or fined.

I mean, I don't take drugs or drive under the influence or particularly fast over the speed limit so I wasn't considering that, but if this situation occurs again, I'd like to know what the majority think before I try to help again?

this is MN where no one ever goes a Jot over 30 mph

You say that like it's a bad thing . Not quite accurate as I don't think anyone ever did claim not to go over 30, outside of a 30mph limit zone, unless they were driving a road roller.

I'm glad to hear it though. Since you're on MN too, must be that you are also law abiding.

As it’s in Sweden it was almost certainly aimed at drivers over the alcohol limit (which is very low). It would not have been aimed at minor speeding or faulty lights.
YABU

@Theterrible42s

I hate being flashed - I don't speed anyway so that's never my first thought, it's always "shit what's wrong with my car" and a second or two of anxiety. Then I realise and have to shout "I'm doing fucking fifty!" to myself

This!!

Or I'm looking for some obstruction in the road.

To OP: I wonder what the accidental offenders (e.g. the broken lightbulb scenario) would actually have to fear from the police. Wouldn't they just say "you have a broken lightbulb sir/madam, please ensure it is fixed", or would they beat the driver with batons? Given that you say this is Sweden, my money's on the former. In which case the police will be doing them a favour since, as you say, they may not even have realised there was a problem. Better to be stopped by the police than by a heavy goods vehicle that didn't see them properly in the dark, don't you think? So who, really, are you helping?

To be fair, I have probably (accidentally) contravened road regulations often enough during 40+ years of driving. I have been stopped once, and long may that happy state continue. I have been arrested, fined and/or beaten with batons precisely 0 times. I dare say being white helps, as does driving an inconspicuous little car. But still, I'm more likely to be reminded to stay within the limit by a strategically placed road sign than by a fellow motorist flashing.

And don't get me started on the idiots who think the sight of a traffic warden is a good reason to repeatedly honk their horn, startling the life out of other drivers, sleeping babies, night workers and stout middle-aged ladies ambling innocently down the street.

I do it for camera vans. I watched one of those police documentaries several years ago that followed one of the vans around. The glee the operators showed when they'd "got one" put me right off them. In my area at least, the placement of the vans seems to have very little to do with increasing safety but rather where they think they can catch the most people, 100 yards before the end of a ridiculous "40" section of roadworks, when the actual workers and work being done is a mile back down the road.

As a HGV driver it's also just common courtesy, especially in countries where if you get stopped by the police, you will be giving them money before you are allowed to continue, whether you have done anything wrong or not, so it's become something of a habit.

People shouldn't need to be warned to slow down, they shouldn't be speeding in the first place.

This is exactly why a warning is not a courtesy. The courtesy is to society by not warning them to ensure they are caught and fined/banned.

I bloody hate it when people do this
Stop warning people, the police are generally there to protect us
People should be driving responsibility anyway, if they are not then let them get caught

I agree with you, I have Waze and it’s always warning you there are police about. I knew everyone has an off day driving where they might go faster if their late etc, but for the most part I think it’s wrong to warn ppl.

If you do flash people be careful - police sometimes set up traps to catch people doing it and you could be fined.

It's illegal to warn someone of a speed trap. People shouldn't need to be warned to slow down, they shouldn't be speeding in the first place

I don't know if that;s true but in my area the local paper publishes the locations of where thespeed vans will be on a regular basis. Assume the police provide them with the details so drivers stick to the limit

Ahh I meant to say disagree not agree

I think it's different with speed cameras. My DH is a highways engineer (bridges) and he's explained to me that cameras are carefully placed in accident black spots, so the aim isn't to catch bad drivers but to reduce the number of speeding drivers at that point. So a warning is appropriate in that context, and it's why road signs and sat navs notify you about the speed cameras.

Police camera vans aren't always there so they are there to catch bad/dangerous drivers so I don't think warning other drivers of their presence is appropriate at all.

I wouldn't put it on Facebook but I do flash people going the other way.

I wouldn't if the speed van was placed outside a school in a 30 zone during rush hour as anyone speeding under those circumstances would be a moron. However in my experience the only places speed vans wait are the most ridiculous hiding spots designed to catch people out.

I think that if drivers cant fallow the rules of the road, which to be fair are not complicated at all then they should be stopped by the police.

I do think the police have better things to be doing but the sad fact is if many cant even manage to keep check of their speed, adhere to traffic lights or think its ok to drink and drive then yes they should be stopped and dealt with.

These laws are not actually that difficult to follow and should be manage by the drivers themselves, its not like its rocket science or complex. Getting your license means you have learnt these rules and can follow them if you wont follow them, being flashed at and warned the police are ahead just means you are being allowed to keep driving like a twonk instead of being told to raise your game and drive to the same standards as everyone else.
People need to take responsibility for themselves, they get caught they deal with it and learn.

Try and think outside the box for a minute, it's not just warning bad drivers is it.

You're also warning the local drug dealing house breaking wife beating scroat where police are located.

In France you can get into big trouble if you flash drivers to warn them about speed cameras.

I flashed cars the other day but it was to warn them of ducklings in the road so that was the most sensible abuse of lights that I can think of.

I judge people who put warnings on Facebook about police speed traps as it defeats the point.

I wouldn't do this because there are some drivers who really should be caught and fined for appalling and unsafe driving and you just enable them to get away with it. Anyone else shouldn't have to worry if they're sticking to the rules. I've been caught for speeding twice now (only slightly over the limit, and not in a residential area) and after fines/a horrifically boring course, I now never drive over the limit anywhere and use cruise control to help. But it was only getting caught that really made me paranoid about it.

@Noneformethanks

But if you have a broken lightbulb or frayed seatbelt you shouldn’t be driving your car.

I got stopped the other week for having a brake light out. Genuinely didn’t realise and told the police I’d replace the bulb as soon as - went home via Halfords and had the bulb changed in their car park.

My broken bulb cost me a sixty quid fine! It wasn't just a case of nipping to halfords and getting it fixed. I genuinely didn't realise either. Same scenario. Different outcome.

This is just another tax collection for the most part. You might get away with a warning if you stroke their fragile ego enough, but the vast majority of those drivers will go on their merry way with a Decent fine for the government to wisely spend.

Putting it on fb is never ideal. But flashing your lights at passing traffic and texting those yi know going same direction is dine I think. I think hidden speed cameras are dangerous and cause unexpected heavy breaking .

To me I think this question boils down to:

(a) do you want speeding drivers to slow down and stop speeding; or

(b) do you want them to carry on so they get fined.

I prefer (a).

Warning about checks is fine.

In England if you give a 'heads up' on on FB group etc you are normally suggesting people watch their speed. A lone police vehicle will be a speed trap.

Road side checks is a bigger and different set up and doesn't come as a 'surprise'

@33goingon64

In France you can get into big trouble if you flash drivers to warn them about speed cameras.

But everyone does it anyway.

I had never even come across this until I lived in France

I'd appreciate the heads up, even if no one else does!

You can be the best driver in the world and not realise your speeds crept up! I could do without the inconvenience of points on my license.

I think warning people is a very English thing to do and it's always on community groups near me, I hope that doesn't change!