...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?

Do you REALLY think that police officers starting their shift decide to set up a speed trap for their personal gratification and then share the fine money between themselves?

remember that MN does have non-UK posters for whom that is exactly what happens ....

Sunstreaming, you really should read my post more carefully. I said “locals often do”. I made no comment about how many non locals also do! Nor did I claim that all speeders were locals.
However, it’s irrelevant. The road in question can safely be driven at 90mph, by anyone. In Germany, it would be, perfectly legally.

It's one thing when the police alert the media to a campaign - they do that for a reason.

But just taking it upon yourself to flash, or spread the info? meh.

As for doing 70mph in an outside lane - if you're in the outside lane you're overtaking, so you won't be there long, will you? what others do isn't your concern unless they cause an accident and you're involved. But if you're keeping to the speed limit and/or road conditions and keeping your distance, for the most part you'll be fine.

I literally didn't know this was a thing. If I ever get flashed I would probably stress there was something wrong with my car or I'd lost my marbles and was doing a massive driving error!

@Boomerwang my dad did the flash light thing for speed cameras and I do it too... loads of people do it.
I will carry on doing it as well

However, it’s irrelevant. The road in question can safely be driven at 90mph, by anyone. In Germany, it would be, perfectly legally.

But wouldn't a German autobahn have slip roads and proper junctions? Dual carriageways have T junctions, they're not comparable

I would always flash a car to warn them of a speed trap! It's just common courtesy.

Might put that to the test grin

@PhilCornwall1 can you give me 15 minutes to go and buy some popcorn please?

@Boshmama

I would always flash a car to warn them of a speed trap! It's just common courtesy.

It's common courtesy to obstruct the Police from trying to rid the roads of dangerous drivers?!

You do know that even if the person knows why you are flashing (and this thread proves that many people would be thinking there is something wrong with their car rather than realising it's because they are speeding and therefore concentrating even less on driving carefully), you are only stopping them from speeding for a very short space of time. After they have gone through the speed trap they will just speed up again, smug in the fact that they have just avoided getting a fine.

Congratulations on having the "courtesy" to enable dickhead drivers to potentially go on and kill someone...

It's a dickhead's code of conduct, one dickhead is supposed to warn the other. Usually they are too thick to understand what it means so carry on regardless.

Hmmm, I'm with Sweden here and like this aspect of their culture, I'm afraid. It does sound like you are standing up for crappy driving. YABU in my opinion.

I do it. It slows them down, which, as the police will tell you, is actually the point. They don't want to spend time chasing speeding drivers.

I also do it if cars are whizzing along a road and there aren't police up ahead. Slows them down too.

Might be normal but it's illegal and police have been known to prosecute for it.

I'd love to see the evidence for that.

@collapsedhairpin

Might put that to the test grin

@PhilCornwall1 can you give me 15 minutes to go and buy some popcorn please?

Absolutely, you need to be comfortable when enjoying entertainment.

I do it. It slows them down, which, as the police will tell you, is actually the point. They don't want to spend time chasing speeding drivers.

I've been making this point. It's about making roads safe more than about catching speeding motorists. Because otherwise, another driver could end up in an accident as a result.

Road deaths are so traumatic for everyone and anything that slows them down and makes the roads safer can't be a bad thing. Why else do they have flashing 'Slow down' signs?

Absolutely, you need to be comfortable when enjoying entertainment.

@PhilCornwall1
Thank you very muchly. Shame you didn't have popcorn just now!

The OP is in Sweden, which I can confirm is very hot today.

As I mentioned up thread this almost certainly was testing for alcohol.

It does seem that 17% of MN voters here support drink driving. Eller?

Obviously the swedish police have got the massive number of sexual offenses and rapes down to zero, and can devote time to tackling traffic offences.

@HijabiVenus

Obviously the swedish police have got the massive number of sexual offenses and rapes down to zero, and can devote time to tackling traffic offences.

If you use that sort of logic you could equally argue that they shouldn't investigate sexual assaults unless they have solved every single murder that's currently unsolved. Or they shouldn't investigate fraud until burglary has been eliminated. Which would be pretty absurd.

@MintyMabel

I do it. It slows them down, which, as the police will tell you, is actually the point. They don't want to spend time chasing speeding drivers.

I also do it if cars are whizzing along a road and there aren't police up ahead. Slows them down too.

Might be normal but it's illegal and police have been known to prosecute for it.

I'd love to see the evidence for that.

Sorry to link to the Daily Mail but there's been at least one: Driver Fined

Also, with speed traps / vans they don't spend time "chase" speeding drivers, the system is automated and they get a fine through the post.

And as I said upthread, this thread proves that many people would be thinking there is something wrong with their car rather than realising it's because they are speeding and therefore they start thinking less about their speed and more about what might be wrong with their car and are actually more of a danger! Which is presumably the opposite of what you think you are making the other driver do. Not all other drivers think like you do! Do you realise you could actually be the cause of an accident rather than preventing one..?!

Yabu I want people who drive dangerously/speed to be seen and fined. Hopefully they'll think before doing it again. Decent drivers don't need warning there's police in the area.

@JanewaysBun

I literally didn't know this was a thing. If I ever get flashed I would probably stress there was something wrong with my car or I'd lost my marbles and was doing a massive driving error!

Me too.

The OP is in Sweden, which I can confirm is very hot today.

As I mentioned up thread this almost certainly was testing for alcohol.

Not necessarily. Our police announced on Facebook that the'd be focusing on speed around schools and nurseries this week.

Might be normal but it's illegal and police have been known to prosecute for it.

I'd love to see the evidence for that.

www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-humber-12116237/grimsby-driver-defends-warning-others-of-speed-trap

I'd love to see the evidence for that. - @MintyMabel

www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1118798/speed-trap-warning-obstructing-police-officer-fine-driving-law

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343959/Driver-flashed-headlights-warn-motorists-speed-trap-fined.html

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/flashing-lights-speed-camera-warning-17276041

Those are just from the top half of page one of Google. Yes, it's unlikely you'll get caught but if you flash an unmarked police car or the police see you, you can get get fined for it.

OMG I am stunned at how many people appear to take road/car safety so lightly. Cars are KILLING MACHINES when they are driven dangerously, or not properly maintained, or the driver is not controlling the vehicle safely e.g. speeding, under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Sometimes genuine accidents happen and there is nothing anyone could have done to prevent it. But in many cases, RTAs are because of stupid irresponsible drivers. These drivers deserve to be caught and fined/banned, hopefully learning a lesson before they kill someone's child/parent/brother/sister/husband/wife/friend etc.

Warning bad drivers, so they moderate their behaviour temporarily to avoid being caught, just encourages them to continue driving dangerously the rest of the time. I think anyone who does this isn't taking road safety seriously enough, and isn't doing society any favours.

Not surprised AT ALL to learn that warning drivers of a police presence doesn't go down well in Sweden. They are legendary for taking road/car safety seriously! For example most children under 4 ride rear facing in cars there, and have done for many many years. As a result, their fatality rate for young children in car accidents is stunningly low. BECAUSE THEY TAKE CAR SAFETY SERIOUSLY.

We should all follow their example.