To ask a driving question?

[SendforJulietOne]

If I passed you when driving (passing each other going opposite ways) and I flashed my headlights at you and made a thumbs down sign, would you understand what I mean?

Context- I thought this was well-known, DP has never heard of it, so we're wondering if it's local to my area.

Unless you are riding a horse, then as @HangryBrickShark has said quite rightly it’s an indication telling the driver to slow down.
Even my 80 year old mother knows that.

If you look in the Highway Code it is an indication saying that YOU, the rider, plan to slow down or stop.

The information on the above video is quite simply WRONG!

There is no signal for any road user to tell another road user to slow down ..... driver. cyclist, motorcyclist, horse rider whatever - none of these have a signal to tell anyone else to slow down.

These ambiguities and misunderstandings can cause accidents.

that's because he was speeding not because he didn't know some obscure hand gesture

Wrong.
The HC clearly states that the hand signals are the same for motorists, cyclists and horse riders.
It also clearly states that the hand signals should not be used for any other purpose.
Attached is the HC instruction

Indeed so. FunPreventionOfficer's mum is wrong!

I drove into London for the first time in a long time and I loved all the 20 mph roads.

It made driving so much easier especially as I didn't have to keep changing from 20 to 30.

It’s illegal to flash drivers to warn them there’s a police speed trap ahead.

😂😂😂

I saw my friend today who’s a police sergeant and he says that my mum is right. However….
That said, if you look online there are a few articles related to the ambiguity of The Highway Code in that it refers to horse riders hand signals but doesn’t specify them which makes it confusing due to the only description is for vehicles slowing using the hand signal referred to. So it is completely understandable why we’re disagreeing because the HC needs clarity. Safe to say that as long as all drivers proceed slowly giving as much room as possible when passing horses hand signals won’t be required. 🐴👍

Why would you want to align yourself with people who are anti police ?
I don't and I've never seen this sign nor would understand it.
I might think it was a negative comment my driving. At a stretch.
I would never warn anyone of a speed camera.
But I would if there was an unexpected hazard or obstruction on the road.

Can he tell us where this appears in the Highway Code?
Everything in the code is about letting others know what you are doing. There is nothing about telling others what they should do.
I would be very interested to know what he says.

Come on,people don’t get caught doing one mile over.

The arm signals are very clearly laid out in the HC. This police officer has no idea what he’s talking about.

The HC specifically says that the hand signals are for horse riders as well as cyclists.
Nowhere does it say that ordinary civilians can make hand signals to tell others what to do.
And it would be totally ridiculous to have the same signal mean two different things.
I think your policeman friend needs to do some training!

From the HC:

I’d assume there was a speed camera up ahead. I tend to flash my lights and people get the message without the thumbs down though.

I have explained that the HC is not clear regarding this issue here’s the part of the code and a petition to update it for more clarity. You can disagree with me on here as much as you like I just hope that everyone passes horses slowly and at a distance.

He does know what he's on about

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/equine/confusion-rider-hand-signals-drivers

The HC may not be clear in suggesting what signal to use to ask drivers to slow down but it is crystal clear that the waved arm up and down means “I am slowing down”.

The fact that we’ve both shared articles regarding the request for clarification from the riding community appears to be irrelevant. Some people can’t bear to admit that we could be correct.