Trap..

 

If you’re driving at night and you forgot to turn your headlights on, a friendly flash of the headlights is how another driver can tell you “turn your lights on, dummy.”

If your lights are already on, it’s possible they’re letting you know that you left your high beams on. Remember, your “high beams” or “brights” are for illuminating the empty road in front of you, and you should switch back to regular headlights when other drivers approach. 

Most states require that you turn off your brights if you are within 500 feet of an approaching car or 200-300 feet of a car you are following.

If your headlights are operating properly, or if you’re driving in the daytime, that approaching car is probably trying to warn you about something ahead. 

Often that’s a speed trap: a police car waiting by the side of the road to pull over speeding drivers. With the advance warning, you can slow down and avoid getting caught.