A flash of headlights can mean more than “your brights are on”
Recently, I was driving north on St. Vrain when I spotted a young deer starting to cross the road. An oncoming vehicle was approaching, so I flashed my headlights several times, hoping the driver would realize there was danger ahead and slow down.
Instead, the driver flashed their lights back, as if to say, “My bright lights aren’t on!”
A split second later, I looked in my rearview mirror and watched that vehicle strike the deer. Fortunately, it wasn’t a direct hit. The driver’s left front corner caught the deer’s left rear quarter. The deer stumbled, got back up, and appeared to walk away, though I don’t know whether it survived.
That experience reminded me that flashing headlights isn’t always about reminding someone to dim their brights. More often, it’s a warning that something unexpected is ahead: a deer, an elk, another animal, a fallen boulder, an accident, or some other hazard.
Here in the Estes Valley, wildlife is part of daily life. If an oncoming driver flashes their headlights at you, please don’t assume they’re criticizing your driving. Take it as a friendly warning. Slow down, pay attention, and be prepared for whatever may be around the next bend.
It could save an animal’s life … or your own.
Becky Robbins, Estes Park