Driving on roads and highways requires paying attention to multiple signals: brake lights, hazard lights, gestures from other drivers, and official signs. However, there’s an informal code that many motorists use, which can be confusing for those who see it for the first time: a white cloth hanging from the window. Although not included in any regulations, this practice persists as a way to communicate a particular situation inside the vehicle.
Unlike flashing lights or reflective triangles, the white cloth is not mentioned in any driver’s manual or traffic laws. It is a custom that spread among drivers as an improvised way to communicate an emergency while the vehicle is moving or stopped on the side of the road.
The choice of color is not accidental: white is historically associated with truce, peace, and a plea for help. That’s why, upon seeing it waving from a window, many drivers interpret it as a sign that something is wrong inside the car and pay closer attention.
Common situations in which it is used:
