High beams and flashing

[LillFilly]

I did a long-distance drive this weekend on several main highways.

I set my cruise control for the speed limit and stayed in the right lane.

There was very little traffic; sometimes there were no cars to be seen at all; it was about 10pm.

Yet, for some reason I had several cars and semi trucks come-up on my bumper and start flashing their lights or high beams. My speed never changed. They could have easily moved into the empty left lane and passed me after judging my speed as they approached.

Yet, for several minutes, with us being the only 2-cars in sight, they flashed me, before swinging to the left lane and hitting the gas.

I know they weren't trying to signal me about anything; the car was inspected before I left and everything was sound with lights working, and there were no serial killers in my back seat.

It was just weird; this happened a half-dozen times. I can only figure they were too lazy and didn't want to have to lane change?

AND, the sheer number of people driving with their high beams on!!!! I was nearly blind because of all the cars coming up behind me with highs on; no consideration at all! Do they not realize that it's not just annoying to people approaching you but those in front???

[alogram]

They could have easily moved into the empty right lane and passed me after judging my speed as they approached.

Did you mean the empty left lane? Because if you were in the right lane, and the left was empty you shouldn't have to move. (were there only two lanes?)

[AccountingDrone]

Right lane is slower lane, left lane is typically for faster than speed limit and passing lane. In many states on the interstate it is illegal to travel in the left passing only lane.

[Sapphire Silk]

If Lilly lives in England, it would be the left lane that's the slow lane.

If she was in the slow lane, the other drivers should be the ones changing lanes. If she was in the fast lane, you should move over IF SAFE TO DO SO. You don't have to speed up if you are going the speed limit.

[EricKei]

If it's the US, driving with your high beams on is illegal if it's within city limits at all (in most areas), or in situations where you're behind someone else or oncoming & close enough to blind them.

[LillFilly]

PS. I am in the US, and I was in the right hand lane, the slow lane, the whole time.

[otakuneko]

Yeah I don't get people who flash their high beams at you when there's a perfectly usable lane next to them. Just pass and be done with it.

I will however flash the hell out of someone going slow on an on ramp. You're supposed to be accelerating to highway speed, not tooling along at 40! (Ok, exceptions can be made--I hate getting stuck behind a semi entering the highway but I understand they can't help it. Anyone in a four wheeler is a different story...)

[greek_jester]

Yeah I don't get people who flash their high beams at you when there's a perfectly usable lane next to them. Just pass and be done with it.

My mum was involved in a nice bit of Carma in a similar situation, once.


Mum's car was a late 90's Vauxhall Astra, built like a tank with a diesel engine. This car was heavy; there was a lot of metal in that frame!


She was driving along a dual carriageway in the slow lane, doing the speed limit. There were hardly any cars on the road, and none in the fast lane.


A Nissan Micra roared up behind her, and started tailgating, flashing his headlights, and doing the "speed up shuffle". Remember, of course, that the fast lane was completely empty.


As they started to pass a slipway onto the dual carriageway a lorry came barrelling out, forcing mum to slam on her brakes. The Micra, of course, slammed straight into the back of mum.


The Astra had a teeny, tiny set of scratches on the bumper, and a small chip out of the number plate.


The Micra's front end was completely crunched up, the windscreen and door windows were shattered, and the doors were warped; the driver had to kick his door several times to get out.


The lorry, it has to be said, blithely continued on its way without any idea of the havoc created in his wake.


The police had to call a tow truck to get rid of the Micra; it was so badly warped it had to be loaded onto a flat-bed rather than be towed.


My mum's car, however, was happily driven off after the AA man did a quick check to make sure nothing important had snapped. It still sailed through its MOT a month later (although she did get an advisory for the number plate, which cracked and had to be replaced 2 years later).


Note: that Astra was ridiculously solid; 3 years ago a half-laden transit van's brakes failed and mum was rear-ended (again). The car just shrugged it off with a few scratches to the bumper!

[Rock Lobster]

In Pennsylvania, you have to go slow for the entrance ramps as they curve in a nice letter 'C'.