Flashing headlights can get you killed

[wolfie]

No, this has nothing to do with the urban legend about gang initiations.

I'm sure you're familiar with the aggressive "get out of my way" headlight flash by drivers behind you. Lately I've noticed a disturbing trend - some of these jerks are extending the meaning of this to include "stay out of my way" when someone in the next lane signals that they want to go into the jerk's lane.

Slight problem with this - the "flash headlights at someone who's signalling to pull in front of you" already has a well-known meaning among truck drivers. Specifically, it means "Go ahead - it's safe to pull in front of me". How long will it be before someone in a "compensating for personal deficiency" vehicle flashes his lights thinking he's giving one message, then proceeds to try passing the person who he flashed at, but the person he flashed at only noticed the flash, not the rate of closure, and interpreted the message as the exact opposite of what was sent?

Hint - being in the lane a "big rig" is changing into is not conducive to good health.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Way I see it, that problem will die off with a quickness.

[Broomjockey]

Man, I remember when flashing your headlights had one of two meanings.

1. Your brights are blinding me, turn them down.

2. Cops ahead, don't speed.

The horn was supposed to be "stay out of my way/get out of my way."

[Midorikawa]

The horn was supposed to be "stay out of my way/get out of my way."

that is SO 1990s. Get with the TIMES, man.

No, really, I take the headlight flash as "go ahead" too. While I don't drive a big rig, people driving those little plastic cars out there these days would be fools to play chicken with my car... :-/

[Hanzoku]

Same thing here, flashing headlights mean 'You have your highbeams on and I'd like to see the road, thank you' or 'slow down, there's an automatic flasher/police the way you're going'.

[Krivak]

Same thing here, flashing headlights mean 'You have your highbeams on and I'd like to see the road, thank you' or 'slow down, there's an automatic flasher/police the way you're going'.

Im only 21 and thats the way my dad taught me. He also told me about flashing the lights for a rig if they want over. Only done it once though, cause i was going to pass him eventually, i really wasnt in too much of a rush

[Crossbow]

Im only 21 and thats the way my dad taught me. He also told me about flashing the lights for a rig if they want over. Only done it once though, cause i was going to pass him eventually, i really wasnt in too much of a rush

I generally don't flash my brights for a rig wanting over (or more frequently, wanting to know if it was safe to move over). I usually dim my headlights and then back to normal. Truckers usually flash their running lights off then back on for other rigs (at least in my neck of the woods), so this is the closest thing.

[Larry1]

Lights in cars

Man, I remember when flashing your headlights had one of two meanings.
1. Your brights are blinding me, turn them down.
2. Cops ahead, don't speed.

In my neck of the woods.. It usually means that a cop or an accident is up ahead if you saw cars with headlights on in the daytime from oncoming traffic.
people can and do flash slow movers that like to hang out in the left lane going under the speed limit. Especially on the highway.
Cheers
-LF

[klhanson]

I only extend the courtesy of the flashing lights at people to give them a go ahead to truck drivers.. Truck drivers do that for other drivers and I extend them the same courtesy because they deserve it most of the time..

[LewisLegion]

A car coming toward you around here flashes for three reasons...your lights need to be turned on, your brights are blinding me, or there's a cop ahead. Someone beside you or sitting a stop sign on a cross street flash to 'go ahead', meaning you take your turn or its ok to change lanes in front of me.

Someone behind you flashing means two things too. Either 'your door/trunk is open or there's some other hazard with your car you are unaware of (flattening tire, for example)' or much more commonly...'I'm a douchebag and would rather flash my lights at you trying to get you to speed up than actually change lanes to go around you'

[Chromatix]

The British Highway Code says "Flashing headlights or sounding the horn is used ONLY to alert other road users to your presence."

Which completely ignores the other uses these signals are put to on a regular basis in the real world.

[zzapp the witch]

I was taught (by truckers) to NOT flash my brights for them to get over, but to completely turn off and back on my running and/or headlights. Apparently flashing brights can blind them in the rear view mirrors.

[Krivak]

I was taught (by truckers) to NOT flash my brights for them to get over, but to completely turn off and back on my running and/or headlights. Apparently flashing brights can blind them in the rear view mirrors.

I dont flash them, just turn off and on. My low beams are bright enough as it is.

Say in a hypothetical situation, some idiot is stuck in the right hand lane because he didnt plan ahead, at all. (there was PLENTY of road at midnight) Say im in the middle lane, almost up to the guys bumper relative to my lane, because i actually planned ahead. And say the ass all of a sudden signals and moves over without looking. Is it ok to brighten my lights for a moment to let him know i was there?

Crossbow, do you live in the UK? I have not heard of "Dim, Low beam, and High beam lights."

[greek_jester]

Crossbow, do you live in the UK? I have not heard of "Dim, Low beam, and High beam lights."

Can't answer for Crossbow, but around my area (east of England) the terms are:

1) side lights or dipped lights - the lowest setting for around twilight/badly overcast or rainy weather, not really visible if it's too foggy or rainy
2) lights or headlights - main lights, used for night driving in urban areas with street lights, or heavy rain/snow
3) full beams/high beams - brightest setting, which is illegal to use unless you're out where there are no street lights, & there's no-one driving towards you or close enough ahead of you to see you in their rear view mirror. Makes life interesting on twisty country roads!

Regarding signalling with lights, locally (& in some cases, nationally) flashing high beams rapidly for a few seconds to an oncoming car translates as a warning (e.g. night-time - turn on your lights - or possibly hazard ahead, anything from a crash to a police speed trap) a couple of quick flashes while slowing down signals to someone in another lane or a side road that you're allowing them in, & flashing your hazards for a few seconds after being let in is a way to say thank-you (mainly from large vehicle drivers, as you can't see a thank you wave from behind).

[Jay 2K Winger]

If I'm on the highway and some douchenozzle flashes his brights behind me to get me to go faster, I ignore him. Sometimes I'll even tap my brakes to flash the red in his face, because fuck you, I'll go at a speed I feel safe driving.

I think I've had the bright-flash-hey-stay-outta-my-lane thing once or twice, but if the douchebag isn't closing the gap at speed, then fuck you, I'm coming into your lane.