What's up with car drivers?

[philthy]

Out for a spin on my bike the other day, something suddenly occured to me.
As a truck driver, whenever I spot something that may be potentially dangerous, I warn oncoming drivers. The hazard could quite literally be anything (broken down vehicle over brow of hill, traffic stopped in similar circumstances, cyclists on narrow road, in fact just about anything that could cause "panic" braking..........
The signal I, and other truck drivers give, is flashing headlights, and the thumbs down signal (as in roman arenas). When driving in Europe, every type of motorist warns others about potential hazards further up the road, although not usually with this sign. In Blighty it is very rare to be warned by anything other than another trucker. Bikers tend to be a lot better at it than car drivers (but usually only with other bikers).
If you happen to see a trucker flashing his lights, and giving you the thumb down, please don't look at him and think "what's that tw@ want ?", slow down, who knows what it might save you ! Similarly, if you pass a hazard, warn other motorists of the danger round the corner. In the past I've been warned, slowed down, made my truck very wide (so people can't get past me and speed into danger), and put several smiles on several peoples faces when they realised why I was doing it.

Here's to every motorist warning every other motorist about potential hazards......................although as most people drive like sheep (PH'rs excepted of course), I'm not going to hold my breath.
Philthy

[KITT]

philthy said:

Here's to every motorist warning every other motorist about potential hazards

I always give anyone coming the other way warning by means of flashing my headlights and waving my arm if I spot a Talivan. It's my way of making our roads safer, after all it slows everyone down for that blackspot

[philthy]

Look forward to meeting you going in the opposite direction KITT , or should that be thumbdown???
Phil

[IainT]

On the way to le mans this year I was amazed by how helpful the French drivers were in this respect.

Heading down to le mans by a scenic route I was flashed by oncoming drivers for about 5km before we got to the radar trap* in a village (about 20km north of lemons). I'd do it myself but my pop-up headlights mean people have gone past by the time the flash happens!

Iain

* still pulled me over to ask what the car was, how fast it went and did I have a radar detector** as they wanted to have a nice slap-up-dinner that night.

** Fortunately not in this instance - a mate lost his along with 750 euros that day.

>> Edited by IainT on Tuesday 13th July 16:46

[zumbruk]

I doubt if most car drivers would know what you were on about. For example, many years ago my Dad showed me a signal to tell people their indicators are on, where you clench and unclench your hand, like a flashing light. Most truckers know immediately what you mean, but I've never known a motorist know.

Another goody I've noticed when trailering the Chim to sprints is that most truckers flash to let you back in when overtaken - many thanks to those who do - whereas car drivers just tailgate so close I can't see them...

Personally, I think the standard of car driving in this country sucks, and is getting steadily worse.