Why flash when someone overtakes you?

[flyingjase]

Can anyone explain to me why people flash when you’ve overtaken them?

I consider myself a reasonable driver and have completed several road driving courses, including a 2 day Ride Drive course run by an existing Police driver. I use the techniques taught on these courses, yet several times when I've overtaken someone, they’ve found it necessary to flash their lights. Any reason for this?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

flyingjase said:

Can anyone explain to me why people flash when you’ve overtaken them? I consider myself a reasonable driver and have completed several road driving courses, including a 2 day Ride Drive course run by an existing Police driver. I use the techniques taught on these courses, yet several times when I've overtaken someone, they’ve found it necessary to flash their lights. Any reason for this?

If it's several times you must be doing summat wrong!

[MrsMiggins]

Some people do it to advise you that you have passed them and can move back over. Maybe they're just over-enthusiastic.

Or maybe your car's on fire?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

Not driving naked are you?

and they're merely flashing back?

[flyingjase]

2 Smokin Barrels said:

[If it's several times you must be doing summat wrong!

Me do something wrong? Never!!!

Dico said:

Or the other reason, as already stated is you have a fault on your vehicle/your hogging the middle lane/YOUR FOG LIGHTS ARE ON- pet hate of mine.

Definitely not – hate that myself

cheeky said:

They do it to signal their jealousy. That should make you feel good!

Absolutely – I’ll take it as a complement from now on and just wave as 7db says

[156er]

Oi that was me in that white astrvan that you flashed you bell end and I was running late to relieve some old dear of £160 for unblocking their toilet. However I maintain to this day that stamping on the anchors and giving me a load of abuse was somewhat out of order.

Not your finest hour.

Regards

Charlie

[156er]

(PS for the record before someone reports me for abuse I'm quickly typing this as "Flying Jase" pops to the fridge to get us another gin!!!!) He forgot I had a profile on here...

But the old boy does have a point!!!!!!!!!!!!

(PS my own personal pet hate HAS to be idiots who try to apex a roundabout whilst you're going for the "classic" inside line straight on stuff manoevre at a roundabout!!)

Discuss...

[purpleheadedcerb]

They flash their little lights because they are trying to say, "Hey, I'm driving safely and at the right speed and therefore you aren't."

My big pet hate is the 'gap closers'. You are overtaking maybe 4 cars fairly equally spaced and as soon as they see you overtaking, they all bunch up. Obviously this causes problems if you need to move back in to avoid a head on. Still, I always make room and then get the inevitable flashing and 'psycho' finger twirling at temple gestures from the car behind. I find returning a patting my hand to mouth 'yawn' gesture winds them up suitably!

[markmullen]

flyingjase said:

Can anyone explain to me why people flash when you’ve overtaken them?

Because they're s

[deeps]

They consider you to be a queue jumper, how dare you overtake them when they're already doing the speed limit. Speed kills, they know that, it's been on the telly.
That flash is telling you to slow down before you kill yourself.

What about the ones that actually hit the brakes as they see you overtaking in their mirror, makes me laugh.

It has to be said though, with all the nasty salty slimey grit on the roads at the mo, it does tend to flick over the car that you're over taking! Some flash for that.

[davidra]

Surely there's no need to flash cars to tell them it's safe to move over? Cars have good rear visibility.

I will also flash vans to tell them they've cleared, in busy conditions and have been thanked with the indicators on most occasions.

I assume that the people who flash you from behind or oncoming when overtaking are doing so to reprimand you for the "dangerous" manoeuvre. People assume that because their car takes 15 seconds to go 50-70 yours does too...

[thinfourth]

I always suspected it was because you just woke them up

[purpleheadedcerb]

LA. Yes it is a courtesy habit of truckers and they do the same to me if I'm towing but when its a car that's doing the flashing to another car and you can see that they physically look like they are having a cardiac arrest, its nothing to do with courtesy.

Maybe they are flashing me to say 'look, I'm here!' which is pointless as I already know that having just passed them. Complete F'wits.

Scott

[Balmoral Green]

thinfourth said:

I always suspected it was because you just woke them up

There is a hell of a lot in that, they weren't paying attention and they're genuinely startled when you pass them. This also has the effect of making them think you are travelling at warp 9 too.