**** - I was expertly overtaken!

[Pickled Piper]

Pottering on some narrow back roads in a rental Punto last week. A driver in a Mini convertible (who obviously new the road) approached from the rear. Flashed his lights (I'd already seen him) to signal his intent and to make sure I was aware of his prescence. I squeezed slightly more to the nearside and slowed, he pulled out smartly as the road widened, over took and waved his thanks.

Well done that man. It was a pleasure to be overtaken by you and makes a change from numpty drivers.

pp

[Coyoteboy]

If someone flashed at me for no apparent reason from behind I'd be a little disconcerted to be honest. I don't need someone to flash me to warn me of their presence, all they need to do is indicate and I'll see it.

[TTwiggy]

I think your reaction was wrong - clearly your manhood was under threat; you should have floored it to prevent the mini from getting past (ideally keeping him in the danger zone of the wrong side of the road for as long as possible)

Then the driver of the mini could post on here, and his driving, rather than yours, would be criticised...

[Eliminator]

TTwiggy said:

I think your reaction was wrong - clearly your manhood was under threat; you should have floored it to prevent the mini from getting past (ideally keeping him in the danger zone of the wrong side of the road for as long as possible)

Then the driver of the mini could post on here, and his driving, rather than yours, would be criticised...

Or, in English, well done both of you!

[Pickled Piper]

Coyoteboy said:

If someone flashed at me for no apparent reason from behind I'd be a little disconcerted to be honest. I don't need someone to flash me to warn me of their presence, all they need to do is indicate and I'll see it.

It was a short single flash as he took up position. I'd already seen him but he didn't know that. I've done the same myself. In the event that I hadn't already seen him, I would have found the flash less disconcerting then suddenly seeing him along side me.

Any Trafpol or advanced drivers care to comment on the single flash to warn of your prescence when overtaking?

pp

[Don]

Pickled Piper said:

Any Trafpol or advanced drivers care to comment on the single flash to warn of your prescence when overtaking?
pp

A flash means "I AM HERE". That's all. No other meaning.

Of course we all interpret various extra meanings...that's OK.

Nice to see a couple of competent drivers co-operating to make life better.

Knights of the road, gentlemen, Knights of the road.

[The Griffalo]

Pickled Piper said:

Coyoteboy said:

If someone flashed at me for no apparent reason from behind I'd be a little disconcerted to be honest. I don't need someone to flash me to warn me of their presence, all they need to do is indicate and I'll see it.

It was a short single flash as he took up position. I'd already seen him but he didn't know that. I've done the same myself. In the event that I hadn't already seen him, I would have found the flash less disconcerting then suddenly seeing him along side me.

Any Trafpol or advanced drivers care to comment on the single flash to warn of your prescence when overtaking?

pp

A single flash is taught to alert a slower driver that you're about to overtake when you think they are unaware of your presence.

[TTwiggy]

Eliminator said:

TTwiggy said:

I think your reaction was wrong - clearly your manhood was under threat; you should have floored it to prevent the mini from getting past (ideally keeping him in the danger zone of the wrong side of the road for as long as possible)

Then the driver of the mini could post on here, and his driving, rather than yours, would be criticised...

Or, in English, well done both of you!

it's called irony and wit sir...

[Coyoteboy]

The problem is that I, and many others, interpret a flash from someone behind to mean "youre in the way". I know its meant to mean "im here" but I've had abuse and been tailed for flashing someone before now in a similar situation. Hmmm a quandry.

[nutcase]

So, that must mean that the numpties I overtake (expertly, but of course) are merely showing their appreciation when they give 3 or 4 flashes after i'm safely past then...?!

Seriously though- I'd say it was normally about a 1 in 4 chance nowadays that i'm flashed abusively for a perfectly legal overtaking manoeuvre...it's become that much of an issue to most people. s

[rsv gone!]

The Griffalo said:

Pickled Piper said:

Coyoteboy said:

If someone flashed at me for no apparent reason from behind I'd be a little disconcerted to be honest. I don't need someone to flash me to warn me of their presence, all they need to do is indicate and I'll see it.

It was a short single flash as he took up position. I'd already seen him but he didn't know that. I've done the same myself. In the event that I hadn't already seen him, I would have found the flash less disconcerting then suddenly seeing him along side me.

Any Trafpol or advanced drivers care to comment on the single flash to warn of your prescence when overtaking?

pp

A single flash is taught to alert a slower driver that you're about to overtake when you think they are unaware of your presence.

Likewise a quite toot of the horn, whilst on the bike and preparing to overtake. It usually gets a flash of 'thanks'(?) in return, though!

[PeteG]

Doesn't matter what you do, there's always going to be someone who doesn't like being overtaken by a "maniac". I'm prepared to use it, if it wakes one up from their comfort zone for long enough to me to pass, without them drifting sideways into me.
You've just got to remember a few things - the NSL is 43mph, overtaking is queue jumping... and anyone you're quicker than will think you are a maniacal onanist...

[nutcase]

PeteG said:

You've just got to remember a few things - the NSL is 43mph, overtaking is queue jumping... and anyone you're quicker than will think you are a maniacal onanist...

Yeah- and remember, these are the same people who continue on at 43mph into 30 limits and start catching me up. I see it almost every day. It's always a nice touch as well if they've got a token 'slow down' sticker in the rear window too...

[ec1 eex]

Coyoteboy said:

The problem is that I, and many others, interpret a flash from someone behind to mean "youre in the way". I know its meant to mean "im here" but I've had abuse and been tailed for flashing someone before now in a similar situation. Hmmm a quandry.

A bit like hazard lights are a warning about something such as "braking hard" rather than "just picking up my dry cleaning"

[rich 36]

TTwiggy said:

I think your reaction was wrong - clearly your manhood was under threat; you should have floored it to prevent the mini from getting past (ideally keeping him in the danger zone of the wrong side of the road for as long as possible)

Then the driver of the mini could post on here, and his driving, rather than yours, would be criticized...

quite so TT
theres quite enough namby-pamby liberalness around as it is


the correct and accepted behavior thus....

spot hopelessly romantic, cheery stuck-in-the-Fifties type individual fast approaching in RVM

adjust your speed down a notch to roughly half the indicated road speed locally,

infringe ever-so-slightly on his field of view,

fiddle with wig, or complete Soduku puzzle in your hand held device,




dont Kow-tow
or RU Choices will release yet another Dr Seuss type video

[mph999]

Coyoteboy said:

If someone flashed at me for no apparent reason from behind I'd be a little disconcerted to be honest. I don't need someone to flash me to warn me of their presence, all they need to do is indicate and I'll see it.

Fair play to you (I'm not taking the piss), but many people won't have seen the overtaking car approaching, so hence the requirement of an advanced warning. Unfortunately, the driver behind probably can't tell if you've seen him or not.

I got 4 overtakes in last Sat, all were preceded by 1. couple of secs of headlights, 2. brief pause to look for any adverse reaction.

I'll guess that at least one of those drivers were unaware of my presencce at first, of course, I can't tell which.

Martin

[Coyoteboy]

Im not sure, I really do find flashing lights behind me somewhat "aggressive". I know I shouldn't. I think I'd rather take my chances that someone is going to drive as they have been for the past 1/4 mile rather than flash them and then see them accelerate just as I want to go past. Or have someone just flick by rather than flash at me and make me wonder what I've done wrong.

I can see why you're doing it. Maybe I'll try it and see how many mouthfuls of abuse I get and make a choice then, cant really comment when ive not given it a decent try.

[ironictwist]

Coyoteboy said:

Im not sure, I really do find flashing lights behind me somewhat "aggressive". I know I shouldn't. I think I'd rather take my chances that someone is going to drive as they have been for the past 1/4 mile rather than flash them and then see them accelerate just as I want to go past. Or have someone just flick by rather than flash at me and make me wonder what I've done wrong.

I can see why you're doing it. Maybe I'll try it and see how many mouthfuls of abuse I get and make a choice then, cant really comment when ive not given it a decent try.

Always thought the same...Never tried it thus far. Will try it tomorrow to and from work, see how it goes. Doesnt help i drive a BMW though :/

Edited by ironictwist on Wednesday 12th September 22:30

[alphadog]

I had a helpful driver in a 4WD the other week. Both behind a 50mph driver in an obscure far east small car. We approached the safe overtaking stretch where there was a scam van (quite regular on this bit). 4WD maintained a decent distance allowing me to overtake him and slot in within the limit.

Didn't overtake the 50mph driver on the bit further down the road where the High Peak trail crosses the road and he turned off soon after.

Asked myself why the scam van is never deployed there as it's quite possible to drive at very fast speeds with additional hazards caused by walkers, horses and cycles regularly crossing the road.

[stara]

i think the 'flashing' mini must have been piloted by a european visitor to these shores, as only in the UK is overtaking on a single carriageway considered to be akin to an act of war.

Edited by stara on Thursday 13th September 19:24