Why does nobody do this for me?.
Discussion
Personally, I've experienced both usages of the light-flash (assertive "I'm coming through" and passive "go ahead of me"
and almost been caught out a couple of times when misinterpreting! So I guess it depends on the individual situation with regards to how I'd proceed. And I can't flash my lights easily as a thank-you gesture as the switch is situated on the left of the small control area on the dashboard. This would mean taking one hand off the sterring wheel. Also, my high-beams are operated by a button on the floor, so I sometimes can't flash them either, like when performing a gear change, etc. I also only use my high-beams when it's very dark and there's no streetlighting, but they're unlikely to blind anyone as they're not quite as powerful as moden ones.
and almost been caught out a couple of times when misinterpreting! So I guess it depends on the individual situation with regards to how I'd proceed. And I can't flash my lights easily as a thank-you gesture as the switch is situated on the left of the small control area on the dashboard. This would mean taking one hand off the sterring wheel. Also, my high-beams are operated by a button on the floor, so I sometimes can't flash them either, like when performing a gear change, etc. I also only use my high-beams when it's very dark and there's no streetlighting, but they're unlikely to blind anyone as they're not quite as powerful as moden ones.Mad_Morris said:
I can't flash my lights easily as a thank-you gesture as the switch is situated on the left of the small control area on the dashboard.
Well, yes, I can see that switch would make it difficult to flash the lights. You'd have a nice dry windscreen though
Practice makes perfect... I found the Moggy controls to be as good an approximation to the "at-one-with-the-machine" state as I've ever found in a car (bikes are in a different league
) - including a quick flick of the left hand from the wheel to the headlight switch and back. Clutchless changes are nearly as easy as on a bike too... Mad_Morris said:
Also, my high-beams are operated by a button on the floor, so I sometimes can't flash them either, like when performing a gear change, etc.
...a disadvantage shared by the majority of modern cars, with their half-arsed conversion from the higher-volume LHD variant that results in the indicator/flasher stalk being on the wrong side of the steering column.
In practice I very rarely find a need to flash the headlights that conflicts with a need to use my hand or foot (depending on car) for some other control, especially in the usual case of a courtesy flash since it's very much optional and non-urgent. It's more likely to be a problem in the case of the need to dip the headlights, but fortunately it is rare that an oncoming car does not give rise to a visible glow before it actually comes into sight, so it's easy to plan around it. (Though this can give rise to the problem that they think you haven't dipped because they haven't actually seen you do it, so they keep their main beams on in revenge
) Mad_Morris said:
I also only use my high-beams when it's very dark and there's no streetlighting, but they're unlikely to blind anyone as they're not quite as powerful as moden ones.
I use mains wherever they enable me to see better without dazzling anyone, even if I'm not going fast enough to need the distance of vision they provide. Don't see any reason to do otherwise... Maybe you do do the same, but your post reads as if you only use mains when you have to.
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