Being Flashed etc
Discussion
Today I enjoyed a nice concentrated swift drive on mostly white signed roads, giving good care to others and ensuring good vision etc etc. But had at least two cars after overtake making discurtious gestures after my return to the left. I have thought about what I was doing and at no time did I cross solid white lines, make rude gestures or cut in. Any ideas or was I just having one of those days?
slowinfastout said:
I have thought about what I was doing..
So that puts you ahead of the happy go lucky crowd. You are onto a winner already.
slowinfastout said:
...was I just having one of those days?
Assuming you did it as well as you believe, then no. They were. Some don't like to be overtaken, for a myriad of reasons. You can't know their reasons, you can only try and manage your reactions. Surprisingly, if you anticipate that some may be displeased, it helps you handle it when they are.
Happy Monkey said:
You obviously woke too many people up
Oh yes, spot on.
Many out there drive without any knowledge of whats going on around them. The first time they see you is when you overtake, and it becomes "what the....".
The more you can manage their surprise (approach speed, position, headlamp flash, contact position, etc etc) to let them know exactly what you are going to do, the less surprised they will be when you then do it, and the less likely they are to react badly.
You will still get the dickheads though.
It's funny, when I lived in Lincolnshire I learned a lot about overtaking as it was necessary all the time. Caravans, tractors, trucks and lots of single-carriageway roads. Now living further south, I can't remember the last time I did it. It must be months, it could even be years.
Edited by mikeg996 on Monday 13th November 18:30
I've had people flash me, call me a wanker and one even threatened my ex and I once. Just ignore them.
A bad situation was when I attempted a perfectly legitimate and legal overtaking manouvre. I pulled out, held station to check I was good to go and then accelerated. Even though I did not break the speed limit (I didn't need to) and did not cut anybody up, the other driver took umbrage and put his foot down, holding me on the other side of the road for longer than he needed to. Very mature and safe...
The worse situation was when I went to overtake on the Kirkstone Pass earlier this year. I pulled out and went to overtake a car doing 25mph in a NSL zone. I waited for the widest, clearest part of road to emerge and pulled out ready for the off. The 'gentleman' in the car in front also took offence and decided to push me into the very high (very solid) embanking, forcing me to brake, then have the car behind, who also chose the opportunity to overtake, desperately try to lose speed to avoid an accident.
The one that gets my blood boiling is the gobby old git who stands in the road and tells you to slow down. I do enjoy stopping, walking up to them and gently reminding them that:
A) I can drive,
B) I'm not a
ing child
C) To mind their own business.
..........aaaaaaand breathe....
A bad situation was when I attempted a perfectly legitimate and legal overtaking manouvre. I pulled out, held station to check I was good to go and then accelerated. Even though I did not break the speed limit (I didn't need to) and did not cut anybody up, the other driver took umbrage and put his foot down, holding me on the other side of the road for longer than he needed to. Very mature and safe...
The worse situation was when I went to overtake on the Kirkstone Pass earlier this year. I pulled out and went to overtake a car doing 25mph in a NSL zone. I waited for the widest, clearest part of road to emerge and pulled out ready for the off. The 'gentleman' in the car in front also took offence and decided to push me into the very high (very solid) embanking, forcing me to brake, then have the car behind, who also chose the opportunity to overtake, desperately try to lose speed to avoid an accident.
The one that gets my blood boiling is the gobby old git who stands in the road and tells you to slow down. I do enjoy stopping, walking up to them and gently reminding them that:
A) I can drive,
B) I'm not a
ing child C) To mind their own business.
..........aaaaaaand breathe....
Many thanks. I think the differential speed may have caught these guys by supprise and hence the light flashing. I wasn't travelling with lights on (good daylight conditions) or gave a flash before overtake (sometimes taken as being agressive). However I will debate a bit longer and review if I should do either of the above in future...
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
slowinfastout said:
Many thanks. I think the differential speed may have caught these guys by supprise and hence the light flashing. I wasn't travelling with lights on (good daylight conditions) or gave a flash before overtake (sometimes taken as being agressive). However I will debate a bit longer and review if I should do either of the above in future...
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
I'm sure you know this, but remember....
If you shephards crook overtake and flash the lamps, you are saying "look at what I'm doing".
If you position a la contact postion, overtake position, etc and headlamp flash you are saying "look at me, I intend to overtake in a moment when we are BOTH ready".
Same headlamp flash. Totally different meaning and reaction.
Edited by Big Fat F'er on Thursday 16th November 12:31
I NEVER flash my headlights before an overtake now - despite it being logical good practice. I find it tends to make the car in front accelerate as hard as they can whilst I'm alongside.
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
Just to post the other side of the this.
I had a near death experience last night. I am not exaggerating, or being hysterical, or underestimating the abilities of the overtaker; I nearly died, along with probably a few others, and as yet I haven't quite worked out why I am still here.
It was about 19:30, dark, and I was on the long drag up to Tottingham from Tebworth. It's a long straight road, but uphill, and there are "steps" as you approach Tottingham, followed by a series of bends as you enter the village. From the direction I was coming you can see for miles, literally. The road was clear and I was making progress. As I approached the "steps" I could see headlights approaching, but I could not have expected what I saw as I crested the first of what are effectively a couple of blind summits; yes, a car was approaching on the other side of the road, but also my side of the road was also filled with another set of headlights as someone was overtaking on a blind summit. Probably no more than 30m in front of me, and squarely in my lane. What happened next is pretty much anyones guess, but somehow three cars passed on a single carriageway, and everything happened in a blink of an eye.
I spent the rest of my 60 mile trip home wondering how many ways that could have ended stickily, but I have no doubt at all that the effects of a head-on would have been fatal. Even if both parties were travelling at legal speeds that would have been a potential 100mph impact, and I would have been raspberry jam. I just wonder of the lunatic doing the overtake in such a stupid place appreciated his mistake quite as much.
I had a near death experience last night. I am not exaggerating, or being hysterical, or underestimating the abilities of the overtaker; I nearly died, along with probably a few others, and as yet I haven't quite worked out why I am still here.
It was about 19:30, dark, and I was on the long drag up to Tottingham from Tebworth. It's a long straight road, but uphill, and there are "steps" as you approach Tottingham, followed by a series of bends as you enter the village. From the direction I was coming you can see for miles, literally. The road was clear and I was making progress. As I approached the "steps" I could see headlights approaching, but I could not have expected what I saw as I crested the first of what are effectively a couple of blind summits; yes, a car was approaching on the other side of the road, but also my side of the road was also filled with another set of headlights as someone was overtaking on a blind summit. Probably no more than 30m in front of me, and squarely in my lane. What happened next is pretty much anyones guess, but somehow three cars passed on a single carriageway, and everything happened in a blink of an eye.
I spent the rest of my 60 mile trip home wondering how many ways that could have ended stickily, but I have no doubt at all that the effects of a head-on would have been fatal. Even if both parties were travelling at legal speeds that would have been a potential 100mph impact, and I would have been raspberry jam. I just wonder of the lunatic doing the overtake in such a stupid place appreciated his mistake quite as much.
Edited by victormeldrew on Thursday 16th November 12:57
Don said:
I NEVER flash my headlights before an overtake now - despite it being logical good practice. I find it tends to make the car in front accelerate as hard as they can whilst I'm alongside.
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
I assume you've got tongue firmly in cheek.
Don said:
I NEVER flash my headlights before an overtake now - despite it being logical good practice. I find it tends to make the car in front accelerate as hard as they can whilst I'm alongside.
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
....And then the citroen that I was halfway alongside this morning (dithering at 35-40 on a NSL road, bit wet)puts his foot down... shouldn't this be attempted murder?? if he had maintained his speed to date, I would have got past him with acres of space. Instead he gets me to the point where I'm almost running out of road
wadgebeast said:
Don said:
I NEVER flash my headlights before an overtake now - despite it being logical good practice. I find it tends to make the car in front accelerate as hard as they can whilst I'm alongside.
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
Far better to sneak up on them and then take them swiftly, smoothly and safely without ever actually waking them up...until its too late!
....And then the citroen that I was halfway alongside this morning (dithering at 35-40 on a NSL road, bit wet)puts his foot down... shouldn't this be attempted murder?? if he had maintained his speed to date, I would have got past him with acres of space. Instead he gets me to the point where I'm almost running out of road
Sorry for my ignorance on this chaps, but is it suggested to be good practive to flash your lights before an overtake?
I can undestand the logic and think its a good idea but in this country it surely will be seen as 'aggressive' and provoke the overtakee into doing something silly like speed up?
I tried flashing my lights once on the motorway at the fella in the car that was dawdling in the fast lane(coming from a country where this is common practice I thought it ok to do). I only flashed him because I was behind him for a while, there was plenty room for him to move into the middle lane, so I thought he was just unaware I was behind him.
I flashed in 'non-agressive' way (I was driving a Clio!). It was just a quick two flashes to get his attention. What does the idiot do? Brake right down to 40mph and almost bring the motorway to a standstill.
I can undestand the logic and think its a good idea but in this country it surely will be seen as 'aggressive' and provoke the overtakee into doing something silly like speed up?
I tried flashing my lights once on the motorway at the fella in the car that was dawdling in the fast lane(coming from a country where this is common practice I thought it ok to do). I only flashed him because I was behind him for a while, there was plenty room for him to move into the middle lane, so I thought he was just unaware I was behind him.
I flashed in 'non-agressive' way (I was driving a Clio!). It was just a quick two flashes to get his attention. What does the idiot do? Brake right down to 40mph and almost bring the motorway to a standstill.
Dino D said:
I can undestand the logic and think its a good idea but in this country it surely will be seen as 'aggressive' and provoke the overtakee into doing something silly like speed up?
Often as not, yes.
When I overtake I definitely do not flash, and I keep my right foot in the carpet until I KNOW I'm clear of the lead car and can pull in safely. I leave my indicator on the whole time, and if it's a wide road, or dull, or both I sometimes put headlights on.
Did that on the way to Brackley yesterday, was 5/6 cars back behind a slow milk-truck (not float). Clear straight stretch, did anyone else overtake? Nah, I was the only one. The rest were fast asleep happy doing 20-40 along an NSL where 40-80 was the safe range. Not sure what speed I hit by the time I passed the tanker, but needed to as there was only about 100yds left before the 'pull in' signs.
Back to the OP - it IS getting more common now - idiots are starting to view overtaking as 'dangerous' (because you're driving faster than them, of course!
), so will chastise you if you do it.victormeldrew said:
Just to post the other side of the this.
I had a near death experience last night. I am not exaggerating, or being hysterical, or underestimating the abilities of the overtaker; I nearly died, along with probably a few others, and as yet I haven't quite worked out why I am still here.
It was about 19:30, dark, and I was on the long drag up to Tottingham from Tebworth. It's a long straight road, but uphill, and there are "steps" as you approach Tottingham, followed by a series of bends as you enter the village. From the direction I was coming you can see for miles, literally. The road was clear and I was making progress. As I approached the "steps" I could see headlights approaching, but I could not have expected what I saw as I crested the first of what are effectively a couple of blind summits; yes, a car was approaching on the other side of the road, but also my side of the road was also filled with another set of headlights as someone was overtaking on a blind summit. Probably no more than 30m in front of me, and squarely in my lane. What happened next is pretty much anyones guess, but somehow three cars passed on a single carriageway, and everything happened in a blink of an eye.
I spent the rest of my 60 mile trip home wondering how many ways that could have ended stickily, but I have no doubt at all that the effects of a head-on would have been fatal. Even if both parties were travelling at legal speeds that would have been a potential 100mph impact, and I would have been raspberry jam. I just wonder of the lunatic doing the overtake in such a stupid place appreciated his mistake quite as much.
I had a near death experience last night. I am not exaggerating, or being hysterical, or underestimating the abilities of the overtaker; I nearly died, along with probably a few others, and as yet I haven't quite worked out why I am still here.
It was about 19:30, dark, and I was on the long drag up to Tottingham from Tebworth. It's a long straight road, but uphill, and there are "steps" as you approach Tottingham, followed by a series of bends as you enter the village. From the direction I was coming you can see for miles, literally. The road was clear and I was making progress. As I approached the "steps" I could see headlights approaching, but I could not have expected what I saw as I crested the first of what are effectively a couple of blind summits; yes, a car was approaching on the other side of the road, but also my side of the road was also filled with another set of headlights as someone was overtaking on a blind summit. Probably no more than 30m in front of me, and squarely in my lane. What happened next is pretty much anyones guess, but somehow three cars passed on a single carriageway, and everything happened in a blink of an eye.
I spent the rest of my 60 mile trip home wondering how many ways that could have ended stickily, but I have no doubt at all that the effects of a head-on would have been fatal. Even if both parties were travelling at legal speeds that would have been a potential 100mph impact, and I would have been raspberry jam. I just wonder of the lunatic doing the overtake in such a stupid place appreciated his mistake quite as much.
Edited by victormeldrew on Thursday 16th November 12:57
Probably thought that they were really good & their judgement is spot on, they didn't crash after all.
victormeldrew said:
I just wonder of the lunatic doing the overtake in such a stupid place appreciated his mistake quite as much.
VM - nope, he/she probably didn't.
Overtaking is one of the most dangerous manoeuvres you can do, partly 'cos it is one of the few where you deliberately and intentionally enter the danger zone. Couple that with the standard of driving of some, and it is amazing that some get through the day.
Hope you are okay and not too shook up.
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