Beepers and flashers
Author
Discussion

Pothole

Original Poster:

34,367 posts

312 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
What do car drivers hope to achieve by this behaviour as a reaction to perfectly legal, safe (as much as it can be) filtering? Anybody know? Southbound M6 particularly noisy and intermittently well-lit this morning!

markymarkthree

3,686 posts

201 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
I have always put it down to a jealousy thing. biggrin

GriffoDP

298 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
I think deciphering the meaning of horns and lights is more difficult than deciphering dog barks into English.

But being on a bike I'll say the premise and trigger is shock and then some emotion.

Pothole

Original Poster:

34,367 posts

312 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
GriffoDP said:
I think deciphering the meaning of horns and lights is more difficult than deciphering dog barks into English.

But being on a bike I'll say the premise and trigger is shock and then some emotion.
Agreed and yeah, probably.

FazerBoy

1,008 posts

180 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
I think if you’re getting it frequently then you have to look at whether you might be doing something to provoke it.

I have been riding for over thirty-five years and filter a great deal, on both motorways and in town, and I can honestly say that I can’t recall ever being flashed or beeped while filtering.

This is not intended to criticise or be argumentative - just to get you to consider what you might be doing that would cause this.

Have you got your high beams on for example? Some motorcyclists do this as they feel it makes them more visible and therefore safer, but it does tend to wind up car drivers who get a blast of light via their mirrors. Are you lit up like a Christmas tree with all those auxiliary lights? Have you got a truly obnoxious exhaust and are booming past while revving to warn drivers when there is no need to do so?

There might be the odd, rare driver annoyed simply because they are envious but it would not happen frequently for no good reason.

Pothole

Original Poster:

34,367 posts

312 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
FazerBoy said:
I think if you’re getting it frequently then you have to look at whether you might be doing something to provoke it.

I have been riding for over thirty-five years and filter a great deal, on both motorways and in town, and I can honestly say that I can’t recall ever being flashed or beeped while filtering.

This is not intended to criticise or be argumentative - just to get you to consider what you might be doing that would cause this.

Have you got your high beams on for example? Some motorcyclists do this as they feel it makes them more visible and therefore safer, but it does tend to wind up car drivers who get a blast of light via their mirrors. Are you lit up like a Christmas tree with all those auxiliary lights? Have you got a truly obnoxious exhaust and are booming past while revving to warn drivers when there is no need to do so?

There might be the odd, rare driver annoyed simply because they are envious but it would not happen frequently for no good reason.
Dipped beam, Standard lights and pipe.

The particular culprit this morning, in his 10 year old 1 series hatch, first came to my attention (as being potentially awkward) as I slid past him in L2 as he was in L3. Already closer than the recommended gap to the van in front, he decided that a good reaction to a more vulnerable road user making progress would be to close the gap to approximately one car length, presumably to prevent me from slotting in in front of him. Motorway traffic being what it is L2 began to move quicker than L3 and I pulled into L3 ahead of the van. Van driver was unfussed. Mr 1 series was flashing and beeping as if he'd just been told he'd won the lottery. As I pulled off onto the Aston Expressway slip, he came past again, beeping his horn and waving his arms about...I'm sure he appreciated my cheery wave!


Fair points above, but refer to my initial question. What do you think they hope to achieve?

FazerBoy

1,008 posts

180 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Dipped beam, Standard lights and pipe.

The particular culprit this morning, in his 10 year old 1 series hatch, first came to my attention (as being potentially awkward) as I slid past him in L2 as he was in L3. Already closer than the recommended gap to the van in front, he decided that a good reaction to a more vulnerable road user making progress would be to close the gap to approximately one car length, presumably to prevent me from slotting in in front of him. Motorway traffic being what it is L2 began to move quicker than L3 and I pulled into L3 ahead of the van. Van driver was unfussed. Mr 1 series was flashing and beeping as if he'd just been told he'd won the lottery. As I pulled off onto the Aston Expressway slip, he came past again, beeping his horn and waving his arms about...I'm sure he appreciated my cheery wave!


Fair points above, but refer to my initial question. What do you think they hope to achieve?
Yeah, I guess there are always a few idiots about and you happened to come across a couple! laugh

GriffoDP

298 posts

167 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Dipped beam, Standard lights and pipe.

...

Fair points above, but refer to my initial question. What do you think they hope to achieve?
Tbh I think they might be worried that you're riding a motorcycle whilst smoking a pipe! Although thinking about it, then those parps would mean "damn you look cool!" biggrin

I might start smoking a pipe just to make this a reality! tongue out

Iminquarantine

2,168 posts

74 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
FazerBoy said:
I think if you’re getting it frequently then you have to look at whether you might be doing something to provoke it.

I have been riding for over thirty-five years and filter a great deal, on both motorways and in town, and I can honestly say that I can’t recall ever being flashed or beeped while filtering.
Agree with this. But also think that sometimes it just happens. Tends to happen to me more in the car.... e.g. safe, legal, relaxed overtake without even exceeding the speed limit...... headlight flash. What does it all mean?

KTMsm

28,982 posts

293 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
It's the British queuing thing.

I object if a car dives in front of me but I'm well aware that a bike will soon be off, so have no issue - obviously others feel differently ! laugh


Pothole

Original Poster:

34,367 posts

312 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
GriffoDP said:
Pothole said:
Dipped beam, Standard lights and pipe.

...

Fair points above, but refer to my initial question. What do you think they hope to achieve?
Tbh I think they might be worried that you're riding a motorcycle whilst smoking a pipe! Although thinking about it, then those parps would mean "damn you look cool!" biggrin

I might start smoking a pipe just to make this a reality! tongue out
Maybe it was the deerstalker which didn't quite match my tweeds... Why should Sikhs have all the helmetless fun?

marky911

4,434 posts

249 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
FazerBoy said:
Have you got your high beams on for example? Some motorcyclists do this as they feel it makes them more visible and therefore safer, but it does tend to wind up car drivers who get a blast of light via their mirrors. Are you lit up like a Christmas tree with all those auxiliary lights? Have you got a truly obnoxious exhaust and are booming past while revving to warn drivers when there is no need to do so?

There might be the odd, rare driver annoyed simply because they are envious but it would not happen frequently for no good reason.
Interesting to read this. I’m not a regular in here but I’m thinking of ending my 7 year biking hiatus.

The two recent phenomenons that really wind me up when I’m in the car are bikers with their main beam on during the day and those BMWs with mega bright LED spots at riders knee level.
Bike headlights are already bright as they’re right inline with a car drivers eye level. I got blinded by some tit the other day as he came towards me while I waited to pull out at a T junction.
The young’un at work passed his bike test and came riding in with his main beam on. I told him it was stupid and he’d be dazzling drivers but he said his instructers told him to do it to be seen.
Surely that’s not right!? When I passed in 2000 we got told to use dipped beam if we liked but not main. That’s just selfish, ttty behaviour on behalf of the biker.

Oh and those LED spots on the BMWs are far too bright. It seems manufacturers can do what they want with lighting on new stuff these days.

Back on topic, it does sound like the OP is causing some sort of upset. At the same time I know there are a lot of slow drivers who want everyone to drive as slow as them.
Living semi-rurally on some good biker roads I’d often pass dawdling car drivers doing 40mph in a 60 zone and they get on their main beams etc. Just self-righteous twisty gits.
If you want to do 40 that’s ok but don’t whinge about folk doing the limit and making a perfectly safe, legal pass. rolleyes

Biker's Nemesis

41,450 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
Hey Marky, I gave my MT 10 a bit of a rev when I passed your house last year.

marky911

4,434 posts

249 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
Hi John. Excellent. hehe

Don’t do it this summer. I’ve moved. biggrin
Currently renting in Pont whilst waiting to move to Ulgham.

Fancying a 90’s/noughties bike for fun and commuting. It’s been 7 years since I sold the R1. Don’t want anything mint as I’ll just start being a fanny with it. wink

Hope you’re well in these crazy times anyway. thumbup

Biker's Nemesis

41,450 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
marky911 said:
Hi John. Excellent. hehe

Don’t do it this summer. I’ve moved. biggrin
Currently renting in Pont whilst waiting to move to Ulgham.

Fancying a 90’s/noughties bike for fun and commuting. It’s been 7 years since I sold the R1. Don’t want anything mint as I’ll just start being a fanny with it. wink

Hope you’re well in these crazy times anyway. thumbup
Hi Mark.

I'm doing fine, be good to see you back on a bike especially if its an R1.

Oh, you'll be pleased to know I pass though Ulgham every day on my way to work.

marky911

4,434 posts

249 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
God help me. laugh

Biker's Nemesis

41,450 posts

238 months

Thursday 28th January 2021
quotequote all
marky911 said:
God help me. laugh
Yeah, rofl you couldn't make it up. Pegswood, Longhirst, Ulgham then Felton. I only usually take the bike in during summer and that's on a Monday for burger night at the Vale café after work.

anonymous-user

84 months

Friday 29th January 2021
quotequote all
As a predominantly car driver -with a full bike licence, used to ride then scared myself silly once too often - my take on this would be as follows:

Those that do this are bell ends, nothing more, nothing less. You've called into question their manhood by daring to pass them, they are probably frothing at the mouth and screaming whilst recording you on their dash cam. Then, when they get to their destination, all stressed and with blood pressure approaching dangerous levels, they will upload the footage to their youtube channel, which takes up so little bandwidth they might as well not bother, in the hope that their video describing how dangerous your progress is and how they are going to pull you up and show you the error of your ways, will make them an overnight sensation.

Best to just ignore them, at some point they will have an aneurysm whilst behind the wheel.

For me personally, i'm more interested in what you might be riding and wistfully thinking "do you know what, i quite fancy another bike" before coming back down to reality hehe

thatdude

2,660 posts

157 months

Friday 29th January 2021
quotequote all
FazerBoy said:
I think if you’re getting it frequently then you have to look at whether you might be doing something to provoke it.

I have been riding for over thirty-five years and filter a great deal, on both motorways and in town, and I can honestly say that I can’t recall ever being flashed or beeped while filtering.

This is not intended to criticise or be argumentative - just to get you to consider what you might be doing that would cause this.

Have you got your high beams on for example? Some motorcyclists do this as they feel it makes them more visible and therefore safer, but it does tend to wind up car drivers who get a blast of light via their mirrors. Are you lit up like a Christmas tree with all those auxiliary lights? Have you got a truly obnoxious exhaust and are booming past while revving to warn drivers when there is no need to do so?

There might be the odd, rare driver annoyed simply because they are envious but it would not happen frequently for no good reason.
I'm with you here. I've spent 14 years riding bikes, filtering frequently (london riding). Never been beeped at or flashed with headlights. Some guys I see filter quite fast, take risks and they get sounded at / flashed at and probably rightly so - it can startle.

Also, your line about riding with high beams on; this really fks me off. It doesnt make one more visible; the high beams dazzle and you cant work out if the bike is close or far away, plus it completly blocks out anything else so you cant effectively use your mirrors.

I've had people behind me with their high beams in while Ive been filtering, I've had to move aside as I cant tell if they are tailgating me or whatever. Really selfish.

Pothole

Original Poster:

34,367 posts

312 months

Friday 29th January 2021
quotequote all
slopes said:
As a predominantly car driver -with a full bike licence, used to ride then scared myself silly once too often - my take on this would be as follows:

Those that do this are bell ends, nothing more, nothing less. You've called into question their manhood by daring to pass them, they are probably frothing at the mouth and screaming whilst recording you on their dash cam. Then, when they get to their destination, all stressed and with blood pressure approaching dangerous levels, they will upload the footage to their youtube channel, which takes up so little bandwidth they might as well not bother, in the hope that their video describing how dangerous your progress is and how they are going to pull you up and show you the error of your ways, will make them an overnight sensation.

Best to just ignore them, at some point they will have an aneurysm whilst behind the wheel.

For me personally, i'm more interested in what you might be riding and wistfully thinking "do you know what, i quite fancy another bike" before coming back down to reality hehe
I'm looking forward to seeing myself on youtube!! Get a V7, they're great fun!