Why does nobody do this for me?.

[slowly slowly]

With the M6 being closed in various places during the night I have got used to diverting down(and up) the A449, A5, A38,A444.
If I am driving along doing 40 or 50 mph and a car catches up to me, when he hangs on my back corner and it's safe to do so I will put main beam on so that he can see hell of alot further than he could if I did'nt, then when he gets his nose just past me I flick them back down to dipped, do I get a thankyou flash?, no.
Do people do the same for me when I want to pass them?, no.

Will I keep doing it?, yes.

Surely an advanced motorist must pass me one day.

[Major Bloodnok]

You wouldn't get a flash from me. I'd wave, but I doubt you'd see it in the dark. I don't flash my lights at the best of times (even for the "official" reason, since the "wrong" reason is so prevalent that I would expect to be misunderstood). I do find it odd that so many people think that a suitable way of thanking someone for giving way is to temporarily blind them...

No, personally, I don't expect to receive visible thanks when it's dark. I do expect to see some acknowledgement in the light, though. And, to be fair, that's quite common here in Manchester.

[7db]

You'd get a wave from me too, hopefully you'd see my hand outlined against my headlight beam.

[EmmaP]

Advanced drivers aren't thank-you-flashers. I keep my hands on the steering wheel too during manoeuvres. I do raise my hand swiftly to acknowledge someone if they have been particularly considerate. A nod usually does the trick, but that would be a bit pointless when overtaking.

Me thinks that my humour has been overlooked

Edited by EmmaP on Wednesday 27th September 23:54

[Fat Audi 80]

You would get a leftrightleft on the indicator or a toot of the horn from me. There are far too many ignorant selfish morons on the road not to acknowledge and reward good and helpful driving IMO....

[Pigeon]

slowly slowly said:

If I am driving along doing 40 or 50 mph and a car catches up to me, when he hangs on my back corner and it's safe to do so I will put main beam on so that he can see hell of alot further than he could if I did'nt, then when he gets his nose just past me I flick them back down to dipped

Why would you not have your main beam on in the first place? I only use dips where mains would dazzle someone or in streetlit areas.

Based on your description it looks like you'd probably hold me up I'd catch you up, see you were on dips, note that since I have no idea how straight the road is in front of you I have no chance of overtaking, and then follow a few seconds behind, probably significantly further behind than I would at the same speed in daylight. I wouldn't be moving up to your back corner unless I knew the road and knew we were about to hit a stretch where I might be able to do something. So on a road I didn't know I'd never be close enough to trigger you into using mains and I'd miss all the possible stretches

slowly slowly said:

Will I keep doing it?, yes.

Thank you (but I'd prefer if you had your mains on to begin with )

[jamesson]

I'd probably put on my hazard warning lights for a couple of flashes if it were dark. Daytime courtesy is met with a wave.

[gridgway]

I did a naughty today...flashed my lights to break a deadlock of two cars facing each other where the road was only wide enough for 1 car. The other car came through and gave me a nice friendly flash back! As it went by, I realised it was a trafpol! Do 2 wrongs make a right?
Graham

[cooky]

Fat Audi 80 said:

You would get a leftrightleft on the indicator or a toot of the horn from me. There are far too many ignorant selfish morons on the road not to acknowledge and reward good and helpful driving IMO....

not relevent...only things that pass the Cerb have blue flashing lights....can not compute.
I may never make an 'advanced' driver but i know how to be polite.
well said mate.

[beyond rational]

There are so many cases on here where people have misread flashes for aggression, that I would never consider doing it

[TripleS]

gridgway said:

I did a naughty today...flashed my lights to break a deadlock of two cars facing each other where the road was only wide enough for 1 car. The other car came through and gave me a nice friendly flash back! As it went by, I realised it was a trafpol! Do 2 wrongs make a right?
Graham

Not normally, but in your case I don't think there were any wrongs, and even Mr TrafPol was following what now seems to be a well established and understood form of communication.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

Edited by TripleS on Saturday 30th September 15:02

[Fat Audi 80]

TripleS said:

gridgway said:

I did a naughty today...flashed my lights to break a deadlock of two cars facing each other where the road was only wide enough for 1 car. The other car came through and gave me a nice friendly flash back! As it went by, I realised it was a trafpol! Do 2 wrongs make a right?
Graham

Not normally, but in your case I don't think there were any wrongs, and even Mr TrafPol was following was now seems to be a well established and understood form of communication.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

During my advanced driving lessons I asked my instructor if he thought it was acceptable to "flash" people out on the motorway etc. He said if you are happy to do it them fine. Its up to you.

[Fat Audi 80]

beyond rational said:

There are so many cases on here where people have misread flashes for aggression, that I would never consider doing it

Like I say its up to you. But IMO at the very least a hand in front of the rear view mirror is the least you can do if someone is "actively" helping you.

I know what you mean about lights though, a mis timed flash can be aggressive...

Cheers,

Steve

[Major Bloodnok]

Fat Audi 80 said:

During my advanced driving lessons I asked my instructor if he thought it was acceptable to "flash" people out on the motorway etc. He said if you are happy to do it them fine. Its up to you.

Have you asked the same question of an examiner?

[EmmaP]

I flashed someone once to warn them of my approach (as I feared they had poor judgement of speed) as they were about to perform a dangerous manoeuvre. Silly sod took it as "Go ahead, drive into/across my line of travel."

[BOF]

I had this yesterday doing an Observed drive...my Associate showed good restraint - let someone through a pinch point..by flashing her lights!

On the debrief,I gave her a tick in the box for restraint, then asked her how many of the cars, waiting offside and nearside, could have misunderstood her signal?

My advice to her was...Correct to help the flow of traffic...sit back...the MOST you do is nod your head and maybe point a finger at them when you have eye contact...check Bob and Tom before you move off.

Gave her a low tick on 'System'!

BOF.

[900T-R]

EmmaP said:

I flashed someone once to warn them of my approach (as I feared they had poor judgement of speed) as they were about to perform a dangerous manoeuvre. Silly sod took it as "Go ahead, drive into/across my line of travel."

Did he drive a Porsche perchance?

[slowly slowly]

900T-R said:

EmmaP said:

I flashed someone once to warn them of my approach (as I feared they had poor judgement of speed) as they were about to perform a dangerous manoeuvre. Silly sod took it as "Go ahead, drive into/across my line of travel."

Did he drive a Porsche perchance?

Eh eh, BMW drivers having a day off(says a BMWx2 owner)

[TripleS]

EmmaP said:

I flashed someone once to warn them of my approach (as I feared they had poor judgement of speed) as they were about to perform a dangerous manoeuvre. Silly sod took it as "Go ahead, drive into/across my line of travel."

That is indeed a danger to be wary of.

Years ago headlight flashes were mostly used to attract attention and meant 'Stand back, I'm coming through.' These days the normal meaning seems to amount to an invitation to proceed with what you seek to do, when you're satisfied it's appropriate and safe, and that the flasher will co-operate.

If you now wish to use headlights in the old 'Stand back and make way for me' sense, I would think it's best to switch them on and leave them on, until you've completed the move you wished to make, rather than give a brief(ish) flash.

Whatever we do I think we need to leave ourselves room to change tack if there is any sign of a misunderstanding arising.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[EmmaP]

TripleS said:

EmmaP said:

I flashed someone once to warn them of my approach (as I feared they had poor judgement of speed) as they were about to perform a dangerous manoeuvre. Silly sod took it as "Go ahead, drive into/across my line of travel."

...Whatever we do I think we need to leave ourselves room to change tack if there is any sign of a misunderstanding arising.

Oh absolutely. I anticipated him possibly reading it in the way he did so avoided getting into trouble, thankfully.