Using hazard lights to say "Thank You"?

splishsplash

For as long as I've been driving (28 years), I've always had the same 'conversation' on the roads with lights...
left indicator means 'overtake now, it's safe',
one flash of the hazards after overtaking says 'thank you',
one flash of the headlights says 'your welcome'.
It seems to be the recognized 'chat' in my neck of the woods.

More than one quick flash of the hazards indicates an actual hazard, or repeated flashing by oncoming cars means the same thing.

I've never seen brake lights used to thank anyone, only to say 'back off, you're too close'.

goldspanners

splishsplash wrote: »

For as long as I've been driving (28 years), I've always had the same 'conversation' on the roads with lights...
left indicator means 'overtake now, it's safe',
one flash of the hazards after overtaking says 'thank you',
one flash of the headlights says 'your welcome'.
It seems to be the recognized 'chat' in my neck of the woods.

More than one quick flash of the hazards indicates an actual hazard, or repeated flashing by oncoming cars means the same thing.

I've never seen brake lights used to thank anyone, only to say 'back off, you're too close'.

i dont think this is just generalised to your area, this is what they mean to real drivers all over the country. :T

goldspanners

jackieb wrote: »

I've never heard of using the hazard flashers to thank anyone. I just wave.

I also don't like it when tractors tell you to pass. I like to pass when I can see the road ahead for myself. I don't like putting my life in the hands of strangers, however good their intentions are.

I also hate it when people flash when they're coming in the opposite direction. I always wonder if something's up with my car, but it's usually to warn me the police are lying in wait up a side road. Which I don't know until I actually see the police, and if I don't see them I still wonder if something is wrong with my car. It's probably just a case of mistaken identity on their part!

the tractor isnt telling you to pass, he is letting you know that he is aware that you are sitting right on his a**e and is letting you know the road ahead is clear to pass him if you do so wish. is he turning round with a big sign saying "pass me now or else"?

the practice of flashing to warn of the police or camera van ahead is something few people do these days and it saddens me,i always flash rapidly to all oncoming vehicles when the police are hidding up ahead of them.
how can someone travelling towards you at speed see if there is something drastically wrong with your car?

get some common sense.

Thunderbird_2

splishsplash wrote: »

left indicator means 'overtake now, it's safe',

I am yet to see somebody do this these days! This is the way I learnt and knew driving and it makes life so much easier on those country lanes, where starting overtaking 100 yards earlier makes hell alot of difference!

Mind you, when I want to over take on an A or B road, it will be because of those who are doing 45 mph (50 if you are lucky) on a 60 speed limit roads! So no hope then to get them to signal left when it is safe to overtake!

jackieb

goldspanners wrote: »

the tractor isnt telling you to pass, he is letting you know that he is aware that you are sitting right on his a**e and is letting you know the road ahead is clear to pass him if you do so wish. is he turning round with a big sign saying "pass me now or else"?

the practice of flashing to warn of the police or camera van ahead is something few people do these days and it saddens me,i always flash rapidly to all oncoming vehicles when the police are hidding up ahead of them.
how can someone travelling towards you at speed see if there is something drastically wrong with your car?

get some common sense.

I never sit up anyone's a**s - tractor or not.

And as for flashing me, I may have a bulb fused or something. I don't know, do I? I'm not a mind reader.

Get some manners.

goldspanners

jackieb wrote: »

I never sit up anyone's a**s - tractor or not.

And as for flashing me, I may have a bulb fused or something. I don't know, do I? I'm not a mind reader.

Get some manners.

my msnners are fine, a bit blunt, but fine.

anyway,if a bulb has gone you should be able to tell if its dark, if its not then why have yor lights on?

Nick_C

You certainly are not taught courtesy when learning to drive these days. I was told off for stopping for people standing in the middle of the road (a motor bike could come up on your left and hit them as they pass in front of you - only stop if they step in front of you) and told not to flash people to come on as it could be misinterpreted and they should make their own decision about when its safe to go through.

Note that if driving in France, flashing the headlights means "keep out of the way, I'm coming through". How do you known that the considerate driver coming towards you isn't a Frenchman in a rented car?

bratfud_lad

Nick_C wrote: »

Note that if driving in France, flashing the headlights means "keep out of the way, I'm coming through". How do you known that the considerate driver coming towards you isn't a Frenchman in a rented car?

its like the people here who drive around during the day with their foglamps on..................get out of my way I'm coming through whether you like it on not!

Pssst

What I'd like people to do is stick to the highway code as closely as possible. Nowhere is this more important that at junctions. So many people make up their own rules,dont understand the rules or else give way un-necessarily. All of his causes confusion,uncertainty and leads to accidents. Do not give way if someone else is obliged to give way to you unless it helps the flow of traffic or avoids an accident.

bryanb

Safest way is to interpret any signal of any type given by another driver as meaning "I am here"