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Ok so I was driving home today and I was going about 80 to 90 MPh. (lecture me all you want)

Some person was going 70, maybe 80, in the fast lane so I put on my blinker like I always do. Got about 2 car lenths from him and moved to the lane to the right. Put my blinker back on and waited until I could see his head lights in my mirror and got back into the fast lane.

Then he puts on his high beems for like 3 seconds. Why in they heack did he do that? What is the point? What are they trying to do - blind me?

The thing that really bugs me, is after he turned off his brights, he got out of the fast lane. I just don't get it.

 
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i used to do that

 
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Uhhh, hello...it's called "flash-to-pass"...not that it works in Dallas tho...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG]

 
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WTF is flash to pass?

 
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i guess it's signaling the guy front of you taht you are passing him, it's illegal to flash your highbeams at night over here, weird. another thing people use the highbeam is to flash the guy front of them to signal them that they are going too slow, and need to move to the slower lane

 
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Sounds like the guy is a F&%@$%[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/IMG]

 
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i thought flashing you high beam was car longuage for F*@# YOU![IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]
never heard of flash to pass

 
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There was a guy tonight that flashed me from behind then tried racing me in my Type S in an older Accord at a light... by the time I was in third I was so far ahead I turned hit my hazard button let em flash for a little and kept going...he never made an attempt after that, wouldnt even pull next to me again.

 
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never heard of it, either. I flash the highbeams when people do something stupid or to let them know a cop is near. Flash to pass is a new one though...

 
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i flash to pass sometimes, or tailgait if the dude is really pissing me off (yeah i know, lecture me lol)...but i dont move into the right lane to pass, the slower dude has to move to the slower lane and yeild. at least thats how its done here.
sometimes is an F U also!
and if you flash to warn of cops, you can get arrested here. thats a big no no...i havent seen people do that since the new law came into effect.

 
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Flash to pass is supossed to be highway courtesy. If you're in the fast lane closing in on someone (probably going slow), you are supossed to flash your high beams to let them know you are there and closing fast. This will give them a chance to be nice and change lanes. Of course a lot of people are not aware of what this means, so they loiter in the left lane. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG]

This guy flashing his high beams at you after you passed him is probably just his version of flippin' you the bird.

I swear, the driving schools these days don't bother A. Learning highway courtesy themselves, or B. Don't bother teaching it.

Side note: Flash to pass and using the left lane only for passing is widely practiced in European countries (or so I've heard).

If I am forced to pass someone on their right side (when ALL the other lanes are clear), I make sure to give the offending driver a good glaring at. [IMG]i/expressions/moon.gif[/IMG]

 
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This is true...although I've only been to Spain and England, I can tell you that Europeans really are--for the most part--educated drivers and this is widely practiced as a safety and courtesy measure when passing, especially on high-speed highways.

 
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lol, flash to pass...we dont live in germany

RF Bwoy

 
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Well I didn't 'flash to pass' because I thought that that was more of a

'get out of my way!!They call it the fast lane for a reason moron!!'
NOT
'please move because I am going faster than you'

What I really hate is when people just cruise in the fast lane and don't even bother to check to see wats going on around them.

As for the situation tonight, I didn't mind passing the guy (there was plunty of room) and its not like I tail gated him or cut him off. I went around him casually and politly. Besides I have found that it takes people longer to get out of the fast lane than it is for me to go around. Pluse I have to slow down behind them for them to get the hint, and that is not the point - I want to keep the speed I am going.

I could understand the cop thing, but he was not going 65 and he didn't 'flash' them, he more liked 'turned them on and then turned them off' (Like I said, about 3 seconds)

For some reason I thought it was his way of saying 'slow down befor you kill someone - you stupid kid' (there is some truth to that weather he ment it or not)

Why 'flip-the-bird' when I casually went around him?

My philosophy is : "pick a lane, stay there, and I will deal with you" (as in go around you so we both arn't trying to get out of each others way)


Ok so lets set the record straight:
2 = a couple
3 = a croud
4 = a bit
5 = a few

in driving land:
1 flash = I would have moved. warm me next time.
2 flash = COP AHEAD
1 'beam' = a) You scared the crap out of me b) Slow down stupid

any other combos?

 
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I see it as in what you did that he was like giving you the bird in other word I never flip my brights but if someone won't get over and its an older person I won't have to worry about them chasing me down usally.

Nick

 
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I usually flash my high-beams at people who are driving recklessly or very poorly - although usually I'M the one driving like that. Or if they're high-beams are on, like one kid in a Beamer that I saw tonight, just driving around with his brights on.
Also, truckers turn their brights on when another truck passes them, as a signal that it's clear to move back over into the right lane. Kind of a courtesy, maybe he was doing that. Although more than likely he was flipping you the bird ..

Cheers! [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG]

 
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flashing your beams is one of those things that's easily construed as being unfriendly. Just like if you're at a traffic light, and you tap your horn 5 seconds after the light changes to green because the car in front hasn't let off their brakes, they may think you're angry at them-- hell, in atlanta you'd get shot [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

 
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Weird crazy person. Its illegal to flash people with your high beams in Australia too. Not sure what the fine would be though.

 
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You're not supposed to flash your high beams, period. High beams are used for the purpose of providing additional front light for the headlights, not as a flasher. In any event, people seem to do it and summonses can be issued for it.

 
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QCK... What exactly is the law regarding flashing your high beams specifically for the purpose of warning about patrol cars? Just curious.

 
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It would just be "improper flashing of high beams." Brights are just not intended to be flashed on and off.

 
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I'm a big fan of flash to pass when I'm in a real big hurry. It sure beats the alternative - tailgating the guy bumper to bumper for half a mile until he's all ticked off and then moves over to the right lane.

 
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Hmmm, just out of curiousity, why do all new cars allow you to easily flash your beams by pulling the stick (whatever it's called). I always thought that was the whole point of that function as it can be used even if your headlights are off.

 
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Yeah I do the same thing. I have never heard of the "Flash To Pass" thing before.

 
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In California I'm not sure if you're allowed to flash your highbeams, but I know you're required to yield if someone does.

CVC 21753 "Yielding for Passing" requires that "the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal or the momentary flash of headlights by the overtaking vehicle...."

 
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That would be like three different summonses in New York. It's amazing how different the laws from state to state can be.

 
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Yeah, it really is.

 
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qckslvr - does that mean that i could get a ticket for flashing my high beams at some idiot to tell him to turn his high beams off? that wouldnt make sense if it was true since the PA drivers manual actually says you are supposed to flash your high beams if an oncoming car has their highbeams on