Do you use the high beam flash feature

[Kmvreter]

Just curious about how often others use this feature as the title states.

I never use it and I rarely see other drivers use it in my area.

 

[boston_kevin]

I use it more when I want to let someone in to traffic ahead of me (like truckers) to let them know it is safe.

 

[Barefoot]

It's the universal signal to warn oncoming traffic about a speed trap.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yup, I use it all the time. To signal oncoming traffic that there is something to be aware of ahead (Cops, road debris, etc.). Also to let someone now to get out of the way 'cause I'd like to pass, this doesn't work as effectively here in the states. Lots of people hog the fast lane or passing lane rather than letting you pass. If I come to a 4-way stop at the same time, I'll signal the other person to go first. Lots of uses...

 

[CoKen]

It is also used by some enforcement agencies to profile aggressive drivers.

I was told this when I was getting a ticket for aggressive driving because I flashed my lights at a woman who almost took off my front bumper when she pulled into my lane. I was also told that, even though I let off the gas to slow and back away from her, I didn't slam on my breaks, so I was an aggressive driver. I went to court and the ticket was dropped, but it was a real pain, especially when the cop didn't even try to ticket the woman who created the problem in the first place.

 

[nated05]

I used to flash my brights for oncoming traffic to warn them of a speed trap, but since i never see anyone else doing it I pretty much stopped. I never flash at someone in front of me (seems like a jerk thing to do), I usually just give a dirty look as I go around them.

 

[dingo]

I use the high beam flash to let people trying to merge or change into lanes to go ahead. At 4 way stops too, if someone hesitates I flash signal them "it's ok go ahead". They usually acknowledge with a "thank you" wave, which is cool. It's not worth getting pissed off by stupid drivers anymore, let alone flash them from behind. I figure you get there when you get there - alive. Life's too short to get ticked at minor stuff.

 

[Mike07SE]

Flash-To-Pass! I use them to get that early morning commuter thats doing 60 in the left lane out of my way. I was always taught it was illegal to pass on the right (european thing) so I just do that to hopefully get them out of the lane.

 

[Colemanfu]

I use them all the time but just don't run single lane rd with passing sections much/ever.

How about situational usage. I use it more like a visual horn - like when a blue hair is about to pull out in front of you? Remember it's that season in Florida when all the folks get out of the cold.

I use the big lights when I want to send more of a message.

Can you add that type of use to the poll - that would be my vote.

 

[drmorbius]

I use it to let people know when they are driving with their brights on or to let them know they don't have their lights on at all! But hey they're on the phone, you know it's Southern California. :bigok:

 

[pat161]

Let's see. I use them to let people know I am letting them pull into traffic or go first from a stop sign. I also will use them on the highway if someone is hogging the left lane. I occasionally warn people of a waiting radar trap. What I use them for the most is to warn drivers of an unsafe situation ahead, as when people see the brights they tend to think cop and slow down. For example if I just happened to see a trash truck on a narrow road blocking half the lane picking up garbage I will hit the brights so other cars will slow down before rounding a bend and slamming into the truck or have to whip into oncoming traffic.

 

[spyne]

I use it more when I want to let someone in to traffic ahead of me (like truckers) to let them know it is safe.

For the most part I use it as boston_kevin states and let truckers know it's okay to merge back into my lane. Once or twice a year I'm guilty of using it to express my displeasure at someone who's cut me off in close quarters.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

The "flash to pass" feature is a great idea, although most people probably don't even know it is there. I have found that it is on even the cheapest cars, too.

As a trucker, I can tell you that we very much appreciate it when someone 'indicates' that it is okay to get over. During the day, a quick tug or two on the lever works great. At night, it tends to blind us briefly (though we still are grateful for the kind gesture and consideration). When it is dark, the best thing to do (if you don't have DRLs) is to turn your headlights back to just the parking lights (briefly) once or twice.


I encounter left-lane bandits ALL THE TIME here in VA. I drive I-95 almost every day and the problem is extremely bad. Only about five to ten percent of them will get out of the way when you flash them. The rest will either ignore you or deliberately slow down -- just to skeeve you even more. Our highways have signs that say Slower Traffic Keep Right all over the place, but they're ignored and not enforced at all.
:cursin:

Even though it is a law here (but never enforced) that you must yield from the left lane for overtaking vehicles, YOU will be looked at as the 'bad guy' if a cop sees you flashing some slow ignoramus who is obstructing traffic. The powers that be will accuse you of "aggressive driving" if you try to get people out of the way - even though they probably should not be there in the first place.
:bash:

Great thread!!

 

[pipspeak]

I try not to use it since it creates confusion... some use it to express displeasure as in "hey, watch out, I'm here" and others use it to indicate "go ahead." Could cause some problems if misinterpreted.

So now I have started using my horn to express displeasure, even on the freeway!

Oh and that story about being ticketed for aggressive driving after being cut up really pisses me off. I would've given the cop a piece of my mind... politely, of course. Frankly if anyone does something on a freeway or city street that causes me to suddenly change speed or direction, they're firmly at fault. Of course, if I then tailgate them or try to punish them in some way for their stupidity then I'm also at fault...

 

[wazzuFreddo]

I encounter left-lane bandits ALL THE TIME here in VA. I drive I-95 almost every day and the problem is extremely bad. Only about five to ten percent of them will get out of the way when you flash them. The rest will either ignore you or deliberately slow down -- just to skeeve you even more. Our highways have signs that say Slower Traffic Keep Right all over the place, but they're ignored and not enforced at all.
:cursin:

Thats when you need to give them a little Dale Earnhardt tap. Rubbin' is racin'

 

[charlier180]

As a trucker, I can tell you that we very much appreciate it when someone 'indicates' that it is okay to get over. During the day, a quick tug or two on the lever works great. At night, it tends to blind us briefly (though we still are grateful for the kind gesture and consideration). When it is dark, the best thing to do (if you don't have DRLs) is to turn your headlights back to just the parking lights (briefly) once or twice.

I flash my high beams mainly for truckers it is okay to get over or as a sign for others to "go ahead" in certain situations. Did not realize that doing it at night can blind a trucker. Thanks for the tip Jeff. Now I know why I see some truckers turn off their headlights briefly at night in a passing situation.

When towing my trailer I find it helpful when others flash their high beams to let me know it is okay to get over.
More often than not it is only truckers that do that for those towing a trailer.

 

[SportRunner]

I have to use it but only becuase I'm towing. Oncoming traffic thinks High Beams are on so they flash me and I give them a flash back.....and thats all my lights hooked together, hi,lo,fogs and hellas.....they never knew what hit them....hahaha

 

[4rnr4me]

i only use high beams to tell someone their headlights arent on, or that their highs are on and shouldnt be...

if i want to send a message, i have a dry erase board in my truck and i just write it on there, and show them! haha i thought it was a GREAT idea, it also can be good for flirting in heavy traffic

 

[HiVel-JR]

I use it for all of the above, but the most use of all is to get people out of the left lane if they are going to slow, below the speed limit...

Driving in Europe is a great pleasure, drove for 4 years over in Germany, Its funny We (the U.S.) have the same laws for driving (or they are very similar) here in the states about passing in the left lane and staying out of the left lane, they are just not enforced... go figure... more laws we have in place that are not enforced...

If you were in the left lane driving 80 MPH, and a faster car came up behind you and flashed his lights at you, Which they did from a great distance away, you would notice his lights and you got out of the way quickly, you would not try and pass another car and then get over,,, you got out of the way, because chances are he was running almost twice as fast or faster than you. And they will hit your sorry butt if you do not get out of the way... seriously... saw some wicked wrecks over there because someone would not get out of the way!!! That somone was usually an American driver that was the cause the wrecks, (easy to identfy due to the different vehicle tags they had)

Also Hand gestures of any type are illegal, you gave someone the finger over there or made any type of hand gesture to another driver, you can bet that the Polezi would find you sooner or later and give you a ticket for it...
I loved it over there, wish I could go back...

 

[sharp4runr]

I have to use it but only becuase I'm towing. Oncoming traffic thinks High Beams are on so they flash me and I give them a flash back.....and thats all my lights hooked together, hi,lo,fogs and hellas.....they never knew what hit them....hahaha

hahaha, reminds me of vacationing in the Philippines. My Mom just brought a new iNOVA there and the lights were very well designed so they threw a really nice beam. Driving at night, people would flash their highs at me thinking I was driving with my brights. At first I thought they were just warning me of something up ahead but then I realized they thought I was driving with highbeams. From then on, if I got flashed, I gave it right back at them