Come on, man. Calm Down.

"The Jevans" (thejevans1)
09/16/2013 at 12:54 • Filed to: TRAFFIC, RANT

I was under the impression that a single, short, high-beam flash was an acceptable way to remind someone in the left lane that they can move to the right now, they are passed traffic. Unfortunately, it seems lost on people.

The other day, I used this tool to someone on 495 going 5mph slower than my speed, they proceeded to move quickly to the right an slowed down. After I passed they started tailgating me and flashing their high-beams, as if to show me how much of an ass I am. This ended quickly, as they were not ready to keep my speed, and that was the end of it.

This morning, I used the quick flash on a truck that had slowly passed traffic, and then matched speed in the left lane just ahead of everyone else, not leaving me enough room to pass on the right even if I wanted to. I flashed my high-beams at him once, and he sped up. I thought he understood the situation, and was moving over to let me pass, but he, instead, brake-checked me. I went to pass on the right and he swerved in front of me, forcing me to move to the far right lane and pass there. He gave me the finger as I passed. All for flashing my high-beams one time.

Is this considered acceptable behavior? I will never understand why people take this (relatively) polite gesture so personally.

DISCUSSION (31)

Tom McParland > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 12:57

This is one of those things that is supposed to be understood as part of the "rules of the road" but most drivers take it waaay too personally.

DocWalt > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:00

Kinja'd!!!

delete-me-please123 > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:00

Not acceptable to me. I consider it impolite.

Grindintosecond > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:00

Was the truck a big rig or a pickup? the Big rigs sometimes really don't have the power to continue the pass until the next down hill.

The Jevans > Grindintosecond
09/16/2013 at 13:01

F150

POD > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:02

I think it is mostly lost on people.

I've only every had someone do that once in the 14 years I've been driving. However when he did it, he was being a dick. I was going 10 over, passing a string of cars with no real room to merge back in on the right. He got right up on my ass, flashed twice (quick though, not holding the high beams on). Then he proceed to ride the far left shoulder and tailgate me. Did I know he wanted to pass? Yes, and I was going to let him, after I finished passing the string of cars on my right. Which I did, and I moved over. He then flipped me off for inconveniencing by passing the other cars along with me for 30 seconds.

I think now days it comes off as a power move. People take it as "who does that driver behind me think he is" kind of a thing.

StoneCold > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:04

I always thought one time is to catch someone's attention, and a quick one-two is a "Thank you", and anything else is being a jerk.

So I think you are in the right, but who pays attention to driving etiquette nowadays?

That's why I think those LED panels are getting to be a better and better idea

Kinja'd!!!

ddavidn > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:08

I hate having to flash people. (With my high beams, guys!) But I've never had anyone get mad about it. I've done it maybe a dozen times (used to drive 150 miles most weekends to see my wife when we were dating and she lived at college) and maybe two people have moved over for me. At night I would turn on my left blinker for a bit, as I think high beams at night could be too distracting/alarming for my taste. Most of the ignorant left-lane slowbies on those journeys were canadians in minivans, so I blame Canada.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:09

I do it,

people don't get it,

endless rage ensues,

I move on with life.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:12

That assumes that people pay attention.

In addition, that they pay attention to their mirrors, and what is behind them, and their relative speed, and situational awareness.

When they do notice, you are usually angry enough to be tailgating, honking, and flashing the lights more than once... and then they get angry, thinking that you are the bad driver, when they've been the rolling roadblock for 5 miles previously.

GhostZ > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:16

I think most people are completely unaware of the guesture, or only heard about it once in driver's ed. So when it happens in real life, they ignore all memory and rational thought and immediately think "this guy is both blinding me and being annoying!"

Also, the car you are in can make a huge difference in how it is interprated. For example:

1. Civic/Old Hyundai/90s Mustang or Camaro: I just got my license and I have no idea what the fuck I am doing.

2. Civic coupe/BRZ/Lancer/WRX/newer Mustang/Camaro: Let's race because I am soooo cooool .

3. SUV/Minivan: GETTING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL IS THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD AND I AM COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ON OUTSIDE OF MY MISERABLE LITTLE LIFE

4. Truck: It's my god-given right ask for your slow, "economic" liberal ass to move so I can exercise my freedom to speed.

5. Any $60,000+ coupe: They should make a second road for cars that drive slow. Also cheap and ugly cars, they should be consigned to those roads too. I'll pay for it by check.

6. Anything Mid-engined (Fiero and MR2 included, sadly, but a lot less accurate): I refuse to pass, I didn't pay this kind of money so I could turn . I paid it so I can make other people get out of my way.

7. Any old (20+ years) US car: If I turn, my steering rack is going to explode into my gas tank, I am dangerous because I haven't scrapped this old car, but I want your fancy ass to move out of my way.

8. Any old (20+ years) non-US car: I am an immigrant who has no idea what the fuck they are doing, and I'm in a dangerous car.

9. A 1990+ Camry: I forgot where the stereo was. They should just automate it so I don't have to remember. Also, I'm texting.

This myriad of responses may all illicit the same reaction (the car moves over for you) but each one has a certain level of risk in whether or not they will mess with you afterwards.

The Jevans > GhostZ
09/16/2013 at 13:19

I drive an FR-S. Thanks for the stereotypes, they gave me a good laugh.

SeveB > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:23

Well, flashing the high's isn't as bad as honking, but is still generally considered a bad thing and associated with impatience. If you can't wait 30s to a couple mins for a car to ease safely by a trafficked lane then you got issues. And if there's another car in front of that guy , lets say a bus length ahead going the same speed and you still flashed him to leap frog that one spot, then you're a kinda a jerk. And if you proceed to flash your way through a stack of cars, that's just selfish. You really should only use the flash to get someone out of the way if there's LOTS of clear road ahead and they are going un safely slow (like 10-15 under the limit). You sound like the driver that see's any overtake as a way to get there faster. But you really got to factor in the effort and distance you're traveling. More often then not, I find it not worth the effort to weave and push people, it makes no difference except pissing everyone off.

GhostZ > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:25

I think one of the reasons why so many cars are boring and identical today is that people are worried about being categorized or labeled (as if that 90s brainwashing had finally sunk in) and don't want to be seen by other drivers as a stereotype.

Prius owners aside, that is. They thrive on that stuff.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > GhostZ
09/16/2013 at 13:26

8 probably needs amending to "I am a Europhile and likely a lunatic and masochist" once it exceeds 30 years.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:27

If I ever get the flash in my mirror I'm more embarrassed that I was in the left lane blocking people than I am angry at people. And in my embarrassment I jump out of the way as quick as I (safely) can.

I think it's a completely understandable thing to do, it's hard to hear honks on the freeway, which I would do on normal roads.

People do get worked up over it sometimes.

PRBot II > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:27

I hope you weren't following too closely when you flashed, but I doubt you were.

Anyway, most American drivers are dumb and that's why we can't have nice things like Autobahn.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:30

I seem to recall that there is a system of flashes that used to be semi (hurr) in use for large trucks. Such as, two quick flashes in the shoulder lane to indicate "making room" or safe to pull out of the passing lane.

Trouble is, using lights takes work, so people self-selected out into the "not using lights" (lazy) and the "I USE MY LIGHTS BECAUSE ALL MUST BE COMMUNICATED MY WILL" (crazy people). That second group ruined it for everyone else - as in most places flashing lights carries a presumption of being one of Those Guys.

The Jevans > SeveB
09/16/2013 at 13:33

You assumed a lot of information there. Let me give you a hypothetical situation.

You are on a 2 lane highway. 90% of traffic is travelling between 65 and 75 MPH. The road is mostly empty. You have your cruise control set to 75 and are cruising in the right lane. There is a group of 5 cars going 60MPH in the right lane in front of you. Before you get close enough to pass, the last in the row moves left and begins to pass at 65MPH. You stay a safe distance behind, and when they reach the end of the line, they match speed with the other cars at 60MPH. How long do you wait? How do you respond? In a situation such as this, I am inclined to think that a high-beam flash is the best option.

BJ > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:33

Just yesterday, I had to flash and honk at someone to get the message through.

They moved over, somewhat reluctantly, only after the twenty-seven-thousandth vehicle passed them on the right while getting flashed and honked at. My wife told me to take it easy, I told her that the person driving in the left lane at 15 km/h under the flow of traffic on a Montreal-area highway was being unreasonable.

/RANT. That feels better.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > GhostZ
09/16/2013 at 13:40

I'm assuming 90's BMW falls into: FUCK YOU!!!! MOVE YOU SLOW PIECE OF SHIT!!!!! I GOT BITCHES WAITING ON ME, SO THEY CAN SUCK MY DICK!!!!!!!

or something like that.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > StoneCold
09/16/2013 at 13:41

I'm not sure I want people focusing on what all the messages are on backs of cars.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:44

For tailgating, I like to wash my windshield for extended periods of time. As far as getting stuck behind someone in the left lane, I tend to be patient, I'm not going to make the highway a better place by getting all worked up by someone being a dick in the left lane. I know how annoying it is when someone comes up behind me and is a dick about it, whether they are right or wrong, being harassed by other cars isn't fun. Especially if everyone is going the speedlimit already anyway. Yeah I like to go 75 on my way to work, but if I am held to 70 I won't get upset, it's like a 1 minute difference. Now someone that refuses to go past 55 mph on the highway, they need to be retested for their license...

deadpedal > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:49

I think it's a generally unrecognized gesture. Or misinterpreted. I've added using my left turn indicator to the quiver. Seems to work.

itsnothere > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:50

My thinking as well.

You can (should) be able to see me in your rear view, creeping up behind you. Yet you decline to yield and move to the right to let faster traffic by. So a quick blip on the high beam to remind you to check your mirror and to let you know i'd like to pass, is met with anger and resentment. What is this mentality? Same goes for folks who use the commuter lane during off hours...read the signs people, understand, comprehend.

liquid_popcorn > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 13:53

Only dipshits and assholes don't understand the purpose of a quick flash of the hi-beams. Anyone that takes it personally is a fuckwit.

All it means is "Please move over, you are obstructing traffic in the passing lane. Thanks in advance, xoxo."

People in Europe seemed to understand this concept when I was there; 90%+ of the US hasn't caught on. Especially not northern VA/MD/DC.

The Jevans > delete-me-please123
09/16/2013 at 13:54

How would you deal with it?

dinobot666 > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 14:10

People in the US don't know what it means when you 'flash to pass' nor do they care. They simply see it as an act of aggression. I've given up on doing it and just wait patiently for them to finally move over.

delete-me-please123 > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 14:29

Wait and go around them. I just think you're giving the average person too much credit. They more than likely have no idea of etiquette or even their surroundings.

Do you only do this in the fast lane on a two lane road? If not, then it is totally unacceptable.

The Jevans > delete-me-please123
09/16/2013 at 14:32

I only do this when I am in the left lane and they have ample space to not be. How long would you wait if they didn't give you a gap?

Grindintosecond > The Jevans
09/16/2013 at 14:50

chalk it up to the decline of western carization.

(ohhhh! im proud of what I...IIII thought up there..)