When is it acceptable to high-beam slower traffic on the motorway/highway?

"AndersSim - V10'ING" (anderssim)
02/22/2014 at 12:59 • Filed to: None

Just curious, as I took my darling(m3) for a spin today, and cruised a bit on the motorway just to have some decent high speed fun. I high-beamed 2 guys because the inner-lane was clear and they were going 10 under the limit. Although, is it acceptable? Or just a douche move only BMW owners do?

Personally I don't find it annoying, I would rather have the car behind me high-beam me than to go FULL AUDI

DISCUSSION (26)

CAR_IS_MI > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:03

I think its always acceptable. Its better to say "hey, you might not be paying atention but I am behind you and want to pass" than it is to run up the persons tail pipe like "move bitch!"

The problem is, depending on where you are, most people don't seem to understand what a flash of the lights means. "Oh look at this asshole behind me flashing up a storm like he is in some kind of a rush, Ill show him by slowing down even more, and if he trys to pass on the right I will speed up".

Victorious Secret > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:04

Nope, its alright.

If they are going slow in the left, or just not at the speed limit at all and I have to pass them on the right, they're getting the Full Audi.

AndersSim - V10'ING > CAR_IS_MI
02/22/2014 at 13:06

Yup, I thought the same thing, most people might be misunderstanding the beam(They don't misunderstand it in Germany though) but I'm worried they don't quite understand it in Denmark. But anyway, the two guys I beamed moved right out of the way.

CAR_IS_MI > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:11

Better than what they do in 'Merikah. They either brake check you or move over let you pas, then get behind you, riding your ass and flashing their high beams at you like immature children.

evil2win > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:11

I think it's perfectly acceptable, though many people here in the US are clueless as the meaning of high-beam flash behind them, and have no understanding of the stay right except to pass rule. It's certainly more polite than using the horn, or firing a warning shot over their bow.

Arben72 > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:12

I give them a second to move to the right, if that doesn't happen I'll just pass them on the right. Usually doing flash to pass causes road rage. Oh and if I'm in the right lane driving like I'm supposed to, I will just continue passing you there also.

AndersSim - V10'ING > CAR_IS_MI
02/22/2014 at 13:12

Haha, sounds like a great amount of fun!

AndersSim - V10'ING > Arben72
02/22/2014 at 13:14

I never pass on the right, mostly because nearly every motorway where I live is two lane(d). And its just not all that common to check your shoulder when you pull into the right lane.

AndersSim - V10'ING > evil2win
02/22/2014 at 13:15

Just go full Alabama, and fire some warning shots.

syaieya > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:16

It's plenty acceptable, as long as you don't complement it with riding on their bumper.

It makes all the difference between "Hey, I'm moving quicker and would like to keep my pace." and "You're in my way now get."

Arben72 > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:21

Where I live if I didn't pass on the right I wouldn't get anywhere. Everyone thinks they deserve all rights to the left lane if they are going 3 over the speed limit. People here don't check their blind spots going into any lane so it makes no difference.

Zoom > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:23

I'm not sure what passes as socially acceptable this month, but the 'flash to pass' feature (which on most cars allows a blink of highbeams before the switch clicks to high) was designed for this purpose.

The other option is illegally (in my state anyway) passing on the right. Or patience. Of which I have none for ignorant drivers.

AndersSim - V10'ING > Zoom
02/22/2014 at 13:25

Well you have a pretty valid point sir.

Flavien Vidal > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 13:37

Normal they have nothing to do on the fast lane... It was not allowed in Germany on the autobahn for quite some time though...

AndersSim - V10'ING > Flavien Vidal
02/22/2014 at 13:41

I most confess, when on holiday, and we are driving through Germany, I nearly have the left turn signal one the whole time, as it suggest that I move fasther than you think. It also seems that most germans use it

Baber K. Khan > CAR_IS_MI
02/22/2014 at 14:24

"Traffic" is a nation, which is one in any and all aspects. Everyone's an ass-hole. I am for them and they for me. Traffic is a nation without boundaries and the only nation that is so without being recognized as a nation, it is a world where discrimination occurs not on your color of skin rather the car you drive.

It doesn't have a Parliament or Senate but their concerns are opinion are the same. BMW's are driven by cocks, and anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.

The code of conduct on the roads which this nation defines as its territory is different in all regions. Come to South East Asia and the general rule here is you protect your own car and I mine and we'll all live happily ever after. Come to Middle-East and follow the rules, but grow up here and you can drive like you're driving Mario Kart. Come to Europe and you can literally go as fast as yo possibly can except a certain no-go territory over-taken by rebels who recently banned this nation's two most honorable representatives 'J. Clarkson (Jezza)' and 'R. Hammond (Hamster)'. Come to North America but they are belligerent.

This nation is a tough one. We all have been once called an ass-hole in a day. There are only three gestures we recognized, one when we call each other ass-hole, two when we try to make a face cuter then a puppy wanting you play throw so we can avoid the ass-hole move we made and third can be seen during jams.

This unique nation's form of communication is a 'horn' and other is commonly referred to as 'dipper' or 'high-beam signals'. Like the word fuck, this form of communication is diverse. It is used during distress, annoyance, joy, disappointment, and so on so forth. The vocabulary is awfully limited and yet, it expresses itself better than most languages.

We are one nation which is yet to be recognized by ourselves but we're a judgmental lot and we're sure that you (we all) are ass-holes.

PS: Have I made any sense! I hope I have.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 14:36

Unfortunately in the US there is no concept of staying out of the passing lane. Instead you get people dawdling everywhere, in every lane, and passing everywhere.

It's more common on rural interstates (2 lanes each direction) to pass on the right, than the pass on the left, mainly due to some moron in a Buick on cruise control in the left lane.

WhiskeyGolf > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 14:37

Is there also a socially acceptable way to remind people they have no lights on? I never know how to get people to turn their lights on

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > evil2win
02/22/2014 at 14:38

Some people practically need the shot across the bow to get it through their skulls that the left lane (in the US) is a passing lane.

evil2win > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
02/22/2014 at 15:05

I understand. I often drive windy back roads where slow cars are expected to use pull-outs to let people like myself pass. It's surprising how many people out there don't understand this concept. There should a law on roads like these where you can shoot car with a paint ball gun if they don't use pull-outs, then a cop could see the splatter and give the driver a ticket. It probably wouldn't work, but it would make me feel better to shoot at them.

Big Bubba Ray > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 15:45

Kinja'd!!!

A sticker like this would be awesome to have, but you'd look like a major douche with it!

rodassecondo > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 17:08

In southern Europe, yes it is aceptable, but the turn signal is a better first way to ask for passage. And i drive an old bmw.

KoenigSTIGg > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 17:50

My friend has a total beast Landcrusiser. He lives in Colorado. It snows in Colorado. The road clearing in Colorado is not that good. There is a shit ton of ice in Colorado. People usually drive way over the speed limit in Colorado. Including when it's icy. So he put high beams on the back. It's fun to fuck with people with them. Especially when they are high.

davedave1111 > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 18:06

Flashing your lights means 'I have right of way'. Did you have right of way?

HiredHand > AndersSim - V10'ING
02/22/2014 at 18:29

I think it's totally acceptable provided there's a clear lane for them to move into. If not, be patient until they have a chance to move into slower traffic.

However in reality, the person is probably an asshat who thinks their Explorer was born in the left lane and will only swear at you in their rear view mirror until you pass them on the right.

If I could teach all of America one thing it would be drive on the right pass on the left, but for some reason vast parts of the country enjoy cruise control drag races.

Maxima Speed > WhiskeyGolf
02/22/2014 at 19:06

i turn mine off and quickly turn them back on, it works most of the time.