# Flashing Headlights **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 27, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381 "2000-01-27T15:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/121 "2000-01-28T20:10:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Didn’t take long, either, David; all it needed was for someone to flash the headlights. Aren’t there people who will kill you for that? ---
**Author:** ![Felice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@Felice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felice)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/122 "2000-01-28T20:57:00Z")
## Got it in one, David. I’ve never figured out why so many people speed. What’s the hurry? Felice “There’s always a bigger fish.” ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/123 "2000-01-28T21:49:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Felice: > \*\*Got it in one, David. I’ve never figured out why so many people speed. What’s the hurry? > > \*\* My favorite are the ones who ride you butt, pass you and peel away, only for you to pull up behind them at the next stop light. Aren’t you glad you went through all of that to get ONE WHOLE CAR ahead?! * * * Love stinks! (Yeah, yeah!) ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/124 "2000-01-28T22:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Felice: > I’ve never figured out why so many people speed. What’s the hurry? Personally, I speed 'cus I don’t like driving long distances. So if I can cut 15 minutes or a half hour off my trip to Chicago, I’m gonna do it. ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/125 "2000-01-29T00:53:00Z")
As Sammy Hagar would say, “I can’t drive 55.” I just like to go fast. As long as I am safe, no problem. Jeffery ---
**Author:** ![Felice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e4f/32.png) [@Felice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felice)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/126 "2000-01-29T02:55:00Z")
## Well, one route I used to drive was about 420 miles of freeway (Las Vegas to Salt Lake.) At 75 mph, it took about 5 1/2 hours. At 90, it took a little over 4 1/2 hours. So speeding 20% above the limit saved an hour. A legitimate savings, I suppose. But let’s look at what most people are driving. My neighborhood has a 25 mph limit- lots of kids and dogs. People tear down the street at 35 or 40 mph. The street is about three miles long- at the speed limit, it takes about 1 1/4 minutes to travel it. At 40, it takes about 2 minutes. Is saving 45 seconds really that important? I mean, really. Felice “There’s always a bigger fish.” ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/127 "2000-01-29T03:12:00Z")
I should have clarified – I speed on the highway, not residential roads, for exactly the reasons you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/128 "2000-01-29T07:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by NewtonsApple: > \*\*Urban legend? Um yeah thats it. > > The gangs were young suburban white middle class kids. In fact our high school was even given a lecture about the incidents. > > They were happening in Rocklin and South Sacramento. Both neighborhoods arent great, and the kids are all wanna bes. Vanilla Ice-esque. > > So thank you again there nay-sayers. They never suceeded in killing anyone, just vandalizing the cars, and I believe once shot at one. Most UL’s come from the exageration or added details of a SINGLE incident of truthful basis. Some dont, but thats why MOST not ALL is used.\*\* Okay, I’ve only read the first page of this thread so far, and someone else may have already asked this but: Perhaps Newton would be so kind as to provide the name and date of the reputable newspaper that reported these incidents and, if it exists, a link to an online article from a reputable website that includes names, dates, location, etc. (all the info that is absent from UL stories)? ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/129 "2000-01-29T07:54:00Z")
When my sister taught me to drive a hundred or so years ago, she said to flip the lights on and off to notify oncoming drivers of a speedtrap and to hit your brights if someone didn’t have their lights on when they were driving in the dark. I’m going to have to send her this thread to straighten out years of mistakes! voguevixen ------- My favorite are the ones who ride you butt, pass you and peel away, only for you to pull up behind them at the next stop light. Aren’t you glad you went through all of that to get ONE WHOLE CAR ahead?!— # I HATE tailgaters, and I’ll just turn on my turn signal and get off the road where it’s possible to do so, to get out of their way. But, boy, do I love it, after doing that,to pull up behind the same person at a stop light!! Of course I’d love to think they notice, and it matters, but it probably doesn’t matter a whit! At least I get a smile anyway! Judy * * * “Consider it a challenge…” ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2000, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/130 "2000-01-29T13:47:00Z")
Kat said: > [@](#): > > Perhaps Newton would be so kind as to provide the name and date of the reputable newspaper that reported these incidents and, if it exists, a link to an online article from a reputable website that includes names, dates, location, etc. Um, Kat, you’ve been away from the board for a few days, haven’t you? 🙂 NA had no interest in backing his claims, only flaming away. He started a Pit thread to further his attacks and got himself banned. It turns out he was likely a reincarnation of Lurker007/FormerAgent/The Finder/MikeylikesIt/GigoloMan/whoever else. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/131 "2000-01-31T17:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by voguevixen: > \*\* My favorite are the ones who ride you butt, pass you and peel away, only for you to pull up behind them at the next stop light. Aren’t you glad you went through all of that to get ONE WHOLE CAR ahead?! > > \*\* My personal favorite so far was the guy who tailgated me all the way through a construction zone and then zoomed away at the end of it. Half a mile down the road we passed him and the cop who pulled him over. Sometimes there is justice in the world. ---
**Author:** ![CatInHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CatInHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInHat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381/132 "2000-02-04T06:22:00Z")
Hey everyone! I flashed my headlights at the oncoming traffic on the PA turnpike today, and guess what? No one shot me! Amazing! Sorry, just wanted to share that. I’m not actually sure that any of the oncoming traffic could _see_ me flashing my lights over the Jersey barrier down the middle of the road, so it may have been futile. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flashing-headlights/17381.md?page=6)