# \[Headlight\] Flashing. Is it cool USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094 "2011-12-13T22:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/61 "2011-12-14T22:43:03Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Added “Headlight” to thread title. > > Ellen Party-pooper! ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/62 "2011-12-15T02:05:50Z")
Remember way back in the 50’s when a semi was passing you, and as the rear of his trailer passed the front of your car it was considered polite to flash your lights several times telling the truck driver that it was safe to get back into your lane? Well I was going up I-5 last week, with the normal heavy traffic, and a semi pulled out behind me and continued on to pass. As the back of the truck passed my hood, I flashed my headlights twice, and then sort of wondered what would happen next. The truck immediately pulled back into my lane, and then flashed his trailer lights three times. This was the ancient signal saying “thank you”, and made me feel rather good - some traditions are still honored. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/63 "2011-12-15T03:21:41Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > until I realized that Americans don’t really care if you pass them on the right. Yeah, we don’t care. I never understood why some people expect us to care. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I flash my brights at oncoming cars in two situations: > > 1. Brights are on, dumbass. > 2. Lights are off, dumbass. This is what I do, but without the “dumbass” implication. Nothing you do with your car should imply name-calling. > [@Lukeinva](#): > > Please look at the quote from the Wash Post in post #37. The headlight flasher thingy is to signal your intent to pass. That is its sole purpose. As has been pointed out, that reference is from an opinion/editorial page. Furthermore, although it’s difficult to tell for sure from the reference supplied, it looks like it’s from a letter to the editor, which means it has no authoritative value whatsoever. Your combative tone in this thread is more than a little puzzling. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/64 "2011-12-15T04:05:06Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, we don’t care. I never understood why some people expect us to care. > > This is what I do, but without the “dumbass” implication. Nothing you do with your car should imply name-calling. > > As has been pointed out, that reference is from an opinion/editorial page. Furthermore, although it’s difficult to tell for sure from the reference supplied, it looks like it’s from a letter to the editor, which means it has no authoritative value whatsoever. > > Your combative tone in this thread is more than a little puzzling. A thousand pardons, I’m not combative at all.. please forgive my passionate tone. Driving in public is serious, and I take it seriously. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/65 "2011-12-16T03:53:37Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I flash my brights at oncoming cars in two situations: > > 1. Brights are on, dumbass. > 2. Lights are off, dumbass. > > I flash my brights at cars passing me to let them know it’s safe to come back into my lane. > > That’s about it. What about: 3. look out, there are deer/dogs/kids in the road Those things get headlight flashes here too. I’ve never ever seen anyone flash to get someone to let them pass, though. When I read it in a thread here a couple of years ago I thought that the poster had created his own “rule” until a few others agreed with him. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/66 "2011-12-16T09:02:23Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, we don’t care. I never understood why some people expect us to care. Because driving into someone’s blind spot is dangerous. \*Very \*dangerous. Frankly, if you want to pick a fight with me on the road, drive into my blind spot - It’s the equivalent of waving a fist under my nose. I flash my lights so I won’t have to do that to other people. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/67 "2011-12-16T09:44:49Z")
Another point of data is that on the wiring diagrams on some European and Japanese cars, the switch that lets you momentarily flash your brights is actually called the “flash-to-pass switch”, which I think gives some indication of what its intended use is, at least in their home markets. Personally, I like the term “optical horn” which is what it was called in the manual of an old Ford Taurus I had. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/68 "2011-12-16T12:06:53Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Because driving into someone’s blind spot is dangerous. \*Very \*dangerous. > > Frankly, if you want to pick a fight with me on the road, drive into my blind spot - It’s the equivalent of waving a fist under my nose. I flash my lights so I won’t have to do that to other people. There are blind spots regardless of which side you’re passed on. If someone’s passing you on the right, they’re in your blind spot just as much as someone passing on the left. The bigger hazard is someone who gets in your blind spot and stays there – which is not what people who are passing you do. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/69 "2011-12-16T15:43:35Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Yeah, we don’t care. I never understood why some people expect us to care. It has nothing to do with blind spots, for me. IMHO, it’s a good system, because it makes traffic a bit more predictable, if everybody is taught “pass only left” and follows the rule. If I’m in the left lane, and I see somebody in the distance coming up on my ass, I move to the right at my first opportunity. In the European countries I’ve driven in, there’s no confusion as to who needs to do what in a passing situation. Passing car stays in left lane (on the Continent) and slow poke moves to the right. Here it can go either way (although pass on left is the rule in many, if not most, places) and adds an element of unpredictability which, IMHO, decreases safety. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/70 "2011-12-16T16:06:37Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > :rolleyes: > > They don’t put flashers in cars to be used to warn other drivers that there are cops ahead (or to say hi to your friends or any other such nonsense). > > The purpose of the “flasher” feature of headlights is to signal your intent to pass. That’s it, that’s the list. > > Unfortunately the majority of US drivers are not properly educated on how to drive. Nope. That’s not the whole list. It’s also to be used to signal an oncoming car that there high beams or brights are on and they need to turn them off. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/71 "2011-12-16T16:15:01Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > The only reason why people flash their lights around here is if; > > There’s a cop up ahead for the driver. > Their brights are on, or lights are off. > > Or some dumb ass is coming up behind me in the fast lane and even though I’m already going 20 over the speed limit on an empty stretch of highway he want’s to go faster. So instead of changing lanes and passing me, he’ll drive up right behind me and start flashing his lights like he’s playing his last game of Galaga until I move. If your on an empty stretch of highway, what are you doing in the left lane? Keep right except to pass. (I see Lukeinva had already been corrected enough times. Pardon my last post.) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/72 "2011-12-16T16:21:03Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > If your on an empty stretch of highway, what are you doing in the left lane? > > Keep right except to pass. This is the law in only a handful of states, so I wish people would stop pretending this is some kind of universal rule. When I took drivers education, the rule was “don’t change lanes more than you have to” and “pick a lane, pick a speed, and stick with it.” On a multi-lane highway with no traffic, there’s no reason that everyone must stay in the right lane. And, especially, if you are consistently going faster than the traffic in the right lane, it’s much, much safer for you to just stick to the left lane instead of shifting over and back every time you want to pass a slower driver. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/73 "2011-12-16T16:27:46Z")
> [@Dennis\_Arthur\_PERRETT](#): > > A bloke here in Australia said the worse thing you can do driving in your car in the US is flash your headlights to other motorist as it will be misconstrued as a message that you want to challenge them to a fight or duel or fisticuffs or something … not good nor recommended nor approved anyway, put it that way… furthermore, if its the wrong type of person, they are more than likely to turn around, chase you down, and then proceed to beat the living crap outa ya!!! Mate, Not Cool!!! > > _(snip)_ > > On no occasion does it mean Fight, I Hate You and I Wanna Get You… > > Is this bloke for real? Or is he Bullshittin me! Set me straight USA… Total. Complete. Bullshit. You flick your lights to: 1. remind a motorist without lights on he needs to light up 2. to signal to someone signalling to change lanes or pass that you see their signal light and are yielding to them/letting them pass/change lanes 3. to remind an asshole who left his brights/high beams on to lower them Of course, there probably ARE some complete dickheads out there spoiling for a fight, but they’ll use any excuse, not just headlights. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/74 "2011-12-16T16:38:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > This is the law in only a handful of states, so I wish people would stop pretending this is some kind of universal rule. When I took drivers education, the rule was “don’t change lanes more than you have to” and “pick a lane, pick a speed, and stick with it.” On a multi-lane highway with no traffic, there’s no reason that everyone must stay in the right lane. And, especially, if you are consistently going faster than the traffic in the right lane, it’s much, much safer for you to just stick to the left lane instead of shifting over and back every time you want to pass a slower driver. Key here is ‘Empty stretch of highway’. So you would not be switching back and forth. And getting over in the right lane to let someone that is going faster for you is a pretty universally accepted PREDICTABLE thing to do. No you may not get a ticket for parking it in the left lane on an empty highway, but it would clearly show that you are not a very good driver. I stand by the rule that keep right except to pass is the right way to do things, UNLESS you are passing a string of cars and the other option would be to continue to change back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/75 "2011-12-16T16:43:31Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I always want to ask how people think that someone could chase you down, apparently force you off the road, and get you out of your car, to administer a beatdown. Really??? **Mika** , something not unlike this happened to a friend of mine from elementary school, except that the driver followed him home rather than force him off the road, and rather than wait for him to get out of the car for the beatdown, shot him to death through the window. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/76 "2011-12-16T16:46:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > There are blind spots regardless of which side you’re passed on. If someone’s passing you on the right, they’re in your blind spot just as much as someone passing on the left. The bigger hazard is someone who gets in your blind spot and stays there – which is not what people who are passing you do. Your blind side on the right is much larger than on the left. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/77 "2011-12-16T16:51:05Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Key here is ‘Empty stretch of highway’. So you would not be switching back and forth. And getting over in the right lane to let someone that is going faster for you is a pretty universally accepted PREDICTABLE thing to do. No you may not get a ticket for parking it in the left lane on an empty highway, but it would clearly show that you are not a very good driver. > > I stand by the rule that keep right except to pass is the right way to do things, UNLESS you are passing a string of cars and the other option would be to continue to change back and forth. I see: (1) Tons of people driving in the left lane when they’re not passing. (2) A handful of people complaining about it. So, which one is “universally accepted” and “predictable”? I think if you find yourself continually complaining about people driving in the left lane, then it’s driving in the left lane that’s “universally accepted” and “predictable.” So just go with the flow. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/78 "2011-12-16T17:03:03Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I see: > > (1) Tons of people driving in the left lane when they’re not passing. > > (2) A handful of people complaining about it. > > So, which one is “universally accepted” and “predictable”? I think if you find yourself continually complaining about people driving in the left lane, then it’s driving in the left lane that’s “universally accepted” and “predictable.” So just go with the flow. Huh. And I don’t see tons of people that just camp in the left lane while not passing. It sure as heck is not something that I would expect say driving on I70 through the middle of the country. Though it does happen. Thing is, it would be safer if those that want to go with the average speed or flow of traffic to stay to the right, those that are going over that speed would not have to zig zag around the campers. Which is clearly a more dangerous situation than just moving to the right and letting people pass on your left. But then I guess I should stop this hi-jack. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/79 "2011-12-16T17:35:57Z")
As others have already said, I have always known it to mean “cop or other problem around the next bend or so” to the oncoming motorists, so they’d know to slow down or whatever. And generally if you’re sending that message, the signal is to flash your headlights a few times, not just the one time “on/off” that you do if you’re approaching someone who’s forgotten to dim his lights. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094/80 "2011-12-16T17:42:05Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Your blind side on the right is much larger than on the left. I’m not entirely sure that reflects my experience. I have my mirrors set [“wide,”](http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-5) so there isn’t really much, if any, of a blindspot as far as the adjacent lanes are concerned. (Cars merging from two lanes over can be missed, though.) That said, when merging right, I actually have an easier time, as I can quickly glance out the front and rear passenger windows in a way that’s not possible on the right. Also, some passenger side mirrors have a wide-angle perspective (“objects closer than they appear”) that give you a wider field of view than the driver side mirror. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-flashing-is-it-cool-usa/606094.md?page=5)