# Someone flashes their high-beams at you. Your high-beams aren't on. What do you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413 "2015-01-09T17:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/1 "2015-01-09T17:04:53Z")
I have a new pickup which sets up fairly high and also has fairly bright headlights. The headlights are adjustable and I have them pointed down as far as they will go. People still flash their high-beams at me occasionally. I usually do nothing. So what do you do? Flash your high-beams and temporarily blind them so that they’ll know that you’re doing the best that you can or do you do nothing? Or do you do something else. And no, I’m not talking about someone flashing their lights to let you know a policeman is nearby. Poll coming. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/2 "2015-01-09T17:18:23Z")
They are trying to tell you that your lights are too bright and blinding them. I know you have tried to fix this, but apparently havent gone far enough. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/3 "2015-01-09T17:22:13Z")
Part of me knows that _most_ pickups and large SUVs are built ridiculously high, and it’s not necessarily their owners fault that their headlights are shining into my rear window. But another part of me is like, “Screw you, consumers.” So let them think you’re a jerk, and feel bad on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/4 "2015-01-09T17:23:03Z")
Aren’t you supposed to shoot them? 😃 I don’t have a good answer. Maybe, if it’s not too physically difficult or distracting, flick your headlights \*off \*for a fraction of a second. I do know that I’ve spent too much time being followed by newer pickups that seem intent on giving me a good tan via he reflection of their blinding headlights in my mirrors… ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/5 "2015-01-09T17:38:45Z")
None of the above; I’d wonder if there was a cop up ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/6 "2015-01-09T17:39:22Z")
This doesn’t come up too much any more. I haven’t driven on highways where this comes up in a long while. But when I did, I vote “other”. Especially in the transition days to halogen bulbs, people would confuse halogens for high beams. So after they shined me, I’d click my high beams on and leave them, yelling at the other driver “learn to tell the difference!” and “dim your fucking lights!” (not that they could ever hear me). I was right and they were wrong. Life was simpler with that attitude. Nowadays if it happens I just ignore it. Drive with a sideways glance until they pass. I had a lot of anger back then… ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/7 "2015-01-09T17:41:44Z")
> [@TheFaerie](#): > > None of the above; I’d wonder if there was a cop up ahead. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/8 "2015-01-09T17:46:40Z")
Slow down! There is a speed trap ahead. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/9 "2015-01-09T17:49:57Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > So what do you do? Flash your high-beams and temporarily blind them… I don’t get why you think flashing the high-beams will temporarily blind them. On most cars a quick high/low flick takes a small fraction of a second. Even on models where the mechanism has to be activated twice (foot switch, older GM turn signal lever) it can be done in about a second. Not to mention they’re already being blinded or they wouldn’t have flashed in the first place. > [@DrDeth](#): > > They are trying to tell you that your lights are too bright and blinding them. > > I know you have tried to fix this, but apparently havent gone far enough. Not much else he can do besides lower the suspension or buy a shorter vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/10 "2015-01-09T17:53:16Z")
[Crocodile Dundee voice] “\*Those \*aren’t high beams. Now \*these \*are my high beams!” [/cdv] ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/11 "2015-01-09T18:05:19Z")
If my high-beams aren’t on when someone flashes theirs at me, I’ll flash my high-beams once to demonstrate that they were/are off. That is the response I would hope to receive if the situation were reversed; there have been cases where I suspected other drivers of running their high-beams, and after flashing my high-beams at them and receiving no response of any kind, wished them a painful death. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/12 "2015-01-09T18:23:23Z")
In my car, which is low to the ground, I flash back. In the RV, I don’t, because 1) I’m up higher and may be blinding someone or 2) I think my lights may need alignment, which I’m going to check on this spring. And just to get it off my chest, I really hate those fucking blue halogen blinders that people put in their cars, and truck drivers that run with their off-road and fog lights blasting. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/13 "2015-01-09T18:29:52Z")
Slow down, look for road hazards or police. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/14 "2015-01-09T18:49:01Z")
I thought flashing high beams was the highway equivalent of throwing out beads at Mardi Grass. But no, there is no need for a truck driver to flash their high beams in return. They are doing enough already. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/15 "2015-01-09T18:53:23Z")
I drive a pick up (albeit a compact) and set up higher than anything lower than a crossover. I just ignore the flash. Full sized trucks/SUVs will do the same to me and I know it’s just the vehicle and ignore that too. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/16 "2015-01-09T19:13:00Z")
When someone flashes their high beams at me I toss them a strand of beads. I thought that was the deal? ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/17 "2015-01-09T19:20:48Z")
I don’t flash back and check what else except high beams might be wrong with my vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/18 "2015-01-09T19:26:50Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Slow down, look for road hazards or police. This, my first thought would be to watch for deer crossing ahead (in a rural area) or a speed trap (elsewhere). ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/19 "2015-01-09T19:49:11Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I don’t get why you think flashing the high-beams will temporarily blind them. On most cars a quick high/low flick takes a small fraction of a second. Even on models where the mechanism has to be activated twice (foot switch, older GM turn signal lever) it can be done in about a second. Not to mention they’re already being blinded or they wouldn’t have flashed in the first place. Usually, the other driver waits until they’re pretty close to flash. This is Oklahoma where people are extremely polite and they drive accordingly. For instance, people almost never use their horns except in emergencies. It’s considered rude. So, if they wait until close to the last second to flash me (they’ve given me the benefit of the doubt for as long as they can), then they’re maybe 100-200 feet away. My high-beams are REALLY bright and it would be kind of like a flash bulb going off. I don’t want to startle the other driver although I freely admit that I might be overly concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413/20 "2015-01-09T19:51:04Z")
As for those that mention police, deer, etc, I thought the tradition was turn blink the lights on and off, not low to high. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-flashes-their-high-beams-at-you-your-high-beams-arent-on-what-do-you-do/709413.md?page=2)