proper way to say thanks

pantherii

Expert Expediter
Just out of curiousity, when passing a truck and are trying to get back over in the right hand lane and a semi either flashes you or turn lights on and off, whats the proper way too say thanks? I usualy turn my 4 ways on for 2 to 3 times?
 

RichM

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Panther if you go to the General Forum and scan back 3 pages there is a thread started by Danny D that advises of this problem. BTW Blinker fluid is forecasted to hit $100 a barrel next week. Just today I saw an example of low grade blinker fluid, A small diminutive female driving a Ford Expedition had her blinker on to turn right,but she turned left, she had something glued to her left ear so that may have been the reason.
 

Packmule

Expert Expediter
That'll work!! or you could just hit your light interupt switch a time or two. but DON"T hit the brake lights!!!!!!!!!

Dan
 
G

guest

Guest
I'm glad someone brought this up. I almost always flash my brights to let guys know they are clear to come back into the right hand lane at night. I do this A LOT, because I tend to drive exactly the speed limit and get passed a lot. One thing that I'm sure most of you have noticed is that every now and then a truck will have a spotlight rigged up and he will flash you with it after you flash him to let him know he's clear to get back in the right lane. What is the deal with these spotlight guys? I'm trying to help him get back into the right lane safely and I am blinded by this spotlight as a thank you? Are these guys flashing these things to say they don't like having the truck they just passed flashing them to let them know they are clear? Do they think that other trucks would rather be flashed with a spotlight rather than just blinking the clearance lights a time or two? I really don't understand what the spotlight means. Do the spotlight guys not realize that getting flashed directly with a spotlight by the truck in front of you is not much of a thank you? Maybe I'm missing something.
 

sixwheeler

Expert Expediter
Personally those flashing bright lights drives me nuts. Its dark, you ve got your eyes adjusted to the darkness, and looking into that right hand mirror, to get back over. Somebody flashes those brights and its quite blinding sometimes. I would rather get the on-off thing or nothing at all. Maybe thts the deal w/ the spotlight...revenge. If they look like they re out there staggering around in the hammer lane
you can always say something on the radio like "you got it there
big truck" sometimes you even get a little welcome conversation in the bargain.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I agree with Sixwheeler. Don't flash brights. I have flashed my brights during the day but never at night.
 
G

guest

Guest
Okay, so some people don't like getting flashed to let them know they are clear. Got it.
 

Critter Truckin

Expert Expediter
However, I rarely ever object with the woman flashing highbeams at me. I say rarely, because there are just some out there that should keep the puppies in the house.

But I, too, hate the high beams in the face. I have blue eyes, and as we all know, blue eyes are the most sensitive to light. And at night... IT SUCKS!!!
 

DocRushing

Expert Expediter
Ditto on the flashing.
Yes, drivers appreciate "clear" signals.
High-beam flashes are OK in the daylight.
However, in the darkness of night, many drivers prefer to get "off" flashes rather than high-beam flashes.
There's also one other factor:
Many 18-wheel drivers dislike -- sometimes strongly dislike -- drivers of vans and straight trucks.
And sometimes some of them show their feelings through their behavior toward us.
That may contribute to some of the spotlight answers.
That's just another excuse for them to act ugly toward us.
(One time a Swift superdriver obviously tried to force me onto the right shoulder -- while he passed me -- while he was still alongside me -- because he apparently felt offended by my presence -- because I had dared to obey the reduced speed limit in a work zone.)
Best wishes,
Doc.
 

sixwheeler

Expert Expediter
Not trying to knock anybody here, but if you see a swift truck passing you give plenty of room. Those guys are mostly new and the same can be said for a lot schneiders pams and a few others. The new guys driving those 18 wheelers havent quite gotten used to the slant in the road in the left lane, which is a whole lot more noticeable in a semi. Just give them room because if they hit ya you re gonna lose.
 
G

guest

Guest
I still don't know whether the spotlight guys are doing it to protest the flash of the brights of the guy they just passed or if they think the spotlight is a way of saying thank you. My on off headlight switch is too far from the wheel to get to safely the number of times I get passed at night, so I'll just let them guess when they are clear. Thanks for the votes against flashing the brights, though. I really wasn't aware that it bothered folks that much. When I pass trucks and I get a flash I am just happy to know that the guy I just passed is paying attention and isn't going to suddenly start racing me, like 4 wheelers sometimes seem to do.
 
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