Driving Etiquitte

[DougTravels]

I never signal for them trucks to get back in unless they hit their signal and don't come over right away.

As far as the leap frog thing, it can't be cured. Unless you drive their pace or talk to every other driver on the radio. The problem is that their are 2 different schools of thought.

Stay right except to pass or stay out there and let the TT pass you on the right. I really don't see a solution.

So what I do is drive the wrong way on the shoulder Actually I pass them if I have time and space I move to the right. I am aware that if they are about to get boxed in behind me I will speed up to help them.

What I hate is when, I see that I am going to have to move from the right for a slower vehicle but I wait to let someone pass me first then they box me in. I try real hard even moving to the left lane to keep from boxing others. More often than not lately I just move out to pass early when I see I will be boxed in. Alot of times the situation is one of us is going to have to slow down, I choose them.

Then there's the zippers who want to pass all they can before the lane ending backup, I say get close get em loose and put em into the wall. I think, I am kidding.

 

[nightcreacher]

I turn my head lights on and off,but if the guy i just flashed doesn't acknowledge me with a thankyou,I then hit the high beams,figuring he didn't see it was ok to come over,and if he did see,he needs blinded to wake up.
I once had a 1977 KW,I had 2 headlight switches.One for the right and one for the left,lots of fun when you flash one light at a time.Trailer had lights up and over the back doors,they were on 2 switches also,every other light was on 1 switch,when you flashed thankyou,you could make half the lights go off, then the other half

 

[layoutshooter]

We must be careful when signaling a passing truck that he is clear. On more than one occasion a "flying 4 wheeler" has zipped passed on my left and shot accross to the right to pass the next truck just as he starts over. I often do NOT signal trucks in traffic for that reason. I don't want a wreck and I can just imagine the lawsuit. (pointing a finger at me) HE signaled that it was clear!! Layoutshooter

 

[greg334]

We must be careful when signaling a passing truck that he is clear. On more than one occasion a "flying 4 wheeler" has zipped passed on my left and shot accross to the right to pass the next truck just as he starts over.

This is one reason why I get p*ssed at trucks passing short (close to me like under two car lengths), I signal them not just to tell them it is clear but there is no idiots trying to get in between us.

I am their eyes too, I can see what they can't and if they can't wait, then it can put me in an uncontrollable situation (no escape).

 

[Humble2drive]

It's against the law, though. <shrug>

No bright lights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, or within 300 feet of one going in the same direction in front of you, whether they're passing you or you're passing them. The law makes no allowances for how brief a time your brights are on.

If we are going to operate on the assumption that you would actually be ticketed for a milisecond flash of a high beam then you must also rule out turning the headlights off for a second or two because that would also be ticketable.

Even a momentary flash of high beams caught in the rear view mirror can make the eye pupils contract, thereby destroying a driver's night vision, right at the time they'll be changing lanes.

I have peformed too many pupillary reaction tests to count. It takes 1-2 seconds for dilation to occur with direct light from 12 inches, so it does not seem probable that a quick flash of light reflected off a mirror from 200 feet would cause the destruction of night vision.

Just so you know, when old timers see someone flashing their high beams to let someone over, they all think the same thing - Rookie.

And when they sit in their truck and giggle as they watch me actually perform a thorough pre-trip inspection, I am sure they think the same thing.
I would not advocate making any decisions based on the possible judgement you may receive from an old timer.

The following is taken from:

Commercial Driver License Handbook


Communicating Your Presence


When Passing. Whenever you are about to pass a vehicle, pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist, assume they do not see you. They could suddenly move in front of you. When it is legal, tap the horn lightly or, at night, quickly flash your lights from low to high beam and back. Drive carefully enough to avoid an accident even if they don’t see or hear you.

It is funny that they would recommend that you flash your high
beams if it is illegal and dangerous.

Just some thoughts. It happens when we sit for the weekend.