Point is, no one should ever flash high beams in someone's rear view mirror.

The simple turn off/turn on systems has worked quite well for the past 80 years or more.

I just don't understand why people can't think. It is common sense. Why would they like someone blinding them?

Common sense just is not all that common.

Is there any hope for the human race?

x For Big truck truck drivers who have to contend with Big trucks that try to do the thinking FOR the Big truck drivers, it's kinda hard to turn off always on headlights.
Same thing in Big truck truck stops when you're trying to back into a tight spot at night (in the rain) and the Big truck waiting for you to complete your task can't turn their headlights off so as not to blind you.

Whatever happened to Big truck truck drivers who were expected to be able to think for themSELVES?

Autoshift transmissions, always on headlights, -- what's next?
I'm afraid to flip the switch labeled "wipers".

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Pontificating Dogmatist

Mile markers usually mean miles in the state at which you are depending on the way your traveling. East to west and North to South usually mean how many miles left in that state. West to East and South to north the miles tend to go up unless your in new york where they are all screwed up. In most states--mile markers will also match the exits. Mile markers are used for emergencies--say you get in trouble and need someone with help to find you --you can tell them where you are if you know the mile marker you are at. East to west and North to south--mile marker numbers go down--West to East and South to North they go up. Hopefully this helps some.

"In most states--mile markers will also match the exits."

On almost every interstate and secondary road in Massachusetts, mile markers aren't even close to the exit numbers. Some highways in my state don't even have MM signs. If I am on an unfamiliar road, I always pay attention to the exit signs so I can call for help if I see someone is broken down (nope, I don't stop.)

I bought a car with an auto GPS system and friendly voice at the push of button, a very helpful feature if you witness an accident. Which I did twice in the past year. Yes, I stopped at both of those to offer whatever help I could. Mercifully, no one in either accident was hurt seriously.

C'mon now! Are you trying to tell me that that CDL (Commercial Drivers License) did not make everyone who drives one of them Big Trucks, "Professional Drivers?"

No wonder the promises of higher wages thanks to States Charging more money for a drivers license now represents between $9 per hour and $12 per hour in many communities, rather than all the hoopla about a minimum of $19 per hour to start out.

Do all these CDL equipped Big Truck Drivers rate higher pay when they can't even turn on and off headlights so not to blind others in tight places and bad weather, or late night passing.

Well, I was a Big Truck Truck Driver for many years and I always went by the old rules and never believed all the Government malarkey as I knew it was just a way to increase revenue and hurt a bunch of people.

On OFF ON OFF ON OFF and do it when it is safe.

Learn where the end of your trailer is, you won't need any help.

I make it a point to flash in and blink blink back. I will even do it if I am not flashed. Just do like I do pick your cb up and say flash, flash , blink , blink, I am to lazy to reach for the dash! Some of us are old school and some are not. Lead by example my friend and brother, teach the young. See you on the road, The world famous OUTLAW!

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Don't send your organs to heaven. Lord only knows we need them down here. I am a double transplant patient. Ask me what being on a waiting list is like.

Well flashing truckers lets see now.Flashing lights maybe good buddies,flashing I like it when women do it but not the men lol.

I agree. Safety is the most important thing. That's why I don't agree with building in supposed "safety" with always-on headlights. I can think, I think. And I know when to turn my lights on, as well as when to turn them off. I don't need a machine to make that decision for me.

Flashing other Big truck truck drivers over is more than it appears on the surface. Let me explain...............
When I'm being passed by another Big truck, I glance over at the driver. If I see that driver looking back, I give a little wave -- just being friendly. As they pass, I'm observing and listening. For what? Low or flat tires or any strange sound, so I can try to make the other driver aware over the CB radio. When they've cleared me, I flash them with my headlights. Not so much because I think they actually NEED me to do that, it's just a friendly gesture -- the same as passing someone going in the opposite direction when I'm walking. I tend to be the type of person who says "HI" as we pass. Just being friendly.

When I flash another driver I get a 'feel' of their driving personality when and if they return a 'blink-blink. Same as saying "HI", and being ignored, or having my greeting returned. It can also be an indicator of their level of alertness. If they're offended, and think I'm trying to 'drive their Big truck for them', it gives me an insight to their driving personality. Nothing could be further from the truth. I assume they have a chip on their shoulder and give them plenty of room.

In inclement weather, flashing of headlights CAN be of benefit. It doesn't mean they HAVE to bring 'er back immediately -- it's just an indicator that they're clear to come back and I'm aware that they might. It also indicates that I'm probably alert to the situation.

When I'm passing and another driver flashes me, I blink-blink, but I don't move over right away -- especially if the roads are wet. I wait until I put more distance betwixt us before I bring 'er back -- to avoid throwing dirty water on their windshields.
After I move back over, I blink-blink them again, and go on my merry way. It feels good when I do that, so I do.

More and more, the industry seems to be trying to remove the personal touch from what's been common practice -- even tradition. We're told that if we flash another Big truck truck driver over, and he does, and, SOMEhow causes a crash, it's OUR fault. IMO, if another Big truck truck driver blunders upon being flashed, it's THIER fault, NOT the flashing driver. Which goes to my opinion of the quality of the 'new breed' of Big truck steering wheel holders that they're graduation from Big truck truckin' schools these daze.

Big truck truckin' USED to be more friendly. For many reasons, that seems to be changing. That's a sad thing, I think. What's to be gained by discouraging Big truck truck drivers from flashing each other? Personally, I don't see any problem(s) created by doing so, but I DO see good reasons for the practice.

More and more we have desk drivers telling us how to operate our Big trucks out on the highways and byways. Folks who haven't a clue -- most having never experienced driving a Big truck at all. They just have a brain fart one day and put their idea in the suggestion box with a heading of 'safety,' and the powers that be reward us with another new rule.
Add that to the 'no idle' laws, which IMO does NOT promote 'safety' and we get a snap-shot of where the industry is headed --- downhill and out of control.

Meanwhile, they cry about a driver shortage.
Oh well, I reckon there'll be new seat fillers from Mexico to take up the slack.
BTW, anyone know how to flash-flash -- blink-blink in Spanish?

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Pontificating Dogmatist

Concerning, "flashing": I am glad I got the "straight" on which "flashing" you were refering to.
Courtesy is not just an acknowledgement for a deed. It is a "deed" from one person to another and there does not have to be an action from the first person for the second person to be courteous. A good deed would be an illustrious act from one person to another and there does not have to be a particular reason for this.
The actual reason for a driver to "flash"(as with lights) another driver that has just passed him(or her), more often at night than day, is a safety courtesy. At night, especially with traffic and their lights, the reduction in vision, and the 65 or so feet from a driver to the rear of his(or her) trailer, it is hard to judge distance. One driver usually "flashes" his(or her) lights so that it can be confirmed to the passing driver that he(or she) is in a safety zone and it is alright to change lanes.
This is a two part safety courtesy. #1)- to the driver passing, and #2)- to the driver being passed so there is less chance he(or she) will be forced off the road or lose a front end, or something worse. The #2 reason is enough for us all to continue "flashing" even if it is not acknoledged.
PLEASE! Do not stop doing "good deeds" because you think your actions are not appreciated. This tit-for-tat type of behavior will never enhance anything in our lives. I use the urinal on the wall to urinate even though, by the looks of wet toilet seats, I am surely the only one or at least one in a million that do this.
The wave of apparent lack of respect(trashed restrooms,bottles of urine,vulgar drivers, wet toilet seats, just plain sick individuals, lack of courtesy, etc..) does not mean I have to join a fad. I will continue to do what I think is right and if I stand out, that is all the better. Stick by your guns hand and the rest be darned