I have a real dislike for people who use their bright lights. This is much more dangerous than turning lights off and back on as a signal.

There have been many times I have been blinded by idiots on the road that just do not know better. Likewise, those who use fog lights when there is no need. Sometimes, I think those who teach driver training got their lessons from someone who has no experience on the highway.

No, I have no problem with signaling others when it is safe to move over or as a thank you. But, like you, these people who love their bright lights should have their dimmer switch removed.

Signaling is a personal thing, but it can be considered as a safety thing also, as there have been just as many incidents where people pull back in too soon after passing that can cause accidents. No, I have never seen any written regulation against signaling. Flashing is another thing entirely. Flash me with bright lights and I don't acknowledge.

10-4 - signaling by on/off is the only safe way to signal clearance. Flashing; especially when someone is looking in their rear-view mirror totally blinds the driver ahead. I will never acknowledge someone who does this.

I flash, not to 'play the game,' but to accomplish something. Like, those towing (esp at night) and pass at a relatively slow speed. But those fast-moving, speeding truckers that pass me get nil! I flash straight trucks at night in heavy traffic too.

I also discovered many years ago, that 'trucking snobbery' still lives!! I've seen the O/O's flash an independent in front of me, and then when I pass (as a national carrier), I get nil! That's OK, snobs, I really dont care....I know when I'm clear....

Maybe that wasn't the intention Jam. The driver might have been re-freshing his cup of go juice; having a niko-teen fit, tuning the radio, or chatting on the CB or something and you just got left out. Maybe? I'd give ya a flash fur shur, fur shur! Just out a polite ness.

How true and how sad, we used to all sit and drink cofee together, well its like you said we are a dying breed brother.

I still flash (with my low beams only) whether I'm in a truck or a car. It is nice to be thanked, but I don't get mad when I'm not thanked. I do it to be respectful and polite. I had a nice experience today, one that has never happened before. I now drive a straight truck, and usually I am on my own when it comes to merging and lane changing. It can be a challenge sometimes since the truck I drive doesn't have a lot of power, and I usually am loaded heavy. Today, I was merging on the interstate and a tractor trailer not only slowed down and made room for me, but also flashed me. That made me real happy and made me realize that courtesy still lives. It was nice because eventhough I am not driving a tractor trailer, a trucker out there was nice to me. I am not the kind of driver who forces his way on the interstate either. In Maine, there are a lot of yield signs rather than merges on the interstate. When it says yield, I yield.

Wow never thought it was so complicated or such a big issue, Having come from Europe I allways flash my lights to let the passing driver no he is clear and I am happy with the Gap/Spacing. and yes day or night a quick main beam or high flash, its common practice in Europe I have been doing it for nearly 27 years hardly a newby. and it is allways common courtesey to blink your right / left / then right again turn indicators as a polite thank you to the driver you have just passed. In 27 years of driving in Europe I could count on one hand the number of times a driver has failed to reply with a thank you blink. in fact its common for car drivers to also flash heavy trucks in once they are passed. and a truck driver would never not let another truck driver out at a junction, its common for truckers to stradle lanes and hold trafic up to let another trucker out at a junction or intersection.

From five years living in Europe, I could not tell you if this is true or not. All I ever saw was a line of trucks that stayed in the right lane unless entering or exiting the Autobahn. Trucks were very restricted in Europe (speed and traffic lanes). However, this is just my observation and has nothing to do with understanding the laws as written.

With my limited knowledge of the trucking profession in Europe, I have always wondered about that world, as it seemed quite different from the US and Canada. I have seen a couple decent truck stops in Europe, but can't remember where they were. One was somewhere in South Eastern France.

Still, using bright lights to flash in someones eyes (in the rear view mirror) is not what I consider being considerate. It's down right blinding at times.

Just goes to show that Schools don't always have the right answers. Rather than take away from the good, they should expound on it and make it better.

Bright lights should tell everyone something that is common sense: they are bright and that means they can and do blind other drivers.

I do think that the proper use of signaling serves a purpose as well as displays a sense of caring about others on the highway. Those who pull back in too soon on a rainy day can see in their rear view mirrors also, but they don't seem to care about the driver they pass. Sure, the windshield is going to get dirty anyway, but pulling in too soon can cause problems for the driver behind. On an interstate highway, that is inexcusable and just bad manners. On a bad day I won't use my lights to say okay until the passing truck is ahead of me a reasonable distance.

You can tell the professionals from the rest. They stand out. To those who always show consideration, I thank you.

In Italy, drivers will get behind someone and turn their headlights off, leaving the markers on and just draft on down the road. Freaked me out the first time I saw it.

LB