communicating with head lights

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Sahyinepu, Apr 29, 2008.

  1. Sahyinepu

    Sahyinepu Bobtail Member

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    Apr 28, 2008
    Houston, Texas
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    I live in the Houston area and needless to say we have a lot of trucks on the roads trying to get here and there. Since I want toilet paper to whipe my butt, fuel for my vehicle and clothing and all, I understand the importance of letting trucks get over and not miss their exits. I flip my lights at them, but remember from talking to Greyhound bus drivers that there is a specific means of communication with headlights. What are they, as I can't remember it straight and want to do the right "talk". I recal there is a specific on off once or twice to let someone over, and the opposite for thanks, etc.
     
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  3. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
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    A couple of quick flashes "on and off" will do. Provided you are able to do it lke that. Otherwise, you'll have to flash the highbeams. I prefer to flash my driving lights at night when I'm in my car, to prevent blinding a driver.

    Meeting a truck and flashing, usually means a cop or some kind of potential trouble ahead.

    Most Bus drivers use hand signals when meeting others. I don't know anything about using lights on the bus for signaling.
     
  4. Otter

    Otter Light Load Member

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    Mar 16, 2008
    Milton, VT.
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    If the truck passing you puts his turn signal on before he is past you, then one quick flash of the high beams tells him he's clear.
    If the truck passing you doesn't put his turn signal on until he is well past you, then you need not flash him.
    Many companies discourage drivers from signaling with the headlights, some even have rules against it.
     
  5. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    Feb 13, 2008
    Denver, CO
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    Please don't use the high beams! An on/off flick of the main lights will communicate just as well, or better - and runs zero risk of blinding the guy ahead of you.

    As for me, I flash the lights, signal or no. Just because he is rude doesn't mean I have to be. Sure, he may not intend to move back over - that's his call.

    If he doesn't counter-flash with the marker lights as a thank you, I generally assume he's got his hands full for some reason... probably looking for his brains.

    'Course, if he doesn't signal at all, and then moves over, I flip up the protective cover on the De-Trafficator switch, preparatory to blowing his rig, with him in it, to kingdom come.
     
  6. 2xR

    2xR Medium Load Member

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    Dec 12, 2006
    Ol' North State
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    It has been stated, by trucking safety professionals, that the act of "wishing", or, "thinking" of bad things happening to your fellow motorist is a form of road-rage, albeit the earliest stages.

    Just thought you should know.

    I'm not being critical because I too have my fantasies. Like the array of heat seekers mounted under the bumper and the electronically fired 50 calibers affixed to the fenders.

    Oh yeah!!! Traffic is moving well on the Cross Bronx this afternoon.
     
  7. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    Feb 13, 2008
    Denver, CO
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    and all this time, I keep hearing that 'fantasies are healthy"! :)

    oh, yeah! not to mention the array of metalstorm boxes!

    "Pedestrian? What pedestrian, officer? "
     
  8. Royedw

    Royedw Bobtail Member

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    May 2, 2008
    Lynchburg, VA
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    I was advised by one trainer to "never" signal a four wheeler to move through an intersection to get them out of your way because if they're in an accident you could be held liable. I believe that's why companies have rules against signaling any other drivers. Having said that when you're running in the middle of a train you want somebody to tell you its safe to move over so the other guy can come on up... (oh gosh,.. do drivers do that anymore???)
     
  9. Lurchgs

    Lurchgs Road Train Member

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    Denver, CO
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    he was right. In that case, you are directing traffic - a job most of us are not qualified to perform, and in any case we are not hired to do that. Signaling that it's safe to pass is also a no-no.

    However, signaling to another driver that it's safe to swing back in front of you is another ball of wax. At that point YOU control the spacing. Unless your depth perception is more than a little off, there should be no problems. If you flash too early, it's a simple matter to back off a bit and give yourself more cushion.
     
  10. Bayle

    Bayle Road Train Member

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    Cottage Grove, MN
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    Typically in the daytime, I use a long flash. I will put the lights on for a few seconds and off, usually twice. That way the driver can see that the lights were on and or off at some point. At night it's usually a quick couple of flashes at you can obviously see the lights in your periperal vision.
     
  11. DngrKat

    DngrKat Bobtail Member

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    May 16, 2008
    Phoenix, AZ
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    Excellent call Lurch!

    "Please don't use the high beams! An on/off flick of the main lights will communicate just as well, or better - and runs zero risk of blinding the guy ahead of you."

    When and if you see a high beam flashed on you, it usually means you're too close. You messed up pulling over so close to a Big-Truck and he's very uncomfortable with it, and probably had to back out of it for you, dumping 1/32 of his fueltank for you too.

    We don't "talk with our lights" with four-wheelers, because they're already too confused and they are not an OTR Trucker. We don't need to include them in our own communication sceme and contribute to their 'already way too dangerous to truckers' mentality. Four-wheelers are on their own.

    If I pass a truck and get a truck-length ahead of him and then look in my passenger-side mirror for the truck behind me to signal I'm okay to come over, I really hate it when he flashes his brights on me, temporarily blinding me, and of course pissing me off, as I try and see the side of the road now, to get over. When I recover, and stop cussing, I don't return the thank-you signal, because he needs to learn how to signal other drivers, as the rest of us did.

    Usually, a 3-5 second 'lights off' signal is customary in the nightime, signaling a safe moveover. And it's usually returned with a creative 'thank-you' light show. It's fun to see how creative you can get, assuming it's business-as-usual, and nothing crazy is happening to have to keep your focus on instead.

    If a driver is coming around your truck with his blinkers already on, You know he's about to come over way too soon, and you'll have to back out of it usually. That's a no-no, and scares a lot of us out here. We forget our manners sometimes!
     
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