eagerbeaver:
I learnt something new this week. When other drivers stick their hand out of the window and do a ’ coffee shaker ’ type gesture, they are NOT inviting you for coffee at the next services.For the last 2 years I have been thinking I was really popular, and loads of people wanted a drink with me.
No wonder when I get to the services, they aren’t there.
Bahahaha 
I’ll wait for a flash in - I’ll try to give other drivers their space and not invade it . if you flash me in sooner fair enough , if you don’t no worries I’ll be in when I’m good and ready .
newmercman:
CF, I always used the lights to say thanks at night, even before my Gucci steering wheel, a couple of seconds of darkness is no more dangerous than looking in the mirrors, changing a CD, sneezing or lighting a ■■■. .
To be fair anything which removes attention or vision from the road ahead is never ideal.
But it’s more an issue of if the law are around to see it in this case 
bearing in mind they can see a truck turn all its lights off from a distance.The idea of using the indicators at night and lights during the day makes more sense in that regard. 
robroy:
Can’t even be arsed to respond to this cack.Oh [zb]! …I have
Yep 
Before all dancing indicator stuff, back in the mists of time, we used to briefly flash the sidelights on and off to say ‘thanks’. It wasn’t as safe because they could be mistaken for brake lights, which is probably why the dancing winkers took over.
In those days there were still more than the odd drivers who wouldn’t flash you in or acknowledge you when you flashed them in. And there were drivers who cut you up because they’d lose power on the slightest incline with the much lower performance lorries we used to have. The massive difference in culture came when speed-limiters came in to force, and it got progressively worse as the older lorries (still without limiters) aged and retired. You used to be able to accelerate yourself out of trouble on a simple overtaking manoeuvre, but you no longer can so you have to judge everything in slow-motion.
The thing I always bear in mind is what I was taught by the instructor: at the end of the day no headlamp flashing is actually required by the highway code other than as a visual warning of approach, so never rely on it. Notwithstanding which, I’ve always used the code and found it useful. Robert
rather going from emergency braking to the next then having Time for flashing
robert1952:
Before all dancing indicator stuff, back in the mists of time, we used to briefly flash the sidelights on and off to say ‘thanks’. It wasn’t as safe because they could be mistaken for brake lights, which is probably why the dancing winkers took over.The thing I always bear in mind is what I was taught by the instructor: at the end of the day no headlamp flashing is actually required by the highway code other than as a visual warning of approach, so never rely on it. Notwithstanding which, I’ve always used the code and found it useful. Robert
+1
Not withstanding the night issue there seems to be some anecdotal evidence which suggests that using indicators instead of side lights might have originated as part of the continentals taking up the idea from us and then altering it.Possibly along the lines and reasoning which you’ve described ?.
Carryfast:
robert1952:
Before all dancing indicator stuff, back in the mists of time, we used to briefly flash the sidelights on and off to say ‘thanks’. It wasn’t as safe because they could be mistaken for brake lights, which is probably why the dancing winkers took over.The thing I always bear in mind is what I was taught by the instructor: at the end of the day no headlamp flashing is actually required by the highway code other than as a visual warning of approach, so never rely on it. Notwithstanding which, I’ve always used the code and found it useful. Robert
+1
Not withstanding the night issue there seems to be some anecdotal evidence which suggests that using indicators instead of side lights might have originated as part of the continentals taking up the idea from us and then altering it.Possibly along the lines and reasoning which you’ve described ?.
Yes indeed, I can’t remember how the chicken and egg situation developed there! Robert
Carryfast:
Toddy2:
It was the Scottish boys, followed by the northerners that started the winker stuff,We were certainly using indicators to send a thanks on night trunking in the 1980’s and that wasn’t a new thing even then.That was based in the Norvern heartlands of…Feltham which as I remember it is saf of Watford.
You are quite right CF, it was in by the eighties, but when I used to go on trunk with my late Dad, it was the 60’s & 70’s, he told me that it was Scottish meat boys that used to run to Smithfield market where he first saw the winker stuff
I flash anyone in. Mostly get thanked by vans (the Tesco/Ocado type vans. Tend to pass wide and quickly, unlike some…).
toby1234abc:
The reason why, it started from the days when tiny mirrors vibrated on lorries in the 50,s and 60,s.
Modern vehicles have large enough mirrors.
We all get the sarcastic driver who did not get flashed in, so he does the left right left right indication .
You flash in a professional, he does not thank you back, just ban all of the nonsense.
I was in lane two, the Muppet in lane one flashed me in , if I had moved over to lane one , I would have ploughed in to almost stationary traffic queuing to exit the slip road.
Another sport among brain dead lorry drivers, is to pull out in to lane two with a few clicks on the indication, resulting in you hauling up the anchors or in some cases to avoid a collision, forcing a lorry to shift over to lane three .
Lastly, trucks joining the motorway from a Msa or slip road, indication does not give you the right of way .
We share the roads with these idiots, we all allow for car drivers cutting us up, but fellow drivers and their standards of driving is nothing short of being not allowed to drive a wheel barrow .
I have found UK registered trucks the worst, I have no clue of the drivers rationality .
Foreign trucks are the most courteous and polite on UK roads.
Look at it this way, in a hundred years who’s going to care?
I know it was done back in the 70,s I think the reason we used sidelights to say thank you was because it was easier than the indicators I know in the AEC the lights were on two switches one for sides and one for main lights you could turn the mains on and if the sides were off so were the main bear in mind we didnt have the ability to flash headlights going from dip to main was done via a floor switch. So you would flick your sides which would also switch on the mains. And indicator stalks were quite ■■■■■■■■■■■ Now when we had candles but thats another story hehe.
The old Bakerlite indicator switches wouldn’t have made ‘dancing indicator’ practice at all easy! Robert 
A useless piece of trivial info here, …but as far as I remember when we all flashed each other in and returned with flashing tail lights, it was the visiting Dutch and German drivers that started off the alternative indicator dance, not the Jocks and the Cockneys that have been stated.
You can all sleep better now after learning this essential important information 
.
I always find its easier and less hassle running off the limiter,that way I dont need to bother doing much flashing… 
dieseldog999:
I always find its easier and less hassle running off the limiter,that way I dont need to bother doing much flashing…
Not even when a Tesco motor flashes you in?
Robert1952 ah the good old indicator switch, i suppose we did have dancing indicators because you never knew which was left or right especially if they fitted the switch up th other way, now where,s me left and right gloves.
In Zimbabwe if you come up behind a slow rig on a single he will quickly put on his left indicator to say its clear to go, in RSA they put on the right side indicator to say its clear to pass, work that one out
I tend to flash lorries in if they overtake, sure mirrors are good enough to judge it yourself but its a nice thing to do and just makes life that little bit easier for the trucker. I did notice a difference with some lorries in the north who ‘thank’ you before indicating in, whereas most others I’ve seen do it after moving back in, anyone else noticed this?
I just hold main beam on if I see indicator come on at safe distance, when they cancel and start to pull in it goes aff. 