busteredwards:
What’s happenng these days? I flash overtaking trucks back in once they’ve passed, & have noticed that it’s becoming increasingly rare to get a thank you from these fellow truckers. Drove to Aberdeen & back today & the vast majority never acknowledged me…I’m beginning to feel a bit unloved!
On a serious note though, I don’t think I’ll bother my arse from now on!
Or is it just me■■?
Perhaps because using indicators or hazards for other than their intended purpose is illegal, and if you’re caught you can be fined. There are also cops travelling in unmarked trucks to catch out truckers breaking the law by using mobiles, not wearing seat belts and so on. So drivers don’t know if you’re a spy or not.
Also, in my experience now, many truckers don’t pass you by anything like a safe distance before pulling in - they pull in after a hair’s breadth and put you in the position of tailgating. So I rarely get an opportunity to flash someone in.
busteredwards:
What’s happenng these days? I flash overtaking trucks back in once they’ve passed, & have noticed that it’s becoming increasingly rare to get a thank you from these fellow truckers. Drove to Aberdeen & back today & the vast majority never acknowledged me…I’m beginning to feel a bit unloved!
On a serious note though, I don’t think I’ll bother my arse from now on!
Or is it just me■■?
Perhaps because using indicators or hazards for other than their intended purpose is illegal, and if you’re caught you can be fined. There are also cops travelling in unmarked trucks to catch out truckers breaking the law by using mobiles, not wearing seat belts and so on. So drivers don’t know if you’re a spy or not.
Also, in my experience now, many truckers don’t pass you by anything like a safe distance before pulling in - they pull in after a hair’s breadth and put you in the position of tailgating. So I rarely get an opportunity to flash someone in.
You are quite correct about using hazards and indicators incorrectly but why not go back to the way it used to be?
It was completely legal and everyone flashed everyone else in and everyone said thank you. Rigids and artics.
All this use of hazards and indicators flashing everywhere is crap.
I need to be flashed in cause my eyesights so bad I cant see where the end of my trailer is Your right we always used to be polite to one another, not anymore I met bully boy the other day coming up the M4 saw this truck coming down the slip but I was passed him next thing hes up the inside of me and had to run on the hard shoulder until i moved any body else would have just backed of a bit and come out behind but this guy just kept going obviously intent on pushing me over. We used to help each other years ago now when we muck up instead of help you get laughed at and appear on u tube
Im a bit of a flasher myself, in fact im so obsessed with it that if I miss a flash because my left hand is occupied I ring up the driver and apologise.
In dark conditions I use a reverse flash by switching from dipped to side lights briefly, but this is too advanced for the young pups.
I do find the multiple light sequence thanks quite entertaining and shows the driver has practiced and refined their indicator flashes to a fine art in their spare time.
I also dont mind not getting thanked.
Ironically a flash can mean so many things these days, from the common favour and act of kindness to the long/multiple flash to slow disspleasure. Theres even the rare proper use to warn others your there on things like blind bends, country roads etc.
So to answer the question ‘too flash or not to flash’ I shall continue to flash, not expecting thanks but feeling all warm and fuzzy inside if thanks is given.
On an unrelated note, in my spare time I also show complete strangers my tallywaggle in parks and city centres.
albion1971:
You are quite correct about using hazards and indicators incorrectly but why not go back to the way it used to be?
It was completely legal and everyone flashed everyone else in and everyone said thank you. Rigids and artics.
All this use of hazards and indicators flashing everywhere is crap.
As ‘it used to be’ was always lights during the day.But we used a quick left right left of the indicators at night by necessity being that using the lights to say thanks mean’t turning them all off to do it. Then for some reason the latter also erroneously got used by many in the day too.
2 seconds or comfortable distance for me depending on the road speed, conditions, load, mood.
I flash the truck in normally a good few seconds after he or she has pulled in though, more an ironic flash really followed by a 2 hand gesture with me waving my arms in the air in disgust and 10 minutes chuntering to myself about what I would like to do to my fellow comrade as long as they where smaller than me.
ROG:
Do you flash them in when they reach 2 seconds in front of you or do you flash them in earlier than that ?
If earlier then why ?
With the non existent speed differential issue caused by speed limiters it’s more important than ever to help each other out in the form of a well timed flash when being overtaken and waiting patiently for it when overtaking.As for the establishment not liking the idea tough the fact is it is a valuable contribution to road safety especially at night in wet road spray type conditions.
ROG:
Do you flash them in when they reach 2 seconds in front of you or do you flash them in earlier than that ?
If earlier then why ?
With the non existent speed differential issue caused by speed limiters it’s more important than ever to help each other out in the form of a well timed flash when being overtaken and waiting patiently for it when overtaking.As for the establishment not liking the idea tough the fact is it is a valuable contribution to road safety especially at night in wet road spray type conditions.
That’s the bit that concerns me not the flashing itself
I have seen a flash happen just as the rear end clears !!!
Carryfast:
With the non existent speed differential issue caused by speed limiters it’s more important than ever to help each other out in the form of a well timed flash when being overtaken and waiting patiently for it when overtaking.As for the establishment not liking the idea tough the fact is it is a valuable contribution to road safety especially at night in wet road spray type conditions.
That’s the bit that concerns me not the flashing itself
I have seen a flash happen just as the rear end clears !!!
I’d guess that issue fits into the category of the ever falling standards of maintaining seperation distances.IE the type of driver who is happy with a ridiculous seperation distance will obviously also be going by that in terms of what they are happy with concerning overtaking clearances too.Which obviously then defeats the object from the point of view of the overtaking driver resulting in the question of trust and doubt.
Which at that point is another example of when speed limiters turn into a potentially dangerous liability.Being that in past times the answer to that was floor it and wait to create an even better speed differential to make sure of the clearance.
Twoninety88:
I see the ‘I’m better than you because I drive an articulated vehicle therefore I must be a real man syndrome’ still exists…
I drive a 6 wheeler rigid now after driving artics for 32 years, I flash everyone in, but seldom get a reply from young pups, old school drivers still acknowledge though.
FFS…grow up.
+2
Usually the arrogant " real man " Class 1 bellwipes have been driving Class 1’s for a whole 5 minutes
Awaiting the arrival of dessypete to tell us how all class 2 are scum and dont deserve a flash in as they should know the size of their tiny dinky toys. Whereas class 1 drivers have no clue as to where the back of their vehicle is and should therefore be flashed in
To the OP. If people aren’t saying thanks for being flashed in maybe you’re not flashing enough. When I overtake I look at the road ahead and when I judge I’m passed I look in my ns mirror. If I’m passed I pull in. If I’m not passed I look ahead again for a bit. What I DONT do is stare at my NS mirror waiting for a flash so I can gleefully waggle my indicator stalk to say thanks for flashing me in. If I notice a flash I will “say” thanks. If I don’t notice a flash I won’t.
I always flash lorries and buses in and even the odd wobble box on occasions, at least I do to the ones that wait long enough instead of trying to take me out with their arse end. I’d say it’s about 50/50 split between those that say thank-you and those that don’t. Personally I always say thank you when pulling in regardless of if I see someone flash me in or not just in case they did and I just missed it.
Now and again I drive one of our 26 tonners. I am ignored by fellow drivers in real men’s artics.
I accept the derisory looks and general pity shown in my direction on these occasions. It is deserved.
You are on a slippery slope, on a par with agency, clad with NHS glasses and lo-cost supermarket carrier bags.
It is easy to miss a flash, I usually do a quick flashy and then hold full beam until their indicator comes on, seems to work pretty well. I wish more people did that to me.
i never new this or even thought of it, i have been driving trucks for 20 years now, class 2, so are the class 1 boys looking down there noses at me? i thought we were all in it as one, never fancied my class 1 as the job i have now pays pretty well so why take on the extra responsabillity? ohh am i bitting…
Its up to you to decide when its safe to change lane, you should not rely on other people flashing you in. On motorways and dual carraigeways your not going to meet oncoming vehicles in your lane so its safer to wait a few seconds longer then return to lane 1 than cut back when your only 6 feet clear of vehicle you just overtook.
Your right we always used to be polite to one another, not anymore I met bully boy the other day coming up the M4 saw this truck coming down the slip but I was passed him next thing hes up the inside of me and had to run on the hard shoulder until i moved any body else would have just backed of a bit and come out behind but this guy just kept going obviously intent on pushing me over. We used to help each other years ago now when we muck up instead of help you get laughed at and appear on u tube 
Then for some reason the latter also erroneously got used by many in the day too. 
