Hiya…old ■■■■ speaking…years and years ago before trucks even had a mirror on the nearside
pre 1950.and after that when the mirror was only 3 inch (75mm)diameter and lorries was vibrating
that bad you couldn’t see out of the near side mirror even if you had one…on a night shift or dark
nights like winter time. if (not very often ) a lorry over took. the slower lorry would flash (his one
head light on main beam) the other was on dip.(maybe a spot light) this would shine on the road
(not mirror there was none)so the driver had an idea he could pull back on his own side of the road.
remember there was no electric street lights only gas lights that didn’t do anything only light up the
lamp so you didn’t walk into it. this flashing just carried on as a helpful gesture.one time i drove from
Frodsham to Birkenhead and saw my fist electric street lights i was about 7 so it would be 1957.
when i got home to Leek (well in the sticks) i told my school mates about these lights. they thought
i was just been the worlds biggest lier.
times have moved so much since 1960 you don’t realise…how about driving with one headlight on dip
and the other on main beam one wiper and no nearside mirror… it was the norm pre 1950.
John
Mark500:
When I’m being overtaken by another HGV I drop a couple of Km back on the cruise control to make it easier for us both, him to pass me & slot in front of me & also I like to have a clear path in front of me rather than following another HGV effectively blind as I can’t see for his back end. I always let another HGV past me as I remember the words of my instructor in my head " let them go" he would always say & it makes things a lot easier.
The most sensible comment on the whole thread and what I was taught to do, there are times when perhaps you can’t, steep hill fully freighted.
Tim85:
Mark500:
When I’m being overtaken by another HGV I drop a couple of Km back on the cruise control to make it easier for us both, him to pass me & slot in front of me & also I like to have a clear path in front of me rather than following another HGV effectively blind as I can’t see for his back end. I always let another HGV past me as I remember the words of my instructor in my head " let them go" he would always say & it makes things a lot easier.The most sensible comment on the whole thread and what I was taught to do, there are times when perhaps you can’t, steep hill fully freighted.
Its exactly what I do as already mentioned on a separate thread a couple of weeks ago, I cant be arsed with the 5 mile overtakes, whats the bloody point in that? You then get a long line of irate car drivers sitting behind the truck in question. I don’t see to many others doing the same though.
I still flash truckers when I am in my van and caravan just to let them know that they have cleared me as my outfit isn’t the fastest thing on the roads! I leave it to them to decide if it is safe to pull in or not and most leave it a few seconds before they do. Normally I get a ‘thankyou’ in return but it doesn’t ruin my day if I don’t and I don’t feel compelled to write about it! Having said that, I get a few who nearly chop my front end off before I even have time to flash them and THAT does annoy me slightly. The worst offenders are 7.5 tonners, I soon get over it though! 
Pete.
Tim85:
Mark500:
When I’m being overtaken by another HGV I drop a couple of Km back on the cruise control to make it easier for us both, him to pass me & slot in front of me & also I like to have a clear path in front of me rather than following another HGV effectively blind as I can’t see for his back end. I always let another HGV past me as I remember the words of my instructor in my head " let them go" he would always say & it makes things a lot easier.The most sensible comment on the whole thread and what I was taught to do, there are times when perhaps you can’t, steep hill fully freighted.
sadly there are very few drivers like that about now
villa:
Tim85:
Mark500:
When I’m being overtaken by another HGV I drop a couple of Km back on the cruise control to make it easier for us both, him to pass me & slot in front of me & also I like to have a clear path in front of me rather than following another HGV effectively blind as I can’t see for his back end. I always let another HGV past me as I remember the words of my instructor in my head " let them go" he would always say & it makes things a lot easier.The most sensible comment on the whole thread and what I was taught to do, there are times when perhaps you can’t, steep hill fully freighted.
sadly there are very few drivers like that about now
I allways knock a few clicks off when im being overtaken,very rarely people say thanks as they go past,jobs gone to the dogs 
I’ve given up flashing folk in. Speeds I drive 90% of my day is being overtaken !
toby1234abc:
Does anyone get the “sarcastic” flash of a left and right indicator when you do not flash them in.
Surely it blows the headlight bulbs flashing a hundred trucks a day or night.
Why do some muppets flash in cars that have overtaken their lorry ?
I don’t think they are being sarcastic unless it’s at night when it’s blatantly obvious that you haven’t flashed. During the day it’s easy to mistake day running lights as a flash or the reflection of the sun as a flash or going over a bump as a flash. Even at night it’s possible to mistake a badly adjusted headlight going over a bump as a flash especially when you are so tired that everything is going in freeze frame and you are getting heart palpitations from all the caffeine. I don’t flash in but I’ve had plenty of coaches give the “thank you” waggle of the indicators during the day, but never at night.
Like a previous poster said, I’m not constantly checking my ns mirror waiting for a flash. I judge the speed difference and check my mirror when I think I’ve passed then indicate and pull in.
I don’t really want flashing in, but I’ll always give a thank you flick of the winkers if I do get flashed in. If I think someone has flashed me in during the day and can’t be sure then I give a thanks anyway as manners cost nothing. I’d rather they think “why did he say thanks for nothing” instead of “arrogant ■■■■■■”
As for flashing in cars? That’s a bit of a mystery. All I can say is when I worked 3.5t vans at night I used to sit in the middle lane and get flashed in once, twice, thrice again, and again when I was half a mile ahead. All I can think is they weren’t flashing me in, they were saying get out the middle lane you lowly van scum 
To the OP. Simple answer, just don’t flash in. Only one in ten say thanks anyway and it’s been posted here a hundred times … no one needs a flash in … It’s the same to judge where the back of your vehicle is whether you are in a car, artic, rigid or 7.5t. Only difference is cars and most vans aren’t restricted so they can fly past without worrying about it.
Sorry for wall of text, hope it made sense as I’m drunk, and lest ye judge, I work nights so this is like kicking out time at the pub for me.
jay0:
When I’m flashed in I usually give a right, left left, right right, left then hazards for 2 seconds followed by a sharp stand on the brakes. This is usually acknowledged back by a loud prolonged blast of the horn and away I go, jobs a guddun
Would love to think that you are joking mate, but nothing surprises me nowadays what some ‘drivers’ think is acceptable on the road, problem is we have to share the road with such ■■■■ Whits.
Toddy2:
albion1971:
My goodness things were so much simpler years ago.Almost every lorry driver flashed another to let him know he was clear(and nobody just suddenly cut in all of a sudden) and the other driver thanked him by switching on and off their sidelights which by the way is far better than the stupid indicator or hazard nonsense.
There was courtesy in abundance and most drivers had manners.
Where has it all gone wrong?Well said Albion - the old ways were the best - and all were more courteous
I still do use sidelights, as it saves the earlier quoted indicator confusion.
I too flash off at night, as this is far less confusing than flashing main beam when you are running on dipped.
It’s fine when you have blinged up truck flash you with the 40 spotlights on the roof - no mistaking that,
but if a supermarket or parcels truck (bog standard) flashes you, it’s easy to confuse with when they go over a bump & the lights appear to flash
I agree with albion,manners of old have gone out the window
ezydriver:
LOL, what a load of old women!“He didn’t say thanks”
“oooh isn’t he awful”
“wouldn’t happen in my day”
“what’s the world coming to?”And I thought my wife was emotional!
Reverse your expectation. That is, start from not expecting a thanks, and you can only be pleasantly surprised when you do get one - and that way your feelings won’t get hurt.
I heard from a very good source that it’s the next DVSA offense they’re going to be pulling drivers in for. Fines are big apparently.
so D V S A will be following every truck on the road will they to see if they flash in
I flick the indicators as a thank you no matter what - if I happen to glance in my mirror & miss them flashing me in… etc etc… I am also a fan of good manners, though if it doesn’t happen it’s no big deal. (Lie) 
villa:
jay0:
When I’m flashed in I usually give a right, left left, right right, left then hazards for 2 seconds followed by a sharp stand on the brakes. This is usually acknowledged back by a loud prolonged blast of the horn and away I go, jobs a guddunwhat colour are you
sky blue, with pink dots on, 
and goes " blobby, blobby, Blobby! " 
truckman020:
ezydriver:
LOL, what a load of old women!“He didn’t say thanks”
“oooh isn’t he awful”
“wouldn’t happen in my day”
“what’s the world coming to?”And I thought my wife was emotional!
Reverse your expectation. That is, start from not expecting a thanks, and you can only be pleasantly surprised when you do get one - and that way your feelings won’t get hurt.
I heard from a very good source that it’s the next DVSA offense they’re going to be pulling drivers in for. Fines are big apparently.
so D V S A will be following every truck on the road will they to see if they flash in
No, that would be ridiculous, but if they see a truck do it they may pull them in and present them with video evidence (rear cam) before fining them. I’ve heard it from an incredibly reliable source.
I’ve heard it from an incredibly reliable source.
I would love to know who your incredibly reliable source is because I can assure you that will never happen.They could never implement that in a million years.As for big fines…
Do you know how they decide matters such as that? Obviously not and neither does your so called reliable source.
albion1971:
I’ve heard it from an incredibly reliable source.I would love to know who your incredibly reliable source is because I can assure you that will never happen.They could never implement that in a million years.As for big fines…
Do you know how they decide matters such as that? Obviously not and neither does your so called reliable source.
Okay mate. Don’t say I didn’t tell you. Happy trucking (until you flash another trucker in).
On a 2 lane road…keeping you out for as long as possible (if someone’s blatantly going to get past, slow down for 5-10secs to let him past )whilst traffic is building up behind you then flash you in as soon as you’re 2 feet in front of them, then slow down to create a bit of a gap is a bit daft. But if they’re happy to flash me in I’m not sitting out on the 2nd lane any longer!
Although with some of the stories on here about being pushed to the limit (constant phonecalls etc) I can see why people don’t slow down to let you past quicker, it’s sad.
toby1234abc:
Does anyone get the “sarcastic” flash of a left and right indicator when you do not flash them in.
Surely it blows the headlight bulbs flashing a hundred trucks a day or night.
Why do some muppets flash in cars that have overtaken their lorry ?
I flash cars in that have flashed me out when im overtaking, its a polite thing to do. I also acknowledge the armed forces when I see them out and about as a mark of respect
ezydriver:
Okay mate. Don’t say I didn’t tell you. Happy trucking (until you flash another trucker in).
I imagine that they’ll rigorously enforce this new law once they’ve finished targeting the middle lane hoggers and tailgaters. Oh… hang on a minute…
I held the door open for a Spaniard the other day, only for him to walk right by saying nothing & handing his papers in before me… Cheeky begger…