Headlight flashing language. What it means when...

[mayble]

Purposely blinding a driver with running lights, rear lights, high beams or flash lights, is repulsive. A quick flash to remind the on coming driver. All drivers should learn to drive when an approaching vehicle has lights bright or adjusted too high.

I agree.  Waaaay back in driver's training, my instructor made a point of this.  
Returning high beams with high beams only blinds both of you.  Use the right side lane markers to keep you oriented if necessary until the offending vehicle has passed.

 

[sephson]

Regardless, the rudest segment of drivers on the 10 were the expensive cars and SUVs with Cali plates.

And that's how I know I'm home after one of my road trips, when driving becomes a battle again.

 

[SoulRaven]

Fantastic discussion. I didn't know about the thing with truckers, I'll use that now!

Another context where I've begun flashing my high beams (more like turned on for a good couple seconds) is when there's a vehicle on the shoulder, especially on the freeway. This is both so I can see better and also to alert/inform the drivers behind me about what's going on. I've had way too many instances of whizzing by someone with only a foot or so of clearance at 60 mph without seeing it coming and it freaks me out. I get over into another lane when possible, but sometimes it isn't.

We've had a smattering of articles recently about vehicles on the freeway's shoulder getting hit, some with fatalities. I looked up WA state law on high beams and you just need about 5 car lengths' distance between you and the vehicle directly ahead of you. So after doing my research I've turned this into a habit, and now feel a lot safer.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

Just so everyone's on the same page....I was always taught that "flashing" your lights while passing/being passed means turning them off/on, NOT using your highbeams as a signal since that ruins your (and their) night vision.......FWIW.   Having said that, I too would flash my highbeams approaching a car pulled over to the side to assure no body/thing was in the roadway.
KinA

 

[Queen]

I had someone flash me with their lights while they were opposite me at a red light the other day. I couldn't figure out what it was about until a mile down the road when I parked and found my coffee mug on the roof of the cab. I guess I must drive like "a little old lady" since I didn't lose it on a trip of about three miles and numerous stops and turns.

Guy

No offense to any little old ladies.

Bwaaahaaa!! I'd have lost it backing out, for some reason I cannot get smooth with our 2014 Subaru Forester, thing has the "stickiest" gas pedal of any car I've owned.

 

[rvpopeye]

X2 on the off/on vs. low/high beams,,,

I once did a 5 mile trip around town with a canteen on the back bumper.

 

[mayble]

Nope, I flick the high beams.
That's how I was taught.  I've never seen anyone "flash" off/on - maybe it's a regional thing.

 

[highdesertranger]

on older vehicles you can't flick the high beams without the lights being on. so like during the day when your lights are off you do the off/on thing. so us older people who grew up driving older vehicles are in the habit of the off/on thing. highdesertranger

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I don't think I saw it said anywhere on the thread yet well it's been half said. It's more common in the trucking industry but I think we should all do it. A vehicle is passing a large truck and when it's safe for the vehicle that is passing to switch back into the traveling lane the vehicle that was passed will flash his lights letting them know it's safe to do so as was mentioned in previous posts. Part I didn't see mentioned, apologize if I missed it ----> The vehicle that did the passing should then (flash) put their hazard blinkers on for a few blinks as a thank you to the driver behind them.