Flashed at on highway? (Young driver)
Posted by freeaav@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 35 comments
I was driving home on the highway (2 lane only) and this car was coming up behind me, and he sped up and went next to me and my first thought was oh hes gonna pass me thats fine (I was going like 5-10 under the limit, i hit a deer on this highway so im more cautious at night) but he stayed the same speed as me and flashed his beams a couple of times, then passed me like 5 seconds later. What could this mean? I didnt roll down my window or anything, i tried to see the driver but both our windows are tinted and its 11pm at night. I thought maybe my back lights were out or something, but I had my mom look at them and all were working just fine. Any ideas or is there some kind of like driver language i dont understand? I wasnt driving with my high beams, i wasnt causing traffic, and i wasnt swerving or anything so im confused, what did i do wrong lol
NaturalTerrible1@reddit
It’s probably because you where going to slow for him and he wanted to flash you to the point where you move out the way
freeaav@reddit (OP)
I really wasnt in his way though? Im going like 65 (70 limit), in the far right lane and there was no one in the left lane (only 2 lanes open) he could easily go around me, i guess im just not understanding how much of a hazard i was? I thought it was normal to go a little slower than the limit when its pitch black out and surrounded by trees and deer
NaturalTerrible1@reddit
Nah I know brother I’m only saying that for my experiences living in NY I’ll go all the way to the right because I wanna go slow and there will be someone dick flashing there highbeams shits so annyoing so I understand
HeyCap07@reddit
Here I was thinking something else.....I'll show myself out
ThirdSunRising@reddit
Nah I think he wanted to get your attention for other purposes. I had a guy try to sell me cocaine by doing this.
NotHumanButIPlayOne@reddit
Was it good coke?
ThirdSunRising@reddit
Nah we didn’t buy it but he sure seemed to want to sell it
Past_Lock_2039@reddit
Do you have the kind of car that the headlights are on but the break lights aren’t on? That’s why I’d flash my beams at a car at night
jason200911@reddit
A common one is your lights are off. Brake lights will still work when lights are off
InformationOk3060@reddit
That or a lot of people don't realize their daytime running lights are on, but not their actual lights.
xlovelyloretta@reddit
This.
InformationOk3060@reddit
I know you're nervous, but going 10mph under the limit at night is very dangerous. People can have a much more difficult time with depth perception when there are no visual cues due to the darkness. You need to speed up or drive with your hazards on.
The other car most likely came up on you much quicker than expected, and wanted you to realize you're a road hazard.
freeaav@reddit (OP)
I guess i just didnt realize that even on a non busy road at the time, that going slow can still be dangerous even if its 5 below. Majority of the time its 5, not 10 which i shouldve specified but i still understand
InformationOk3060@reddit
Yeah, regardless of most people in this sub pretending to always be righteous and smug about constantly following the law and never speeding, the fact is the vast majority of people treat the speed limit as the minimum. I watched a video just yesterday where over 50% of people surveyed admitted they drove 15mph or more above the speed limit in the last 30 days.
So 5-10 doesn't seem all that bad until you realize alone it isn't, but the law is irrelevant when it comes to safety, it's realizing other peoples behavior. If you're going 5 under and someone's going 10 over (which is very common), that's a 15mph variance in speed. If the limit is 55, that's a 25% difference.
CorporalCrash@reddit
Were your brights on? If so, he may have been trying to get you to turn them off before he passed so he wouldn't be blinded
freeaav@reddit (OP)
They werent on
P0300_Multi_Misfires@reddit
Okay so usually if people flash their lights from behind it means you are; A) too slow (they don’t want to be rude but believe you are driving too slow and become a hazard). B) They hit a bump. C) Your lights aren’t on. I know you say your lights are all working but let me break it down.
Your lights may be working. Good you checked. That being said, the dash and control lights and the headlamps will illuminate in modern vehicles even if your lights are in the “off” position. (Canada) The issue being if your lights are in the “off” position your marker lights and rear lights will not be illuminated. (Brakes lights will ONLY illuminate when you BRAKE). They need to be on a setting to illuminate when you are driving, and get brighter when you brake. In this scenario you are a “ghost car” and are difficult to see in the dark or poor visibility. Verify your lights are either in the “Auto” position or the “On” position. It’s a very common mistake. So yes your lights may be working but are they on the correct setting?
freeaav@reddit (OP)
Yes, all lights are working as theyre supposed to be. I dont consider my car to be modern, im not sure whats considered modern by definition for cars though, i drive a 2013 ford fusion!
Important-Soft-7836@reddit
Probably you were driving too slow, I would be mad myself, drive at least the speed limit, most drivers drive 5 to 10 over, as it is usually keeps up with the traffic flow
freeaav@reddit (OP)
During the daytime I drive the limit and 5 over sometimes. It was 11pm and this is a popular road to hit deer on so I go slower because of it, not 10 below all the time and I wasnt causing any kind of traffic, im going the same speed as semi trucks and there werent any cars super close to me, this guy just managed to catch up to me then pass me but i wasnt in his way at all
Positive-Relief6142@reddit
Assuming it's a 3 lane highway and lane 1 is clear why are you chilling out in lane 2 10 under the limit?
loonylovesgood86@reddit
Pretty sure it says 2 lane only in the post. Unless my reading comprehension has failed me….
Positive-Relief6142@reddit
Still, 2 lanes. Why chilling in the overtake lane?
loonylovesgood86@reddit
Where does it say they were in the overtake lane? I’m confused.
freeaav@reddit (OP)
I was in the right lane of the 2 lane highway, the closest car in front of me was like a mile ahead, this person just caught up to me from behind
NotHumanButIPlayOne@reddit
There's no way anyone here can give you an accurate answer. All they can do is throw out a bunch of guesses.
Delicious-Window8650@reddit
Yes but, you're only guessing at that, right?
Could it have been someone you know just trying to say 'hi!'? I'm just guessing.
nilarips@reddit
After reading comments and your responses I think he was trying to tell you that if you’re so scared of the road that you’re driving 10 under you should probably turn your high beams on.
Hydraulis@reddit
He's either pissed of that you aren't going as fast as he wants, or he's trying to tell you something like your headlights are off/there's something hanging off your car.
Most likely he's just pissed off because he wants to go fast. People are assholes as a rule. Get used to it, you're going to be seeing a lot of it.
No_Preparation7895@reddit
I've done this when someone is driving around with their daylight headlights on and don't realize that their lights are actually off. This happens quite frequently, honestly.
kiddlat_kid@reddit
Trying to rob you probably
slicktommycochrane@reddit
My guess is that he was slightly upset at traveling under the limit but didn't go into full on road rage.
Blue8Evan@reddit
If he wasn't honking at you or showing signs of road rage, then he was probably trying to get your attention. Most likely trying to point out something like your headlights or tail lights being off or faulty, since he flashed his beams, but not at you. I'd say just make sure your lights work, and nothing is outright wrong with your car. Also, not uncommon for people nowadays to turn their lights off and not notice because of DRLs, could be that too.
freeaav@reddit (OP)
All of my lights were working though, i had my mom confirm it. My guess is he probably thought my beams were on (they werent), i do have really bright lights, my dad handles everything with my car and gave me bright lights so i can see better since i hit a deer. Is there usually a difference between flashing lights directly behind me and flashing lights while being next to me at the same speed?
Blue8Evan@reddit
Hm, it's weird. He came up from behind and flashed his brights while right next to you. If someone flashes their brights behind you, they are usually mad or want you to speed up/move over. If next to you, probably trying to get your attention, but will usually use the horn too if its urgent like that.
Although, you say your dad gave you bright lights. Chances are if he just swapped out the bulbs, the new ones he put in are too bright for the headlight housing (they are designed to reflect light downwards, different or brighter bulbs may not be reflected correctly), and might be bright for people in front of you, but not the people behind you, so I doubt it would be for that reason.