To think that flicking your headlights to full beam, to say thank you

[SaggyoldCHRISTMASHUMBUGcatpuss]

to someone, at night, is polite, but not particularly intelligent? Especially if you have 3 million watt halogen lights. This happened to me 3 times tonight, its a wonder that I didnt end up wrapped around a tree!

Yanbu

are you sure they were thanking you and not trying to alert you to the fact YOU had your hi-beam on?

this has never happened to me

Totaly agree & don't start me on halogen lights on 4x4s, even when they are dipped they blind me in my small run around type car

far better to momentarily flick them off. What had you just done that they were thanking you for?

Were they behind you or in front?

Ah, a headlights thread! With the newly-dark evenings, I have a major problem with healights blinding me in my toy car. It's an elderly Mazda MX5, a 2 seater convertible, and it's tiny, so my eyes are in direct line with most other cars headlights, hellish!

Halogen lights, bulbs put in upside down, misaligned lights, missing lights (so they use full beam)... I've spent a week composing a rant on the topic, but I think the realistic solution is to buy a different car. Wasn't nearly so bad last winter in a modern Focus. :(

so how do you do it? luminous gloves?

I was driving home through the villages. There are several places where I have to pull in and let others pass. Im glad that they are polite, but surely flicking both indicators, or flashing their hazards makes more sense! Especially when the lights on their Freelanders are already at my eye level!

I think you are right but don't know how else to say thank you when it's dark.

I live somewhere very similar and often wonder whether or not to flash thanks in the dark.

I always momentarily flick my lights off for exactly this reason. Although that's even more ambiguous, I just can't bring myself to half blind someone else in the dark.

NOOOOOO in my world/culture..flicking headlights is a very rude thing to do

and I dont know where mine are anyway

SugarPustyBear - do you not have an anti-glare option on your rear view mirror?

I also find this a mixed blessing. Appreciate the thanks, but hate being blinded. AnnoyingOrange, you've just reminded me I have an anti-glare option!

I flick my hazard lights once to say thanks.

Oh, I love flashers It's especially nice when they are warning you of speed-traps up ahead. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when people flash me.

yanbu.

Is it even in the highway code? Pisses me off no end when people flash me at a junction to say I can move across first. I move when I'm ready and I know it's ok to move, thankyouverymuch .

I love flashing/ being flashed. Generally not moving, or moving v slowly, when I am flashed, so I don't think it's particularly dangerous. Usually you have stopped to let someone through or vice versa ie. you are STOPPED! There's a particularly hideous part of the A11 near my sister where there are no street lamps, but it is 60mph and everyone seems to drive with full headlights on. Now that's dangerous (I actually take another, longer, route now).

I always do this but am worried now about how my snazzy temporary new Ford Kuga (courtesy of Ford and MN!) might be blinding other drivers.

Is turning off your lights, even momentarily a good idea? Compared to a quick pull on the lights stick thing, turning the lights off and on again takes much longer and means taking a hand off the wheel (I'm thinking country lanes scenario when two hands on the wheel are very much needed!)

at luminous gloves.

:: goes to look for link to for Dragon's Den::

if you have bright head lights close behind you, just rearrange the mirror so that it shines right back at them. You'll find they adjust themselves pretty quickly.

The flashing thing IS tricky! It means 'take me into account when you make your next manoevre - I am here'. NOT "cheers mate and watch out for the filth".

I would give a very quick left-right to my indicators. I'd rather not be flashed at all really. I'm all for good manners, but where I drive, by the time you have got your eyes readjusted, and are ready to go, another blimmin car comes through and you are stuck!