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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at cars flashing to overtake?

302 replies

moutonfou · 04/06/2017 19:09

I was on a dual-carriage way, traffic in the inside lane going about 65mph, me in the outside lane overtaking several cars steadily at about 70mph (okay, maybe it was a couple over that...). And then someone comes up behind me at 80+mph and starts flashing me, presumably to get in so he can continue to speed.

AIBU to think the overtaking lane is for overtaking and as long as I'm doing that, I've every right to be there? And that there's no god-given right to travel at 80mph even if that's your thing?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 04/06/2017 19:11

I am never quite sure why people do that. Impatience I guess.

19lottie82 · 04/06/2017 19:11

Flashing (lights!) is rude but if you're sitting in the outside lane you should be moving out of the way if it's clear someone wants to pass you, sorry.

19lottie82 · 04/06/2017 19:12

You didn't make it clear how long you'd been in the outside lane though? And how long the other party had been behind you?

Original poster
moutonfou · 04/06/2017 19:17

I should add that they flashed as soon as they were behind me, so it's not like they had been stuck for ages behind me. I had one car left to overtake before there was a clear stretch to pull into, which they would have been able to see too. It's like they just saw a small battered hatchback in their way and decided it didn't deserve to be there.

OP posts:
Laiste · 04/06/2017 19:18

It's against the law to flash your lights at another motorist. Especially in anger.

(however, if you were in the outside lane the whole way doing 71 mph to overtake stuff doing 70mph i'd have wanted to flash you to hurry up or move over as well)

AlcoholandIrony · 04/06/2017 19:20

Sorry. I am with the OP. as long as
I am overtaking I have as much right to be in the right lane as those flashing to pass me. They can just display a little patience until it's safe for me to go into the left lane.

delilahbucket · 04/06/2017 19:21

You had every right to be there provided you were overtaking.
FYI it isn't illegal to flash your lights at another motorist. The function is there for a reason. To alert another road user that you are there.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 04/06/2017 19:22

I usually give them a lovely cheery wave and complete what I am doing as safely as possible without making their life any quicker.

I am very much not a lane hogger and am very aware of traffic approaching at speed, it's often worth doing a double double check on dual carriageways in case you are pulling out in the path of some speedster idiot

BuzzBuzzBuzzLightyear · 04/06/2017 19:22

This drives me up the fucking wall. I definitely don't sit out in the right hand lane any longer than I need to and I drive around 70mph so I'm not too slow. They just don't give you a chance.

Orlantina · 04/06/2017 19:22

however, if you were in the outside lane the whole way doing 71 mph to overtake stuff doing 70mph i'd have wanted to flash you to hurry up or move over as well

If someone was overtaking cars who were doing 65 mph and the overtaking car is doing 70mph, then anyone coming up behind shouldn't flash.

That said, it depends on how many cars there are to overtake and the gap in between. If some idiot wants to speed past me, then I am going to get out of their way because they are the kind of people I don't want behind me.

Queenofthedrivensnow · 04/06/2017 19:23

Yanbu

Shopkinsdoll · 04/06/2017 19:24

The roads are full of ignorant impatient twats. If people are showing so much anger they shouldn't be driving!

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 04/06/2017 19:28

I never speed up for them. I will always wait for a sensible gap like I always do. Some people need patience.

PeaFaceMcgee · 04/06/2017 19:29

Yanbu. Cock wombles. Usually in Audis.

ForalltheSaints · 04/06/2017 19:32

Take their number and tell the police. These are people who should not have a licence.

TittyGolightly · 04/06/2017 19:34

It's against the law to flash your lights at another motorist.

No it isn't!!! 😂

ChildishGambino · 04/06/2017 19:35

YANBU at all. Aggressive driving is scary and dangerous.

TittyGolightly · 04/06/2017 19:35

I've just driven behind a twat doing 23mph on a 60mph road. I defy anyone to show patience for 8 miles of that.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 04/06/2017 19:37

Fed up with people doing this to me I decided to take a stand and stayed where I was until I completed my overtake and I may even have slowed down a bit (but still moving faster than the slow lane traffic) as soon as the flashy lights Audi had gone past it sacked on its blue lights. As it was obviously an undercover police car I don't know why he didn't just put his blue lights on when he was behind me. Now I'm too scared to brave it out with flashy lights drivers and move over as quick as possible.

TittyGolightly · 04/06/2017 19:37

Aggressive driving is scary and dangerous.

As is hesitant/frightened driving - e.g. stopping at every roundabout, driving far too slowly, straddling lanes, poor lane discipline, not checking blind spots, not indicating, innapropriate use of lights. All of which I encounter daily.

If you aren't capable of driving to the conditions, stay home or get the bus.

Dingalingalingaling · 04/06/2017 19:38

It's against the law to flash your lights at another motorist.
No its not
www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158

Rule 110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

rocketman3 · 04/06/2017 19:40

It's bloody rude. Always some bullying man who I'm sure would be absolutely charming if he was holding a door for me, not sat in his little metal castle Angry

DarthMaiden · 04/06/2017 19:40

As long as you are overtaking then you are in the correct lane.

It doesn't sound like the case here but I do get annoyed with people to stay in the outside lane and refuse to pull in when the car they would overtake next is much further ahead.

Flashing your lights is just rude though...

Birdsbeesandtrees · 04/06/2017 19:45

I'm sorry I'm a little confused - who doesn't stop at roundabouts to check for traffic ?

I saw some brilliant refusal to move over the other day.

Motorway but a section of it is only 2 lanes. There's also roadworks so it's a 50 zone. Little ish car in outside lane doing 50 (as are the cars in the inside lane you know being as there are speed limit signs up because there are likely be people working near the road) an a car comes right up behind them really fast and beeps the horn to get them to move so that they can continue speeding. Little car is having none of it and continues to do the speed limit with other car getting right up their arse really really close to them like a nob. Went on for the entire stretch of roadworks.

Eventually we left the roadworks and the smaller car took the piss a bit by staying put driving at 50 (this I admit they probably shouldn't have done but it did make me snigger) then eventually pulling over to let the arsehole pass.

specialsubject · 04/06/2017 19:47

This flashing lights trick is usually pulled by a tailgater who got out of bed late and so feels that speeding is OK. Doesn't mean the op should speed or pull back in before it is safe.

Constant lane changing is also dangerous.

Tailgater should get the bus or just drive into a tree and make the roads safer.

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