To think this is a curious token of appreciation?

[WildBelle]

Been driving for nearly 20 years but it just occurred to me that this is a strange custom...when you give way to another driver whilst driving at night, the standard thank you is to flash your lights at them in thanks.

But when you think about it, being momentarily blinded/dazzled by full beam headlights isn't much of a reward for good behaviour is it? Particularly those who haven't quite mastered a quick flash and you get a good two seconds of retina burn in exchange for your considerate driving.

Really? I've been driving for over20y, and i can't say that I've ever noticed this. A couple of flashes of the hazards, perhaps, but never the beams.

I've often thought how much easier it is to show politeness in the daytime, with a nod or a wave of thanks, but that it's harder at night.

Do you live in an urban area? It's definitely standard practice in the countryside, e.g. driving along a narrow lane, car coming the other way, you pull into a passing place to let them by = full beam flash.

Flashing your hazards and/or full beams in this way is against the highway code...

Everyone does it here and I agree- it blinds you for a split second!

I don't do this, because I hate having it done to me, but it is very common.

Turn yr headlights to sidelights for a split second. Same effect except you don't dazzle people.

I tend to look away as hate being blinded as thanks!

If you're in the Middle East, flashing your headlights at someone means "stay where you are/don't pull out/get out of my way".

I hate this! Everyone round here does the thank you flash. Except me, because I hate being blinded so I won't do it to others.

I tend to use hazards - but only when thanking people behind me (often having let me in). Anyone ahead of me gets the full-fronted dazzle, but only for a split-second.

Yup. I hate it.

Especially those that hold it for a good second or more.

So I dip mine briefly. Takes marginally more effort than a flash. Can still see the road. Doesn't blind the person in saying thank you to. I think a flash is an aggressive way of saying thank you and does indeed leave me with dots for a few seconds after.

Different in day light or twilight. Or if you are at a distance on the lanes and you want to say "I've pulled into a space come on down you can get past here" rather than as you drive past lights on full beam "THANK YOU!"

I was taught to dip, not flash. Makes much more sense.

I'm another who dips rather than flashing.

Never thought about it but you are totally right. You should start a Twitter campaign.

#dipnotflash

I dip mine to sidelights for a second. Not full beams.
People who flash full beams really haven't thought through what they're doing.

I drove in London for 15y, and have been living in a semi-rural area for 10y, so have experience of both. Perhaps I exaggerated when I said I'd never noticed this, but it's certainly a rarity IME. Flashing beams to allow you to pull out in front, yes, but never full-frontal flashing as a thankyou.

My pet hate is when oncoming drivers don't dip their beams until they can actually see your headlights. No, dip your beams when you see the light from my car appear over the crest of the hill or shining across the corner, like I do for yours. If you wait until you can see my actual headlights it's too late - you've already dazzled me.

I do wonder whether that's a townie thing, though. I never used my beams in street-lit London, and my country-bred dh taught me to dip them when we moved out.

I was taught to raise hand in as acknowledgment which isn't always the most visible way but more in keeping with the highest code. Others round here tend to flash hazards instead. Flashing full beam is more often done in annoyance.

I think the Highway Code says that hazard lights should not be used when the vehicle is moving, so people should not be clicking them on for a few seconds to thank other drivers.
And I thinkthe code also says that flashing headlights should only be used to indicate your presence, not as a thank you, or a come on.
Although I passed my test a couple of decades ago, so may have been updated. Perhaps we should all have to take an online Highway Code/theory/simulation test every five years or so, and retest on the road every ten years or something.

I think the Highway Code says

I make no pretence that I would pass the written test without some serious swotting. Like many, I took the test when it was less taxing and now have 25 years of safe driving experience behind me.

I just don't like rude people on the road - plenty exist in London!

Flashing should only ever be used as a warning
And I hate it when people thank you with their hazards.