AIBU to object to headlight flashing as a way of saying thank you?

[StripyCarpets]

Am I being unreasonable in thinking that it is extremely poor form to flash your headlights as a way of indicating gratitude.
Especially if you have stupidly bright LED headlights, even when they are dimmed. Especially in the dark.

There are times when a little flash of your headlights is useful or necessary, like when you are indicating that you are allowing another car to pass, but shining a bright light in someone’s eyes is a really crap way of saying thank you.

You know they are just thinking you don't know how to flash your lights, right?

Ironically a police car did it to me the other day. 😆

Hazards work if you’re in front of the car who let you out or whatever. Headlight flash is for cars in front of you. Everyone does it where I live.
I would say however that today’s LED lights are way brighter than the yellow lights of old and now I’m older I find this a problem driving at night on a motorway or dual carriageway.
Generally though it’s courteous to flash a thank you where I live. May be different in other parts of the country.

I don’t like headlight flashing . It’s unhelpful and confusing.

Now you’ve been explicitly told it’s a real problem for some people, can you understand this is mistaken ‘etiquette’ and have the true courtesy to desist?

Told by who? Anonymous people on the internet?

I think this can be could be filed under things that only MNers object to.

I'll ask a few people in real life to gauge opinions.

I say 'thank you' by waving my fist out the window, but people seem to misinterpret it 🙃

I use my hazards to say thank you.

Ummm... You flash you hazards unless there's a hazard, in which case you flash your headlights? Is that what you're saying???

We live so rurally that many of our tiny lanes are 'passing places only' to negotiate, and they're entirely unlit too. On dark nights, quick headlight flashing is the norm to indicate who will pull in and as a thank you, to indicate who will pull out again and when. It doesn't "blind" anyone and is necessary for safety on such roads. Fortunately we seldom see anyone except locals as the lanes are so out of the way.

Using hazard lights when there isn't a hazard is not helpful.

I wave at people. I know they can't see me in the dark, but tough. I'm not flashing my lights, because I too find it blinding, so there's a chance the other driver will too.

I just assume people are grateful if I let them out or whatever. Most people are decent, so they probably are, even if I don't see some sign to tell me, and even if they're not, I'm not likely to find out either way.

I just flash my tits. It goes down really well.

I dip mine instead, it is just as clear and no one gets disturbed vision.

What do you suggest? Get out of the car at a busy junction, go over to the car that let you out etc and shake them by the hand, deliver them a bouquet of flowers and give them a peck on the cheek to say thanks?

YABVFU.

No one has to flash etc, but you are VU to suggest others follow your mantra.

Also, bright LED headlights are legal - thats why they exist. Get your eyes tested - sounds like you shouldnt be driving if you cant handle a nanosecond of a flash of headlights.

Wow, they can see them in the dark? 🤣

Yes, exactly this!
We can all assume that the other driver is eternally grateful for our minor highway generosity without getting a horribly bright light shone in our eyes.

I do sometimes do a mini flash in order to indicate that the other person can pass; I live in a busy area with lots of narrow roads and double parking, and it would be hard to get about without this signifier being generally used.

Hazard use to say thank you is very common where I am, but only back hazards. Saying thanks with front hazards isn’t a thing.

If you need to convey gratitude in the dark, just wave and assume the other person knows you are a nice person that doesn’t want to blind them.

I’d suggest people just desist from flashing at night. A courtesy is only a courtesy if it does no harm. If I let someone out etc I don’t feel any need for a display of thanks - sure it’s nice to get a wave in the daylight but are people really bent out of shape if they don’t get an acknowledgment for being a decent driver?

I've had my eyes tested, thanks, they’re fine for driving. Just a bit more sensitive to excess light nowadays.

This is why you must perfect the flick. A barely-there touch of the flash so it doesn't have time to eviscerate their corneas.

It's a skill honestly.

I can’t believe that 73% of people think it’s reasonable to shine bright lights in people’s eyes unnecessarily 🤷‍♀️

There's actually a government task force tackling the insanely bright headlights modern cars have. For older people, the bright flash lasts on your retinas for up to 8 seconds.
It's dangerous and unnecessary.

Doesn’t tally with the comments. But it’s easy to thoughtlessly click a button without really engaging. A bit like flicking a switch without considering whether it’s really a good idea or not.

I expect some of the flashers will be along to tell us older people shouldn’t be on the roads at night. Even if we can see fine if some eejits didn’t insist on gratuitously blinding us from misplaced etiquette.

Good for you that you had your eyes tested.

Pity you couldnt see that my comment was directed to the OP, not you or anyone else.

Suggest you get your eyes tested again. SMH. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

I had them done last week, thanks.😂
and I wasn’t responding to you either - if the cap doesn’t fit, don’t feel obliged to think it’s yours🤷‍♀️

On a side note, I was waiting to turn right the other day and the car coming towards me slowed down and popped his glorious retro headlights up and down out of the bonnet a couple of times to say I could go. It was just like KITT in Knight Rider! It made my bloody day!