On the motorway why do some people take offence to people flashing them? They are only trying to remind them..

Question

that they need not sit in the outside or middle lane and to pull over to the left.................Is it because they do not realise they are in the wrong sitting in the outside lanes? I think this is the politest way to remind someone to move over as opposed to honking your horn

agreed grahem

laura m - i think indicating is quite a good tactic but doesnt always get these peoples attention :)

Answer 1

Some people are just oblivious to anything and anyone around them they dont notice when you flash them or beep your horn they just sit there in the middle lane nose on the window screen chin on the steering wheel in their own little word nothing will make them budge over. These people are a danger on the road and should be made to do a theory test before getting their licence back

Answer 2

I have been annoyed when the motorist behind me in the outside lane flashes their headlights because i am already doing 70 miles an hour.
They often believe there would be good distance between myself and the vehicle ahead in the middle lane when i may think otherwise.
You should always refrain from attempting to educate people on these issues as your attention to them may impair your overall awareness of the conditions and traffic around you.

My favourite when encountering a middle lane hogger is to overtake them, safely, then get into the inside lane. Then slowly ease off the accelerator so they go by me, let them get a safe distance ahead and if they dont pull into the inside lane then i do it again !
I once went round and round a van 6 times like this on my way north up the M1 until i got bored and left the driver, still happy to be in the centre lane.

Leave it to the Police to educate these fools and stay safe.

Answer 3

I know, then you're made out to be the idiot and the one in the wrong. The other day, I was behind a woman in the 3rd lane and she was only doing 60mph, hence she was on her phone, so was slowing down rapidly. I was in two minds whether to just go past her on the inside lane, as others had, but was too scared she wasn't concentrating and would move over without looking. So I flashed her, well I wish I hadn't. The phone got flung to the side, the fingers were making all the signals she could manage, then when I finally got past her, she sat up my backside until I came off at my exit. She was furious with me. She was behind me for at least 20 Min's and the whole of that she was waving her arms about, and her mouth never stopped moving, but the only person who could hear her, was herself. I wonder what she would have done if I peeped my horn at her, I dread to think!!

Answer 4

I hate it when people flash me because:
a- I might actually be passing someone on the inside lane at a reasonable (ie legal) speed limit. Just because I don't want to get out of the way of the speeding BMW doesn't mean I need to be flashed off the motorway, or have any less a right to be in that lane.
b- Flashing headlights (particularly 4X4 as they are higher up) can be very distracting and even temporarily blinding. Obviously a worry when you're driving along at 70mph...

Having said that, people who just sit in the lane and forget where they are are flipping irritating. I live on the continent and prefer the German approach - when they want to get past you (which is often, when on a deregulated motorway - me in a Clio, them in an Audi...) they start signalling as they pull in behind you. This is a visible but not too startling reminder to get on with your manoeuvre and let them past. Very efficient. Obviously!

By the way, nipping in and out of lanes, driving close behind other cars, undertaking and speeding are all great ways to relieve your stress and boost your sense of self-confidence. They are all also fantastic ways to limit your life expectancy and that of other innocent road users. You might enjoy that brief moment of satisfaction, but how long will it last when you're dead or paralysed, or worse, when you've killed or maimed someone else? Keep that kind of behaviour for the playground where it belongs, and grow up.

Answer 5

Are you trying to exceed the speed limit when you do this? besides, you're also making the assumption that these lane hogs are actually using their mirrors! Try to be patient and leave enough time for your journey, there's no point in getting angry about someone else's problem, it doesn't make you a better driver. Having said that, I have overtaken on the inside when both inner lanes are empty, the shock usually gets them to move over after you've passed and frees up the space for following drivers.

Answer 6

The CLOC members (Centre Lane Owners Club) also don't like you throwing drinks cans at their car to try and get them to keep left, so I don't do that any more.

Answer 7

No it is not illegal to flash lights on the motorway. It is recognised as an indication that you are there and means nothing else.

It is illegal (dangerous driving) to pass on the inside.

Answer 8

You shouldn't be interrupting their cell phone call. They've got better things to do than care about other drivers or emergency vehicles trying to use the passing lane.

Answer 9

Anyone that hates being flashed at can always just throw a penny or two out of the sunroof. If the car behind is following at a safe distance, it won't be hit.

Answer 10

If someone is sitting in the centre lane on an empty motorway my favourite wake-up is to get as close as possible in the inside lane before zipping out to the outside lane, overtaking them, and then zipping back to the inside lane as quickly as is possible after passing them. Whilst this is probably dangerous, it does seem to be effective in getting the message across. ;-)