Job Discussion Forums

[osakajojo]

I remember in Vietnam people on moterbikes honked constantly. I would try to count "one mississippi 2 mississippi..." to try to see how many seconds of silence we would have, it would never be more than 3 seconds it seemed. It was pretty cool

[osakajojo]

[mjed9]

Hey maybe you two could drive cars at each other and play chicken. That would be cool (as long as you kept it to within the designated speedlimit and obeyed all other road traffic laws).

Here in Taiwan, it is another fine example of SE Asian driving (with the possible exception of Japan). They love driving their vehicles as close as possible to the vehicle in front or to the side. They have pretty high road accident statistics.

I don't agree with warning other people on the road if the police are hiding to catch them. Yes they are speeding, our society (in which we choose to live) has deemed it irresponsible and quite rightly unsafe and it should be cracked down on. I mean, why speed? What's cool about a broken back, physical disfigurement, death or if you are one of the lucky ones psychological trauma? Set out a bit earlier is what I say

[Sekhmet]

Sweetsee - Japan isn't the only country that does that... I've seen (and performed) many examples of both types in England!!! Isn't it nice to know that courtesy is alive and well, even in Europe??

[canuck]

Speed does not kill...variance in speed is the problem. Posted limits are often made by government officials, not traffic engineers. Radar traps are a total cash cow for the government. Most accidents are caused by human error, not speed related.

It's a common practice in Canada, as it should be.

[Dragonsaver]

I agree that road conditions have a distict effect on safe driving. Cars will go the posted limit in heavy fog and snow and ice. This is where the police should really crack down. Also drivers going 80 in a 100 zone, when the driving conditions are ideal, are more of a hazard than those going 120.

I have been warned by flashing headlights and saved from a ticket. I don't normally plan on exceeding the speed limit, but sometimes the foot gets heavier than it should. For those people who don't normally speed it is a courtesy and allows them the opportunity to refocus on the speedometer.

In Canada the speed limit on major highways is 100KPH. However, when driving at 115 KPH you will be passed by 70% of the cars. Flashing the headlights has the effect of lowering the speed of the oncoming cars, some of which do not have cruise control and have inadvertently exceeded the limit. BTW the police normally don't stop cars doing less than 120. They are after the idiots going 130 and higher.

I agree that speed kills. I agree that seeing the carnage on the highways is objectionable. But, I don't think that being rude to someone posting is a way to prove a point. You can be objective and state statistics and explain how you feel without the put-downs.

[osakajojo]

Thank you so much Dragonsaver, you said exactly how I feel! This is one of my first posts. I know now that I need to be more careful in choosing the correct words to use in my sentences.
First, let me say a few things about myself: I am American. I travelled and lived overseas for three years, riding all sorts of public transportation and not driving at all but a few times. I am now back in the states and feel that while I was away everybody decided to drive faster on the highways. I swear it seems that people drive faster than they did 3 or 4 years ago. The speed limits are the same but if you were to set your cruise control to the posted speed limit, 99% of the cars on the road will pass you. So yes I do speed- not like Smokey and the Banditt but just fast enough so that I am going with the flow of the traffic, though I tend to still be a bit slower than a lot of the cars shooting past me in the fast lane.
Now in my OP I was curious as to if people have observed strangers flashing their bright lights in order to warn speeders that a cop is hiding.
The people that do the warning by flashing do not know even if the cars approaching them are speeding or not. They are just letting them know a cop is hidding near by.
I don't think it is COOL to drive recklessly or to haul ass or tailgate others or shoot the gap, speeding etc.. I for one drive as safe as I can by going with the flow of traffic, allowing lots of space between me and the car in front of me, etc...
What I think is COOL is how people in other countries do some of the same things that they do in my home country. I know everyone uses a horn to honk because that is what you are supposed to do with a horn. However, the flashing brights is something people choose to do to help or show gratitude to others. There are no driving manuals that explain how to flash your brights to warn others that a cop is near yet people do it in several countries. ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS Do they do it where you live?

[Roger]

[texastmblwd69]

If you're ever driving down a 2 lane country highway in Texas and a car comes up behind you and flashes his lights, it means that he is (more than likely) asking you to pull off onto the hard shoulder so that he can pass you. This is something I've only encountered in Texas and virtually all Texans agree that is just common courtesy.

[carnac]

Nice question. I'd like to relate some of the "light flashing" courtesies here in Oman. I've never observed anyone flashing high beams to warn of radar or police, but flashing to pass/overtake is normal. More interesting to me was the flash of politeness when a driver in the opposite lane is trying to make a turn in front of you: you slow, flash, saying "It's ok, you can go". They wave thank you; everyone is happy because the person trying to turn is no longer blocking cars behind. The best are the large trucks on narrow country roads. They are slow, man are they slow, especially in the mountains. And so large you can't see around them for oncoming traffic. When it's safe to pass, they pull slightly to the side and start the right turn signal blinking, meaning "I can see ahead and it's ok, you can go". Traffic coming in the other direction: left signal, center of the road, "Hold on; not clear yet; I'll let you know".
People regularly will flash to let other drivers know they can pull out of a parking space into traffic, meanwhile putting the blinkers on to let following drivers that they have slowed down for some reason.
All this politeness, yet Oman has a terrible crash rate, partly attributable to some poorly designed roads, partly to the occasional goat or camel sharing your lane, but (opinion) mostly due to younger drivers with more horsepower than they should have.
US drivers don't flash as much as they used to. Too many flashers busted for obstruction of justice, I am told. This may be bogus, a counter-tactic rumor put out by the police, but the flashing has declined. Except on 95. There, no holds barred. A long, boring road from Miami to Boston, and you tend to goose the car/truck whatever up to eighty or ninety or more to get it over with. Flash, down to 65, pass the trooper, blast off and flash at the opposite drivers.
I think the speed flashing is more a commentary on people deciding for themselves what is "reasonable" or not. 65 in a 35 is not reasonable. But 85 or 100 in a posted 65 with no pedistrians or crossroads can be completely reasonable. If your car can do it safely.