When I used to do nights, I would hate it when you overtake then they give you a really quick flash. I don’t know if it was them hitting a bump in the road or a genuine flash. Others just didn’t bother. If someone overtakes me they’ll get a good long flash.
Don’t know how long I’ve been in this forum maybe 4/5 years and this topic has been posted about 154 times.
It astounds me how offended some of you get over it, proper knickers in a twist stuff.
It’s not taught, and is actively discouraged (only allowed to use them as a warning bla bla bla), so of course it’s going to peter out.
merc0447:
Don’t know how long I’ve been in this forum maybe 4/5 years and this topic has been posted about 154 times.It astounds me how offended some of you get over it, proper knickers in a twist stuff.
looking at your joining date suggests coming up to 9 years - frightening how time goes by. You probably had a gear stick back then.
switchlogic:
To be fair originally flashing in was a very British thing, when I first started going to Europe in early 90s (with my Dad) I seem to remember it being fairly rare once one left blighty. But like roundabouts it is becoming common across Europe, though some countries do it less than others, Spain actually being one
I passed my car test in about 1988, and drove an army landrover a lot on the motorways in Holland in 89/90, and started driving wagons in 1991. Flashing in, and a quick reciprocal left-right-left with the indicators, was commonplace then. I guess Germany would have been pretty much the same, seeing as traffic was back and forth so much. Belgium, well, in case of Belgium all bets are off. 5 abreast on a three lane motorway (in pouring rain mind…)… 
if marginally faster than me, slow down a bit wait for their indicator then flash. sometimes ppl dont see flash thats why no thanks especially if bright. if quite a bit faster dont bother.
Radar19:
When I used to do nights, I would hate it when you overtake then they give you a really quick flash. I don’t know if it was them hitting a bump in the road or a genuine flash. Others just didn’t bother. If someone overtakes me they’ll get a good long flash.
I still do it the old way - flash off at night - no mistaking that way
tango boy:
switchlogic:
AndrewG:
Why do you flash overtakers in?It’s a very common thing to do, I’m surprised you’ve never heard of it…
Don’t ya know he has technology that makes his truck go faster than a duck ■■■■ he don’t have to flash anyone In I’m surprised you didn’t know pmsl
Exactly…i dont get overtaken, uphill or downhill… 
switchlogic:
AndrewG:
Why do you flash overtakers in?It’s a very common thing to do, I’m surprised you’ve never heard of it…
I used to do it when i was in the UK but been over here long enough for it to have worn off years ago, very few bother with it anymore, surprised its even done in the UK anymore either tbh, its hardly a difficult move to get back over after an overtake…
It will never die out, its part and parcel of being a driver its good practice and any person who thinks its a waste of time or they are to good to think its helpfull are very sad people, its called looking after each other and thats not hard to do even if you dont get a flash in
AndrewG:
Why do you flash overtakers in?
I do it to be helpful to the overtaking driver. I also think it is good practice generally because it has some effect in speeding our motorways up for all motorists using them especially when they are busy.
Think about it. By flashing you might be helping the driver to pull in a second or two earlier than if he was solely relying solely on his own judgement as to whether he had cleared you. That means that he is in the that middle for a second or two less. So he is getting out of the way of anyone who wishes to overtake him without them going into the third lane and holding someone else up.
Turbovision:
AndrewG:
Why do you flash overtakers in?I do it to be helpful to the overtaking driver. I also think it is good practice generally because it has some effect in speeding our motorways up for all motorists using them especially when they are busy.
Think about it. By flashing you might be helping the driver to pull in a second or two earlier than if he was solely relying solely on his own judgement as to whether he had cleared you. That means that he is in the that middle for a second or two less. So he is getting out of the way of anyone who wishes to overtake him without them going into the third lane and holding someone else up.
I know why you do it as i used to do it when driving inthe UK but as few used to do it over here it gradually wore off with me and now as ive done for years just rely on my own judgement and tbh without help as such i think it makes for a better driver…
AndrewG:
i think it makes for a better driver…
I wonder if the ones that practically take your wipers off also think that?
Evil8Beezle:
AndrewG:
i think it makes for a better driver…I wonder if the ones that practically take your wipers off also think that?
The ones that attempt to take your complete cab off are the real experts…
the nodding donkey:
switchlogic:
To be fair originally flashing in was a very British thing, when I first started going to Europe in early 90s (with my Dad) I seem to remember it being fairly rare once one left blighty. But like roundabouts it is becoming common across Europe, though some countries do it less than others, Spain actually being oneI passed my car test in about 1988, and drove an army landrover a lot on the motorways in Holland in 89/90, and started driving wagons in 1991. Flashing in, and a quick reciprocal left-right-left with the indicators, was commonplace then. I guess Germany would have been pretty much the same, seeing as traffic was back and forth so much. Belgium, well, in case of Belgium all bets are off. 5 abreast on a three lane motorway (in pouring rain mind…)…
Couldn’t agree more ND. That’s where I first came across it too in mid 80’s and It was probably going on over there for a long time before that.
People got to remember back then when mirrors were much poorer, smaller and probably unheated.
Mostly 2 lane motorways in Germany and Holland and so you want to clear the fast lane asap because there is usually a Porsche or similar gaining on you at warp factor.
A flash in is very helpful and a tick tock indictator followed although it is not as universal there now as it once was possibly due to better mirrors and a more “international mix” of trucks on their roads.
In UK with mostly 3 lanes and lane 2 only about 3 mph faster than lane 1 most of the time due to heavy traffic and the mid lane hoggers brigade I guess it is not as critical but still quiet useful.
No flash in is probably an annoyed guy taking a stance on something.
It frustrates me too. This morning I had a truck start the overtaking maneuver while we were both accelerating having just come on the motorway. It was clear he wasn’t going to get past me so being a considerate driver I backed off the gas and flashed him in when safe… But no acknowledgement whatsoever for my courtesy.
old habits die hard…i tend not to do very much flashing in as im usually on the recieving end,but in general id always wink thanks,and mostly always give someone else a flash in…its just more and more common for to be ignored,then after a certain point,its just time for the happy button,and a lesson in,“this is how to overtake someone ya fanny”!!!..
Two things.
You can’t be watching your mirror all the time so sometimes you miss being flashed.
Secondly, i hate drivers who pass you and pull in before they are a reasonable distance in front. If they had to slow down suddenly you’d have no chance of stopping.
dieseldog999:
its just more and more common for to be ignored,then after a certain point,its just time for the happy button,and a lesson in,“this is how to overtake someone ya fanny”!!!..
Brilliant & Welcome back.
Were you doing a trip or were you screen privileges suspended for a little while?
It was a thing you learned when starting out, the different ways other drivers replied both by day and by night were also very varied.
A headlight flash during the day resulted in the sidelights being turned on/off/on/off with a possible wink of an indicator thrown in for good measure.
The same at night bought a off/on/ a short pause then off/on with indicators to the left. some drivers timed the indicators to flash on when the tail lights were off resulting in a very co-ordinated sequence…very pretty at night 
All of this died out possibly by the advent of the ‘continental’ influence, more and more british drivers picking up the ‘thank by indicator’ responses by their european counterparts on their travels ‘over the water’ or the increase in european drivers on british roads who didnt do things our way !
Now there are running lights on most trucks that would make the old fashioned british way of signalling thanks redundant even if the old way hadn’t have died out. Either way it was just common courtesy once to thank another driver by lights or indicators. It is not a thing to worry greatly over, just as most drivers were friendly towards one another in the old days, its just a fact of modern life that road courtesy is a dying art in itself. I do pass a lot of drivers who may be on the younger side and maybe dont realise or know about the gentle art of overtaking manners, but that dont worry me none, I’m not going to lose sleep over it