A while ago, I noticed that truckers often flash their headlights when a vehicle has signaled that they want to change into their lane and they have passed the truck. I'm assuming this meant, go ahead and change lanes now. I hope it doesn't mean, "By no means should you change lanes now."This turned out to be pretty useful for me when I first started driving my motorhome. I was new to Class As and it was nice to have confirmation that I could safely switch lanes so I began to do it myself whenever I saw someone with their turn indicator on as they were passing me.The next thing I noticed was that some of the truckers I had flashed were flashing their brake / parking lights at me. I'm assuming to say thanks. Again, I hope it means that.I liked the gesture but I couldn't figure out how to flash my brake / parking lights to say thanks to those who signaled me. I tried tapping the brakes, but that would slow me down and take me out of cruise mode and I even tried turning on and off my headlights, but I'd end up flashing my headlights and I didn't want to do that so I gave up.Then I got my diesel pusher and, lo and behold, there were two buttons on the steering wheel. One on the left for flashing my headlights and one on the right for flashing my brake / parking lights. (Imagine the hallelujah chorus at this point)I had no idea that there were dedicated buttons for this on big rigs. So my question to all of you is, do you flash people?(Keep it clean guys, I'm talking about lights here.)

Yes. Always have in any vehicle I drive. Drove my dad's trucks as a kid and learned that.

I have for decades. You don't want to upset the most talented and experienced drivers on the road, a road which you have to share. Besides, its just plain courtesy

When I first saw your post I thought you were referring to something entirely non-RV related and I was relieved to see you were playing it straight.I used to drive a truck and the courtesy of flashing your lights is very much appreciated. Some will acknowledge your courtesy and some will not. Some will do the same for you and some will not. If there is one group that I have found that doesn't seem to ever either flash for us to pull in or acknowledge our courtesy it is the truckers from Quebec. Not sure why they don't acknowledge, but they don't.I've always taken the attitude that courtesy is contagious, just like stupidity is also contagious. Courtesy makes life more fun.

Absolutely. Always have. If you don't have a marker light "flash" button (like on a Freightliner Smart Wheel), you can say thank you with two or three winks of the hazard lights.

I have always flashed trucks over whether I'm in the car or motorhome. Sometimes the truckers would give an 'appreciation' flash back, sometimes not.On our previous coach, I had to turn on the headlights to use the flash feature for the headlight button to work on the steering wheel. The courtesy marker lights flash button would work without the headlights turned on. The Dynasty used a fairly old fashioned type high-beam stalk indicator where you couldn't pull the stalk in to flash the brights, the lights had to be on.On the new coach, it's like a car, with the headlights off (daytime running lamps on), you can pull in the stalk inward to activate the high-beams. About 80% of the time, the truckers will give an 'appreciation' blink of their tail lights or move their turning signal left and right a few times.When the truckers flash me over, I will turn on my hazard lights a few times in appreciation.MM.

Do you flash people? | Good Sam Community

Goldencrazy
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Yes. Always have in any vehicle I drive. Drove my dad's trucks as a kid and learned that.
Houston_Remodel
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
I have for decades. You don't want to upset the most talented and experienced drivers on the road, a road which you have to share.

Besides, its just plain courtesy
wnytaxman
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
When I first saw your post I thought you were referring to something entirely non-RV related and I was relieved to see you were playing it straight.

I used to drive a truck and the courtesy of flashing your lights is very much appreciated. Some will acknowledge your courtesy and some will not. Some will do the same for you and some will not. If there is one group that I have found that doesn't seem to ever either flash for us to pull in or acknowledge our courtesy it is the truckers from Quebec. Not sure why they don't acknowledge, but they don't.

I've always taken the attitude that courtesy is contagious, just like stupidity is also contagious. Courtesy makes life more fun.
Gsturner
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Absolutely. Always have. If you don't have a marker light "flash" button (like on a Freightliner Smart Wheel), you can say thank you with two or three winks of the hazard lights.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
I have always flashed trucks over whether I'm in the car or motorhome. Sometimes the truckers would give an 'appreciation' flash back, sometimes not.

On our previous coach, I had to turn on the headlights to use the flash feature for the headlight button to work on the steering wheel. The courtesy marker lights flash button would work without the headlights turned on.

The Dynasty used a fairly old fashioned type high-beam stalk indicator where you couldn't pull the stalk in to flash the brights, the lights had to be on.

On the new coach, it's like a car, with the headlights off (daytime running lamps on), you can pull in the stalk inward to activate the high-beams. About 80% of the time, the truckers will give an 'appreciation' blink of their tail lights or move their turning signal left and right a few times.

When the truckers flash me over, I will turn on my hazard lights a few times in appreciation.

MM.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
I love getting flashed while my train goes by a group of..... oh, wrong flashing...

As per your flashing, I have been doing it since the 90s when I was towing race car haulers. It seems that with my setup, trucks don't flash me that often. I guess they see a Jeep and Roo and think he is on his own. With all honesty, I wish they did. My door tow mirrors are at their extremes and not the best. I miss the west coast mirrors on my 91 dually.
RandACampin
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2015
no
mdamerell
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
It is a courtesy. Can be difficult to judge distance in a mirror. When it's raining it can allow the vehicle being passed to say "just a little bit more so I can see through your spray" by delaying the "wink" for a few extra seconds.

At night, personally I prefer people not flash their high beams, turn headlight on and off or flash the fog light but high beam can momentary blind your night vision as your staring in the mirror to see if you are clear.
tommy_g
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
I use my hazards for a "thank you" and then hit resume on my cruise. Most truckers, however, are passing me as I stay around 60mph.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2015
I do plus it's easy as the controls are on my smart wheel. Fewer truckers do it today compared to just ten years ago.

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Do you flash people?

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