by vonhosen » Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:06 pm
I do use this method a lot at work. Particularly where making progress when not using blues & twos. If it used well there is nothing ambiguous about it at all.
The use of the headlamp flash is a very useful tool particularly on motorway & dual carriageway, but it is something that if not done or timed well can appear aggressive. It is unlikely that you would have to use it much if driving within our speed limits. It would be used where your speed is greatly different to others on the road, others who's potential movement concerns you with the speed you are carrying or wish to carry.
A few points of note.
If you are going to give the headlamp flash in such situations it needs to be at least 4 seconds.
It must be given in good time.
It doesn't mean "I'm coming through" it means "Look at me I'm approaching quickly, what are you going to do ?"
You have to give it in good time, time for others to respond to it either positively or not, & leaving good time for you be able to respond to their response smoothly, matching speed with them if they do pull out smoothly not abruptly.
Prior to you committing to passing the vehicle you should have released the headlamp flash. Now with it being at least 4 seconds in length as I said earlier, that means you have to be doing it some distance back. There is an optimum distance but this will differ depending on your speed, the other vehicles speed & the differential. Give it too early & it will mean nothing to them. Give it to them too late & well that's obvious.
You will give it when you are in the optimum zone at a time when they have not yet thought about moving out, you keep it on at a time they should be thinking about looking to come out. The fact it is on before they looked & remains on will concern them & they will have a double take. It still staying on will now provoke a response from them (brakelights are a good sign for you).
Don't get to them until you are happy , then release headlight flash & pass.
If you don't get a positive response on the appraoch (no easing off the drive by them, not adjusting position slightly away from the lane markings between you etc), do not go in there ! Expect them to pull out infront of you.
There will be times that you want to give it, but you are not quite "in the zone" yet to give it & the vehicle moves out. C'est la vie. Just match speed with them.
Whether I am still on the drive or not whilst giving the headlight flash will depend on the differential of my speed & their speed. If the differential isn't too big (ie I only have to adjust my speed by say 20mph if they pull out) I will still be on the drive on approach.
If the differntial is say 40mph, then I will be off the drive using acceleration sense while giving the headlight flash. If the differential is 70mph I will be doing smooth braking on approach while giving the headlight flash.
The headlight flash does not give me impunity to just go on regardless.
Times where I will give a headlamp flash are where there is open road in my lane ahead & if it wasn't for that vehicle potentially going to pull out, I would be accelerating firmly. If however I would already be off the drive in my lane because I was closing on something ahead in it. It would be churlish of me in such circumstances to attempt to persuade another to not come out.
I would also give it very early & long where I was travelling very quickly in lane 3 & there was a vehicle in lane 3 with absolutely no reason to be there beacuse lane 2 was completely clear & it was safe for them to be pulling into 2.
Notice I say safe for them to be pulling into 2. If there is potential for something to pull from 1 to 2 as I ask the one in 3 to go to 2, I wouldn't flash them, because I would be asking them to go to an area of potential danger.
Never do that.
For that reason I wouldn't give someone a headlamp falsh requesting them to move from 3 to 2 on the immeadiate approach to an on slip. This again would asking them to move in at a time of potential danger.
If despite your flash someone does pull out, just cancel the flash. It shouldn't concern you because you were expecting it & should be able to match speed. Always expect them to pull out.
If they hold don't forget to thank them with a raised left flat hand as you pass. If you don't they may not be so obliging next time.
Use it well & intelligently it will aid your progress without you looking aggressive.
Do it at the wrong time or the wrong circumstances it will make you look like an aggressive maniac.
It is a skill of it's own & you need to be fully aware of when & where to use it as well as when & where not to.
Don't try it on your own without first having some expert tuition in it.
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Any views expressed are mine & mine alone.
I do not represent my employer or these forums.