Foo - Why do people force me to be a jerk?

When driving at night, I frequently encounter people who don't dim their brights. It's the same deal each time -- I wait until they've been blinding me significantly longer than they should have then I flash my brights once as a reminder in case they forgot.

Somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of the people don't respond to the reminder. So I give another flash. Practically no one responds to the reminder. After that, I just switch my brights on completely -- at this point, I get 100% compliance and the instant they dim, I turn off my brights.

What's going through these peoples' minds? Why do they wait until someone screws them over before just doing the normal thing? I can't be the only one willing to blind jackasses who won't respond to a gentle reminder.

When driving at night, I frequently encounter people who don't dim their brights. It's the same deal each time -- I wait until they've been blinding me significantly longer than they should have then I flash my brights once as a reminder in case they forgot.

Somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of the people don't respond to the reminder. So I give another flash. Practically no one responds to the reminder. After that, I just switch my brights on completely -- at this point, I get 100% compliance and the instant they dim, I turn off my brights.

What's going through these peoples' minds? Why do they wait until someone screws them over before just doing the normal thing? I can't be the only one willing to blind jackasses who won't respond to a gentle reminder.

nothing

+1

I do the same that you do and wonder about those other drivers.

I have seen in the work place, the mall, the post office, everywhere you go in public, that there are some people who are oblivious to the world around them. For some reason, I think because my father taught me some hunting skills, I keep aware of my surroundings, who is where, what looks safe, what doesn't, that I am more aware than others. It has served me well. I open doors for people and hold the door for people behind me who are women, kids, loaded down with packages or elderly. I have also found money just laying on counters, the floor and sidewalks. The best lately has been a couple $20s.

I just think that people are unaware to the world around them until the bright lights of oncoming traffic says, HEY, dim them freakin lights.

Because North America has increasingly become a self-centered society?? Same reasons people let their kids run around in restaurants disturbing others, play music outdoors at high volumes with no consideration of their neighbors. Driving at high speeds weaving through traffic..

They just don't give a da** about anybody but themselves.

Hmm. Round these parts you flash your lights at someone to remind them of their high beams that's reason to be shot.

A while ago there were a bunch of people that put on their high beams just to target people to flash. They would then shoot at the car as it passed. I think it was some kind of gang initiation thing.

Why do people force me to be a jerk?

that sounds exactly like the old "I didn't want to do that but you made me hit you" excuse.

When driving at night, I frequently encounter people who don't dim their brights. It's the same deal each time -- I wait until they've been blinding me significantly longer than they should have then I flash my brights once as a reminder in case they forgot.

Somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 of the people don't respond to the reminder. So I give another flash. Practically no one responds to the reminder. After that, I just switch my brights on completely -- at this point, I get 100% compliance and the instant they dim, I turn off my brights.

What's going through these peoples' minds? Why do they wait until someone screws them over before just doing the normal thing? I can't be the only one willing to blind jackasses who won't respond to a gentle reminder.


It would prob be easier to pull into the other lane and let them go by, I don't flash my highbeams at anyone as it sometimes brings on a very bad reaction from the dumbass with the highbeams on, the best way to avoid problems is to avoid problems. =0)

Because North America has increasingly become a self-centered society?? Same reasons people let their kids run around in restaurants disturbing others, play music outdoors at high volumes with no consideration of their neighbors. Driving at high speeds weaving through traffic..

They just don't give a da** about anybody but themselves.

dogs off leashes...ya there are a million things

I've heard that urban legend (http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/lightsout.asp) since I was a kid.


Not a legend, just last year my neighbor was on his way back from a family reunion and flashed a guy that was going under the speed limit with his highbeams, the guy came to a sudden stop which forced him to stop, the dude jumped out of his car with a baseball bat and began to smash his windows out, my neighbor jumped out of his car managed to grab the bat away from the guy and whacked him in the head which bought his attack to a quick end, the Police showed up, arrested them both, the guy got 2 years probation my neighbor got 8 months in prison, no priors.

Nobody forces me to be a jerk. It's my hobby.

I've heard that urban legend (http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/lightsout.asp) since I was a kid.

DARE program. My FTO's wife was head of that. She's the one that sent out the flyers.

Because North America has increasingly become a self-centered society??

That, and more kids are getting their license younger, and the drivers education is the bare minumum with nothing extra. When I took drivers ed in the 70s, in addition to learning how to drive and what the laws where, they also talked about courtesy among drivers- not so much directly related to who had the right of way, but when to dim your high beams, how to alternate every other car when there's a lane merge in heavy traffic, that sort of thing. Now the kids get a few hours in a classroom, a few hours behind the wheel and bang, they have their license. In Texas they don't even require an in-car driving test anymore; just a basic written test.

DARE program. My FTO's wife was head of that. She's the one that sent out the flyers.

What's FTO?

That, and more kids are getting their license younger, and the drivers education is the bare minumum with nothing extra. When I took drivers ed in the 70s, in addition to learning how to drive and what the laws where, they also talked about courtesy among drivers- not so much directly related to who had the right of way, but when to dim your high beams, how to alternate every other car when there's a lane merge in heavy traffic, that sort of thing. Now the kids get a few hours in a classroom, a few hours behind the wheel and bang, they have their license. In Texas they don't even require an in-car driving test anymore; just a basic written test.

Must be very different in the states. When I was a kid in onterrible, I could get a full license in 1 year (it was called a 365), in newfieland I could get it in 30 days. Most of canada now has graduated licensing which takes freaking years to get your license and requires an obnoxious amount of training.

What's FTO?

Take your pick! LOL! ;0)

FTOFederation of Tour Operators (UK)FTOFreedom to OperateFTOForeign Terrorist OrganizationsFTOField Training Officer (law enforcement)FTOFair Trade Organic (product designation)FTOfat mass and obesity-associated (gene)FTOFlight Training Organization (aviation)FTOFluorine-doped Tin OxideFTOFlexible Time OffFTOFresh Touring Origination (Mitsubishi coupe car)FTOFirst Time OffenderFTOFailure to Obey (law enforcement)FTOFinal TakeoffFTOFlight Training Officer (US Air Force ROTC)FTOFlight Test ObjectiveFTOFunky Town Osaka (song title)FTOForeign Training OfficerFTOFull-Time Occlusion (ophthalmology)FTOFluorinated Tin OxideFTOFine Troy OunceFTOFigure The OddsFTOField Ticket OfficeFTOFlex Targeting Officer (Air Operations Center position)FTOFight the OctopusFTOFinal Technical OrderFTOFull Time Off (leave day)FtoFraction of Transportation Power Supplied by Oil (Carolina Environmental Program)

That, and more kids are getting their license younger, and the drivers education is the bare minumum with nothing extra. When I took drivers ed in the 70s, in addition to learning how to drive and what the laws where, they also talked about courtesy among drivers- not so much directly related to who had the right of way, but when to dim your high beams, how to alternate every other car when there's a lane merge in heavy traffic, that sort of thing. Now the kids get a few hours in a classroom, a few hours behind the wheel and bang, they have their license. In Texas they don't even require an in-car driving test anymore; just a basic written test.

Most provinces in Canada have gone the opposite direction. They have graduated licences with restrictions on times of day, highways used, passengers carried and zero tolerance on blood alcohol.

Most provinces in Canada have gone the opposite direction. They have graduated licences with restrictions on times of day, highways used, passengers carried and zero tolerance on blood alcohol.



Canadians drink blood alcohol! Thats sick! ;0)

I give 'em the flash once and if that doesn't do the trick, then they stay on high.....and that's like the sun coming up from my truck.


Not a legend, just last year my neighbor was on his way back from a family reunion and flashed a guy that was going under the speed limit with his highbeams, the guy came to a sudden stop which forced him to stop, the dude jumped out of his car with a baseball bat and began to smash his windows out, my neighbor jumped out of his car managed to grab the bat away from the guy and whacked him in the head which bought his attack to a quick end, the Police showed up, arrested them both, the guy got 2 years probation my neighbor got 8 months in prison, no priors.

That would have played out differently had it been me.......the police wouldn't have his side of the story......

Canadians drink blood alcohol! Thats sick! ;0)

quite tasty, little runny when mixed together though

What's FTO?

Field Training Officer in the Police Academy.

I give 'em the flash once and if that doesn't do the trick, then they stay on high.....and that's like the sun coming up from my truck.



That would have played out differently had it been me.......the police wouldn't have his side of the story......

:twitchy:

Field Training Officer in the Police Academy.


Ha! I was right!......kinda! LOL! (forth on the list!)

FTOFederation of Tour Operators (UK)FTOFreedom to OperateFTOForeign Terrorist Organizations FTOField Training Officer (law enforcement)FTOFair Trade Organic (product designation)FTOfat mass and obesity-associated (gene)FTOFlight Training Organization (aviation)FTOFluorine-doped Tin OxideFTOFlexible Time OffFTOFresh Touring Origination (Mitsubishi coupe car)FTOFirst Time OffenderFTOFailure to Obey (law enforcement)FTOFinal TakeoffFTOFlight Training Officer (US Air Force ROTC)FTOFlight Test ObjectiveFTOFunky Town Osaka (song title)FTOForeign Training OfficerFTOFull-Time Occlusion (ophthalmology)FTOFluorinated Tin OxideFTOFine Troy OunceFTOFigure The OddsFTOField Ticket OfficeFTOFlex Targeting Officer (Air Operations Center position)FTOFight the OctopusFTOFinal Technical OrderFTOFull Time Off (leave day)FtoFraction of Transportation Power Supplied by Oil (Carolina Environmental Program)

Are you sure they all have their brights on? I have Xenon headlamps on my car which are very bright white. I get flashed all of the time but I don't have my brights on and the headlights are perfectly adjusted.

OK, are they "brights?" or "highbeams?"

the art of using turnsignals is also dying
seems like they only use them if there is oncoming traffic
i suspect they hope someone will slow down and let them turn

I only wish I can do that with my bike light. some drivers - when they see me at night will put their brights on to see me better, not realizing I am now blinded and can't where I'm going. sometimes I put my arm up to shade my eyes so they can tell they are blinding me. but I can't always let go of the bars!

OK, are they "brights?" or "highbeams?"

Bright highbeams. DUH. http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/Flycrow/spinningsmil.gif

Bright highbeams. DUH. http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/Flycrow/spinningsmil.gif

good nuff! ;0)

Are you sure they all have their brights on? I have Xenon headlamps on my car which are very bright white. I get flashed all of the time but I don't have my brights on and the headlights are perfectly adjusted.

Maybe you could be nice and adjust them down a tad.

Maybe you could be nice and adjust them down a tad.

They are auto adjusting and adjust everytime you start the car. The problem isn't that they aim directly in the oncoming cars windscreen it is that they are so bright people just assume you have your HBs on and flash you. No way to change it and frequently I will flash my HBs on just to show them it's the LBs.

One night while riding home, I had to pass some utility trucks doing so ork, which closed on lane. The police where there to direct traffic. One dumbass cop had his car facing oncomming traffic, with his blink bright(highbeams) and every other light on his car turned on. Of course Officer Saftyforall was standing at the back of his car. Facing the lights of his car, you could just barely see his orange vest, and the mag light he was waving. It was amazing he didn't get killed.

Nobody forces me to be a jerk. It's my hobby.

In your case, its also part of your genetic makeup.

I drive blindfolded.

I don't flash, just turn my brights on and leave them on. Even if the other car dims. **** 'em.

Idiot drivers forgetting they have their high beams on is an international problem. Here's a tip that works most of the time. I will often be using high beams myself. When I see an oncoming car I dip the beams first. Then oncoming car will then usually respond by dipping there own beams. See if it works.

Anthony

Are you sure they all have their brights on? I have Xenon headlamps on my car which are very bright white. I get flashed all of the time but I don't have my brights on and the headlights are perfectly adjusted.

I've never had anyone fail to dim once I give them the full treatment. Some people have poorly adjusted headlights or especially bright lights to begin with, but I can tell the difference.

I don't flash, just turn my brights on and leave them on. Even if the other car dims. **** 'em.

I do the same, but drop back down to low beams as soon as they do too.

I have a progressive escalation for retaliatory high-beaming, and it's different for oncoming vs. trailing drivers.

Oncoming:
- get a flash from my 'beams as a polite warning. If they don't dim their lights
- get a burst from a rack of 4 x 100W off-road floods

Trailing:
- use my side mirror to aim their lights back at them. If they don't dim their lights
- quick burst from 2 bumper mounted 65W off-road spotter lamps, or if I have a passenger
- quick burst from the "photon torpedo"; 1,000,000 candlepower handheld floodlight

People tend to respond quickly when your vehicle lighting can knock their retinas out the back of their skull.

Come on man, yes people are horseshlt drivers, we all know that. People are rude and inconsiderate. And now with cell phones added to the mix it's as bad as ever. Best we can do is chill and be defensive. That and do what you can to enact some anti cell phone laws.

The next issue will be the computers they are now mounting on dashboards. :rolleyes:

It's a hoot to listen to the car company PR people tell us that research shows that computers on the dashboards don't cause any additional problems. :lol: AND people buy into that crap!

Back in my driving days...

Flash on-off-on-off, wait a couple seconds; if they don't get the clue, the brights are on to stay until they pass.

Now, it's not a problem; I ride.

I upgraded my lights just to mess with the highbeamers. I'll actually flip a U-turn and follow them and then hit 'em will the full 700-watts of brain-searing light! I swear I can see the back of their eyeballs though their skull! I'm looking into some landing-gear lights I can mount discretely...

You people who turn on your own high beams in retaliation are nuts. Do you really think it's better if both you and the oncoming driver are blinded? Really??????

You people who turn on your own high beams in retaliation are nuts. Do you really think it's better if both you and the oncoming driver are blinded? Really??????

yes....at least both parties will not be screaming when they collide.

In Texas they don't even require an in-car driving test anymore; just a basic written test.

Wow, that really does explain a lot.

In Texas they don't even require an in-car driving test anymore; just a basic written test.
Wow, that really does explain a lot.

Has the failure rate jumped? :innocent:

Has the failure rate jumped? :innocent:
If you're illiterate...you must pass automatically.

I feel like someone forced me to be a jerk. I hope this passes soon...

Not a legend, just last year my neighbor was on his way back from a family reunion and flashed a guy that was going under the speed limit with his highbeams, the guy came to a sudden stop which forced him to stop, the dude jumped out of his car with a baseball bat and began to smash his windows out, my neighbor jumped out of his car managed to grab the bat away from the guy and whacked him in the head which bought his attack to a quick end, the Police showed up, arrested them both, the guy got 2 years probation my neighbor got 8 months in prison, no priors.

Yeah... a friend of my cousin's sister's boyfriend's mom....

So... your buddy was driving and a car was coming from the opposite direction with his highbeams on... going under the speed limit? Just how did your buddy know this little tidbit? Does he have his own radar gun in stalled in his car to clock oncoming traffic?

And if the other car stopped, why didn't your buddy just go around?

And if someone was beating his car with a bat and he defended himself, why did he get 8 months when the attacker got probation?

Think this one through... then move.


DARE program. My FTO's wife was head of that. She's the one that sent out the flyers.

'Cause cops know everything. I actually did see this email that originated from the cops when the legend was circulating hot and heavy.

I had rear facing lamps on my Jeep back in the day. Used them alot when working for the boat rental / boat dealership and having to hook up to boats trailers early in the morning or late at night. Used them occosionally to discourage tail gaters, bright light followers, etc. Also had a brace of front mounted KC Daylighters that would as CGK1 mentioned, solve oncoming bright light issues in my favor every time.