Flash to Pass

[AWD Chaser]

When I was much younger learning to drive, I was taught to flash a car (with my headlights) from behind if I wanted them to move over (into the lane beside them) as this was more curtious then leaning on the horn.

Today, I was driving home in the rain and got stuck behind someone doing 60 in an 80 zone sitting in the right lane. I know the road, and there wasn't a right turn for at least 5 k's so rather then zooming up the left side of them, I just gave them a quick flash of the headlights which they responded to by giving me the bird! So I ended up having to duck up beside them and pass them onthe left ... and I made sure I gave her a curtious bird in return.

My question is: Does anyone still use Flash to Pass, or have you even heard of it? And given todays crackdown on stupid laws, is it even legal?

[GS608]

Originally Posted by AWD Chaser

When I was much younger learning to drive, I was taught to flash a car (with my headlights) from behind if I wanted them to move over (into the lane beside them) as this was more curtious then leaning on the horn.

Today, I was driving home in the rain and got stuck behind someone doing 60 in an 80 zone sitting in the right lane. I know the road, and there wasn't a right turn for at least 5 k's so rather then zooming up the left side of them, I just gave them a quick flash of the headlights which they responded to by giving me the bird! So I ended up having to duck up beside them and pass them onthe left ... and I made sure I gave her a curtious bird in return.

My question is: Does anyone still use Flash to Pass, or have you even heard of it? And given todays crackdown on stupid laws, is it even legal?

I remember an old triton we had had a sticker on the headlight stalk that read flash to pass or something similar..however never heard of anybody actually doing this, i find it easier to just pass on the left anyway

[Jesmol]

I think its now interpreted as "Get out of the friggen way slowcoach" hence the response you got.

[Cooper69S]

Originally Posted by Jesmol

I think its now interpreted as "Get out of the friggen way slowcoach" hence the response you got.

It's annoying but you're right. and the response is usually that they slow down and stay in the right lane. I've found the most effective solution is to come up behind the driver close enough that they know you want to pass, but settle back at a respectable distance so they don't feel like you're trying to start a fight with them - doesn't always work but the the other option is even less effective - as soon as you start tailgating or flashing, the likelihood of them moving over for you is about nil...

[xtremerus]

More a European idea I think.
Here it is taken as Jesmol said

[Raptor]

I still try but get similar responses to what you received most of the time.

Drivers in this country just aren't as well educated or as curtious as they should be.

[SteveJH]

I remember watching bathursts when they'd do it to lapped traffic to tell them to get out of the way....

Other then that, no idea.

[fmc351]

When I did my bike test years ago, they said flash before overtaking, bikes being harder for some people to see. I seem to recall my old Kwaka GPZ had a momentary switch labelled 'pass' for the high beam.

[04redxr8]

I did my driver traing 20 years in NSW. While I was aware of the flash to pass rule, it was not being taught. Probably because in those days, everybody was 5-10 k's over the limit, and as an L plater, you had no reason to overtake.

I do believe that it should be taught. Along with common courtesy.

[Jim Goose]

It was also done as a courtesy when road trains would overtake you.
You would flash them to indicate to them it was safe to merge after they overtook you so they wouldnt run u off the road.

These days I only do it to road trains to tell em im coming through... usually if they see me they will quickly indicate sometimes to say its clear.

[Ben73]

I use it, normally ends up making the oblivious idiot in front slam on their brakes on. Or just go slower.

I dream of a day when the average Australian knows how to drive cars properly.

[wrongwaynorris]

I dream of a day when the average Australian knows how to drive cars properly.[/QUOTE]

Don't hold your breath Ben

[Ben73]

.....

[GUTLES]

I had some do it to be, it actually made me really angry.

I was doing the speed limit & overtaking at the time.

[deesun]

I believe it is in the NSW learner driver handbook.http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/...s_handbook.pdf, bottom of page 129. I use it on the freeway if someone stays out in the right hand lane and I am going faster and they should be in the left lane. I get different results but mostly they do the right thing. Sometimes the finger. Yes I also use it out on the highway if it is single lanes and I wish to overtake. Again different results but mostly good.

[Riksta]

I don't think I've ever used it. I think I just tend to lurk in wait for that moment to get out and go around them. I've been known to lurk for many a kilometre.

[Keepleft]

Flash to pass is an optional move that is held in The UN Convention of Road Traffic including amendments to date.

Its been in the AUS books (old jurisdictional legislation and then ARR's) certainly since bout 53', likely earlier. It remains a single sentence advisory in all of our state and territory driver handbooks.

The *flash* gets (better) attention, the indicators >>>>>..<<<<<then show your direction-intention! Useful for some intercity freeway and rural highway driving when approaching a dozy car or a 'train' of them.

Not intended to nag other drivers to get the hell outta the way . . . .

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Keepleft

Not intended to nag other drivers to get the hell outta the way . . . .

OOPS my bad.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by deesun

OOPS my bad.

Doesn't matter, its easy enough to distinguish between the two flash intentions:-)

[data_mine]

Flash to pass is in the Australia Road Rules (Part 13, Rule 218).

218 Using headlights on high-beam
(1) The driver of a vehicle must not use the vehicle’s headlights
on high-beam, or allow the vehicle’s headlights to be used
on high-beam, if the driver is driving:
(a) less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the
same direction as the driver; or
(b) less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle.

Note High-beam and oncoming vehicle are defined in the dictionary.

(2) However, if the driver is overtaking a vehicle, the driver
may briefly switch the headlights from low-beam to highbeam
immediately before the driver begins to overtake the
vehicle.
Note Low-beam and overtake are defined in the dictionary.

[fmc351]

Are we talking freeways or just dual carriageways? AFAIK, in Qld roads under 90km/h dont mandate keeping left.

[Cooper69S]

Originally Posted by fmc351

AFAIK, in Qld roads under 90km/h dont mandate keeping left.

about 10 years ago (maybe more) I remember something over here in WA about the introduction of uniform national road rules, and that was one of them. It used to be keep left at 80kmh and over here, but it became either over 80 or 90+ (can't remember which is the exact term but both the same as I've never seen an 85 zone). It did say that keeping left at lower speeds is still advised as common courtesy but not too many people seem interested in that idea

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by Cooper69S

about 10 years ago (maybe more) I remember something over here in WA about the introduction of uniform national road rules, and that was one of them. It used to be keep left at 80kmh and over here, but it became either over 80 or 90+ (can't remember which is the exact term but both the same as I've never seen an 85 zone). It did say that keeping left at lower speeds is still advised as common courtesy but not too many people seem interested in that idea

I agree, but I dont get miffed when they dont. Apparently they dont have too, and Im not in a position to reason why they may feel the need to be in the right lane. Im rarely in that much of a hurry, and if I am, its my own fault for not allowing enough time.

[seduced_xr]

ive found that people cant stand to have somebody pass them or be infront of them, even if their doing 20 under the limit... they happily speed up to block gaps and then slow down when they get next to another car to block you back.. then they give you the bird when you eventually find a gap and nail it through.

for example.. last week i was coming through a roundabout and noticed another club member going through (spotted his stickers) and wanted to catch up for a chat.. i booted it through the next gap only to have someone entering from another part of the roundabout not give way and cut me off, they then proceded to do 20kmh under the speed limit.

it was the other club member. this other car and then myself. i tried this 'flash to pass' method (did nothing), then booted it past them when we entered the 80 zone.

other club member saw me and pulled up at the next shopping centre and i pulled up behind him. 20 seconds later this silly old cow and her husband pull up and start having it out with us.. why are you in such a hurry. flicking your lights back there..you darn p platers she kept saying.. hope you dont have any kids bla bla bla.. have a nice day you old cow as she drove off.

[Dave R]

Having a late model white XR6T with dark tint has its advantages.. everyone moves out of the way

[wrongwaynorris]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Having a late model white XR6T with dark tint has its advantages.. everyone moves out of the way

It even works with a red one , or the adverse they see you and immediately slow down to 10 k's below the limit .

[Mechan1k]

God ... just reading thhat rule above ... we still have the 200m rule for highbeam.
That may have been all well and good for car back in the 70 when high beams were as powerful as candles.

But nowadays ... if i left my highbeam on by 200mm distance ... the poor bugger coming towards me would already be blind.

I think the law should be made to something more along the lines of line-of-sight for high-beam dipping.

Sorry ... got a tad off-topic there.

[DBourne]

In answer to the OP's question:

Yes I've heard of flash to pass and it is used a LOT in Europe (the land of people with a clue)

Reason you got the bird, is 90% of Aussie drivers are morons and want their 6ft of road and won't give it up, even if they are just plain stupid

[Fev]

On the highway i'll flash all i want if some moron wants to sit in the right hand lane going too slow.. Couldn't care less if they flip me off, i'll keep flashing until they move the hell over...

[cant]

Yep, flash to pass has been around a long time

But few people who use it know how to say THANKS, normally its a left-right-left flash of the indicators when you pull back in...

Am a big fan of FLASH to pass as far too many people on our roads today forget what those 3 shiny things on their cars are and how to use them too!!!!!!!

A slow oblivious idiot should be fined for it, as equally as a speedster if not more so.