Why do 18 wheelers flash their lights

The safest spot is behind the truck — of course, leaving a safe distance. Tractor trailers need room to make turns — especially right-hand turns. The driver needs to position himself at least four feet from the curb. Most trucks are pulling 53ft trailers with kingpin-to-rear-axle dimension of 39 to 47 feet. It takes time to account for that distance while making turns. Each lane is about 12 feet wide, so they usually need three and a half lanes of total width to make a turn.

Making that turn in city traffic is no joke. Please stop before those lines, not on or over them. Its amazing how many people forget that they do not have the right-of-way when getting on the expressway or interstate. Most truckers will see you turning onto the on-ramp before they even reach the overpass. If they can, then they will move over.

They are usually chugging along at a governed speed, so there is only so much they can do to get out of your way. There he goes… He just dove over three lanes! If they are doing that around a car, it makes more sense. At least you can see around a car. Have we mentioned that over two-thirds of accidents involving a semi are not the truckers fault? As I corrected my car, a tractor-trailer behind me flashed his brights at me.

Also, in the past I have had truckers flash me with the brights when I change lanes on the highway. I did not cut them off or give them any cause to be upset towards me. It is a warning. If your car is ok, it means most likely that danger is ahead accident, unofficially speed control. If the car is behind you, it can also mean that something is wrong with your car or it means "Hey, be careful" it looks like you are drunk or you had microsleep.

If the car is faster than you and wants to overtake, flashing warns you of its presence. It is displeasure. If someone is directly behind you on the overtaking lane, flashing means Hey, give way.

It is also mixed with warning if the person doing the flashing thinks you are driving bad, e. It indicates help. If two cars passes in a constriction, the car who is willing to wait flashes. This are the most common and nearly universal indicators. If there is reason to thank the person behind you you are overtaking and the car on the lane gave you way or acknowledge you really had microsleep , it is polite to touch gently and shortly the brake two times, so your follower sees two short red flashes indicating "thanks".

While not this case, truckers flashing lights to oncoming traffic has been a signal that law enforcement is stationed ahead. As for your previous experience, while you might not think you cut them off, professional drivers have a different, less tolerant, view of such things.

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Learn more. What does it mean when a tractor-trailer flashes his brights on a US highway? Ask Question. Asked 4 years, 10 months ago. Active 4 years, 10 months ago. Viewed 2k times. Truckers are supposed to turn from the right lane in all double turn lanes. That means, in a double or triple, or quadruple That also means that in a double right turn lane, we're supposed to turn from the furthest turn lane to the right.

If, for whatever reason, you choose to make the turn from a different lane, you should yield to the guy turning from the furthest lane to the right. Most Popular. Top 5 Golf Courses Near Paris. What is a Concrete Mixer? Top Searches on. For those looking for airline reservations , this guide provides resources on finding cheap one way airline tickets among others. Travel and Leisure.

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