Overtaking at night.....full beam?

[RicharDC5]

Driving down an NSL A road last night I quickly caught up to a couple of cars travelling along at about 30 - 35 ish. The car behind was tailgating and showing no intention of overtaking. I've driven down that road a few times before, which is quite twisty, but with plenty of places to overtake.

The problem was that the lead car was only using dipped beam, so I couldn't see that far down the road. I moved onto the other side of the road a couple of times and flashed my full beam, and on the third attempt I saw it was safe to pass, and left my beam on as I overtook.

This prompted the lead car to beep, flash and swerve about to show their displeasure :s

I'd usually ignore this kind of thing, but it did probably look like I was being too agressive.

Is the above the best way to go about that situation, or should I have done something differently?

Thanks

[Davel]

Sorry but I'd have held back or tried to take one car at a time at some stage.

Flashing your lights would probably be read as aggressive by the lead car - even though I appreciate why you would want to do this.

The drivers in front just wouldn't get it and the leading car can hardly be on the ball driving on dipped beam as you describe.

I'd only switch to full beam when level with the leading car personally.

[7mike]

Davel said:

Sorry but I'd have held back or tried to take one car at a time at some stage.

When one was tailgating the other Op; if the lead driver interpreted your actions as aggressive then so be it. At least you were out of their way in seconds unlike the tailgater. I'd have probably done the same.

[Vipers]

It does raise the question, if the lead car had nothing coming their way, why drive on dipped beams?

[Bohally]

I usually give HGV's a quick flash (fnar!) when I'm about to overtake them at night. I don't keep it on full passing them though.

Don't normally bother with cars seeing as most would interpret it as being aggressive.

[DoubleSix]

If it's a choice between:

a) Potentially looking a bit aggressive.
b) Being able to see where I'm going when overtaking at speed.

I'll take 'b' thanks. If the muppet is driving without knowledge of when, and when not, to use his full beam then I'm afraid I care a lot less for his views on my overtake by default.

[av185]

Flashing of headlights is one of the most ambiguous, and therefore dangerous things to do. The driver ahead of you could have read it as a warning or a signal for anything whatsover.

If the driver in front of you was on dipped headlights, you would not have been able to see the road ahead therefore it was not safe to overtake.

[7db]

Is there a middle ground where a long flash can give you enough of a view for commitment (and let the lead know that you are there) -- and then full when level as you would when overtaking a well-lit car.

[DoubleSix]

Vipers said:

It does raise the question, if the lead car had nothing coming their way, why drive on dipped beams?

'cos muppetry

[RichwiththeS2000]

I like how they thought you were driving dangerously, so to iterate their point that people should be driving in a safer manner, they decide to swerve about the road and potentially dazzle people with their lights. Smart!

[RicharDC5]

When I say flashing I mean using my full beam to see further down the road to check for the overtake. But I can see why it would confuse someone.

[EmmaJ]

7db said:

Is there a middle ground where a long flash can give you enough of a view for commitment (and let the lead know that you are there) -- and then full when level as you would when overtaking a well-lit car.

+1

My view too. You need to avoid the appearance of looking like you are angrily flashing your lights but also not hold full beam long enough to blind them in front. As having them swerve into you as pass because you've scorched their eyeballs out is equally as bad as driving into a ditch you've not seen

Another thing to consider is sometimes a sat nav can give you advance notice of the road layout and then a quick offside and a second or two of full beam should give you all the info you need to decide if the overtake is on

[Bohally]

Just turn them off and go for the stealth overtake

[simoid]

If I've caught someone up who has no beams on at night, I'll pop out to the offside and give a quick flash (as in just a touch of the stalk) and see if there's any response. Quite often this will be met with them sticking the beams on, or occasionally the drongo will just continue with the dipped.

I think in the situation you described (i.e. with the tailgater and the non-beamer at the front) I'd just hang right back and only overtake if 100% sure. It's pretty much like overtaking an HGV as there's no room for escape between the 2 cars.



(These are on Scottish rural A roads usually, where overtaking is commonplace and expected in the main.)

[rb5er]

Seriously you flash people and then overtake whilst dazzling them with your full beam?

I'm stunned anyone would think that reasonable!

Why not just indicate, overtake and engage full beam once past and not dazzling anybody?

[simoid]

rb5er said:

Seriously you flash people and then overtake whilst dazzling them with your full beam?

I'm stunned anyone would think that reasonable!

Why not just indicate, overtake and engage full beam once past and not dazzling anybody?

If you read the OP, he has stated he now realises it could've been seen as aggressive and probably isn't reasonable driving, and is asking how to go about things better in future.

A less abrasive tone might be more helpful

[threespires]

When overtaking I feel it's good manners to wait a moment before putting on full beam to as not to dazzle.
When being overtaken I'll often leave my lights on full to aid the overtaker & dip when they move in.

[simoid]

As a matter of course, I'll not have my beams on when anyones mirrors are in front of my lights - if they look into their mirrors it could dazzle them.

I.E. I turn my beams off when someone gets level with me overtaking, and I don't turn my beams on 'til I'm level with the car I'm overtaking.

I'm pretty sure that's the most sensible way to go.

[Benbay001]

Id have done what you did, OP.
If someone is so fking lazy that they cant stick their full beam on, then their opinion of me is really no concern of mine.

[Vipers]

rb5er said:

Seriously you flash people and then overtake whilst dazzling them with your full beam?

I'm stunned anyone would think that reasonable!

Why not just indicate, overtake and engage full beam once past and not dazzling anybody?

Correct, usually the car in front with no oncoming traffic should be on full beams to maximum road awareness, as you pull alongside, he goes to dipped, you go to full. Sorted.

Trouble is some folk juat manage to pass their test, and progress no further, commonsence does not prevail.