Don't blind the poor truckers

[steve clevenger]

>Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 00:05:33 -0500
>From: "Kara Kosier"
>Subject: Re: GMC: steering boxes
>Yes,
>Back in the middle eighties I upgraded my steering column to tilt and
>telescope. IIRC I got the info from Alan Creates in Montreal. Since
>I'm a true packrat I am sure that I still have the info and could fax.
>Personally, I recommend upgrading to the 79-81 Eldo column if
>you can find one. Smal;l, fat, leather-covered steering wheel and,
>best of all, puts the dimmer switch with the turn-signal lever. With a
>little extra effort, you can include the later resume-type cruise and
>even the dimmer switch with the flash-to-pass feature. You can
>lay waste to all your free time with these little projects.
>Gary Kosier

I have to comment on the "flash-to-pass feature" I assume this is when
you lift the lever towards you to blind the truck driver with your high
beams as he looks in the mirror to see if his trailer is clear? He knows
where the end of his trailer is & doesn't need anyone's "help" to safely
move into the right lane. This is a favorite among the "new breed" & LTL
drivers--I cured most of them of doing it with Quartz Halogen lights mounted
on the right side of the headache rack aimed 8 feet above ground at 70 feet
back.
The real function of the lever is to alert the idiot coming at you on high
beam. I feel better now & the eyes you save may be your own.
Happy Motoring

Steve Clevenger
76 Transmode 230
Tulsa, OK.

 

[antnip]

I'm no automotive historian, but I believe these lever type flashers were
first on European cars. ( at least I saw them on European cars dating back
to the 50's) I think the real purpose was to warn cars ahead of you that you
were approaching rapidly. In Europe, where some cars move a lot faster than
others, it was a warning to those well down the road that you were coming
fast and they better move over. Of course this wouldn't work here where such
a warning would make the slower driver stay out in the left lane just to be
difficult.

One other question, if the truckers don't need any help, why do they all
give each other these flashes or dim their lights when another truck passes?
Just curious.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Clevenger
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 6:59 PM
Subject: GMC: Don't blind the poor truckers

> >Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 00:05:33 -0500
> >From: "Kara Kosier"
> >Subject: Re: GMC: steering boxes
> >Yes,
> >Back in the middle eighties I upgraded my steering column to tilt and
> >telescope. IIRC I got the info from Alan Creates in Montreal. Since
> >I'm a true packrat I am sure that I still have the info and could fax.
> >Personally, I recommend upgrading to the 79-81 Eldo column if
> >you can find one. Smal;l, fat, leather-covered steering wheel and,
> >best of all, puts the dimmer switch with the turn-signal lever. With a
> >little extra effort, you can include the later resume-type cruise and
> >even the dimmer switch with the flash-to-pass feature. You can
> >lay waste to all your free time with these little projects.
> >Gary Kosier
>
> I have to comment on the "flash-to-pass feature" I assume this is when
> you lift the lever towards you to blind the truck driver with your high
> beams as he looks in the mirror to see if his trailer is clear? He knows
> where the end of his trailer is & doesn't need anyone's "help" to safely
> move into the right lane. This is a favorite among the "new breed" & LTL
> drivers--I cured most of them of doing it with Quartz Halogen lights
mounted
> on the right side of the headache rack aimed 8 feet above ground at 70
feet
> back.
> The real function of the lever is to alert the idiot coming at you on
high
> beam. I feel better now & the eyes you save may be your own.
> Happy Motoring
>
> Steve Clevenger
> 76 Transmode 230
> Tulsa, OK.
>
>

 

[tmaki1]

Dittos re: blinding truck drivers by flashing brights after
they pass.

I learned from my dad (who was an ordnance driver
during WWII) that a trucker can actually appreciate a
signal, but that one should turn off the main headlight
beam for a second or two, then back on.

I've always done this, and nearly always get a clearance
light flash to acknowledge.

I figure a trucker knows where his trailer ends, but
sometimes on a crowded freeway at night, the lights can
get confusing if he's looking to see whether he's cleared
me.

Just my thoughts, and what I do.

Toby Maki
73 Glacier 230

> I have to comment on the "flash-to-pass feature" I assume this is when
> you lift the lever towards you to blind the truck driver with your high
> beams as he looks in the mirror to see if his trailer is clear? He knows
> where the end of his trailer is & doesn't need anyone's "help" to safely
> move into the right lane. This is a favorite among the "new breed" & LTL
> drivers--I cured most of them of doing it with Quartz Halogen lights mounted
> on the right side of the headache rack aimed 8 feet above ground at 70 feet
> back.
> The real function of the lever is to alert the idiot coming at you on high
> beam. I feel better now & the eyes you save may be your own.
> Happy Motoring
>
> Steve Clevenger
> 76 Transmode 230
> Tulsa, OK.
>

 

[steve clevenger]

>One other question, if the truckers don't need any help, why do they all
>give each other these flashes or dim their lights when another truck
passes?
>Just curious.

I think it dates back to when courtesy was a common thing & communication
in the darkness to alleviate boredom in pre-CB days.
The proper procedure is to momentarily turn off the headlights to
indicate the other truck is clear. This gets you a blink of the marker
lights from the other driver.

Steve Clevenger
76 Transmode 230
Tulsa, OK.

 

[antnip]

Thanks for the tip. The last thing I want is a blinded or angry driver with
40,000 pounds on his hands!! I live right out side of New York City and I
can tell you courtesy on the roads around here, is dead, cold, buried, and
badly decayed! Too bad.

Tony

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Clevenger
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 9:20 PM
Subject: GMC: Don't blind the poor truckers

> >One other question, if the truckers don't need any help, why do they all
> >give each other these flashes or dim their lights when another truck
> passes?
> >Just curious.
>
> I think it dates back to when courtesy was a common thing &
communication
> in the darkness to alleviate boredom in pre-CB days.
> The proper procedure is to momentarily turn off the headlights to
> indicate the other truck is clear. This gets you a blink of the marker
> lights from the other driver.
>
> Steve Clevenger
> 76 Transmode 230
> Tulsa, OK.
>
>

 

[dave lowry]

This could get a little long winded. So those of you who aren't concerned
with keeping the peace with truckers should hit the delete key now.

On March 7, Steve Clevenger wrote
" I have to comment on the "flash-to-pass feature" I assume this is when
you lift the lever towards you to blind the truck driver with your high
beams as he looks in the mirror to see if his trailer is clear? He knows
where the end of his trailer is & doesn't need anyone's "help" to safely
move into the right lane. This is a favorite among the "new breed" & LTL
drivers--I cured most of them of doing it with Quartz Halogen lights
mounted on the right side of the headache rack aimed 8 feet above ground at
70 feet
back.
The real function of the lever is to alert the idiot coming at you on
high beam. I feel better now & the eyes you save may be your own. Happy
Motoring"

Steve, I read your post about flashing head lights, and understand your
sentiments. However, there are several related points which need
discussing. My comments are the result of personal experience and many many
conversations with some good friends who are professional long haul drivers.

We've learned to signal passing trucks because too many truck drivers,
especially those pulling two or three trailers, either don't know when
their last trailer has cleared the front of our motorhome, or, worse, do
know but want to "send a message" by pulling pack into our lane leaving
only a few feet of clearance. If drivers always knew where their trailer
was, why do most drivers signal, and respond?

Importantly, our means of signaling varies between daytime and night. And
we don't bother to signal when the trucker is moving significantly faster
than we are or is not being pressed by following traffic to get back into
the "slow" lane, only when we think he could use the clue.

During daylight hours, where we're passed by an 18 wheeler which is
traveling just slightly faster than we are, we let the driver know when it
is safe to return to our lane. Since we drive with low power driving lights
on, we signal by momentarily turning on the headlights a couple of times.
Before we installed the "daytime driving lights", we drove with the
headlights on during daylight hours and would signal by flashing the high
beams a couple times.

At night, we signal by momentarily turning the headlights off a couple
times, never by flashing the high beams (same method used by the truck
drivers).

Surely neither of these could have a blinding effect on the truck driver.
In fact, we are nearly always "thanked" by receiving a few flashes in
return.

Too many motor homers have deservedly earned the disdain of truck drivers
through their poor driving habits. Few realize that by pulling in front of
a big rig and causing it to brake and down shift a couple gears, the truck
driver has lost momentum which may take him miles to regain.

We make it a point to show them that all motorhome drivers are not
inconsiderate. Truck drivers, with a few very notable exceptions, are hard
working professionals, and when "push comes to shove" we want them on our
side.

My comments are not intended to "flame", but to present another perspective.

Off the soap box,

Dave (& Dege), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA

 

[blank]

Problem is, many of the auto manufacturers seem to think we're no longer
bright enough to turn on the headlights when it gets dark. In my wife's
Olds Silhouette, the only way to turn out the headlights after dark is by
pulling the fuse or using a big rock. Wonderful feature.

After this thread tho', I'll no longer flash the Olds' high beams at them
after dark. They'll just have to guess where their trailer ends.

Patrick

>

>
> > The proper procedure is to momentarily turn off the headlights to
> > indicate the other truck is clear. This gets you a blink of the
> > marker lights from the other driver
>
> That's what I do, and about half the truckers do it for my GMC
> when I pass them. (Which, of course, I acknowledge by flashing my
> markers or hazard flasher a couple of times.) I never use the high
> beams for this purpose. Just briefly turn the lights off if
> they're on, or on if they're off.
>
> Rick Staples
> '75 Eleganza
> Louisville, CO
>