guide Driving Signals

[NeonLeon]

In road traffic, there are many ways to communicate with the other drivers. For example, if the other driver gives you the lead in the turn or waits patiently for you to step out of a tight space. To show their appreciation, some drivers prefer to use the flashlight in return. 

 

 

In many situations flashing signs are common

 

Not only in situations like these, various gestures have become established - even internationally. No matter if you are passing an intersection or overtaking: For many situations on the road, an unofficial sign language has emerged over the years. 

Because of that, drivers give light, horn or other signals in different situations to give other road users some kind of assistance, information and/or help. 

 

Especially truck drivers often use their flashing lights

 

Here are some of the general signs:

 

Short signal to the right

= No traffic at the front or I don't want to drive faster  (You can overtake now)

Please remember that this does not in all cases mean that the road is clear. The truck driver at the front of you could also actually want to turn or come to a stop, therefore you always have to make sure that there is no oncoming traffic before pulling out for your overtaking maneuver. 

 

Short flashing light between truck drivers

Your distance to my truck is long enough and you can switch your lane again

 Reason: So that the following traffic doesn't have to drive slow, the rear driver gives the overtaking truck an indication that they can change the lane again.

The overtaking process is accelerated. The overtaking truck driver has to trust the other one that the distance is long enough. In dark conditions he can't see his tail.. and would normally have to stay in the left lane much longer until he can see the headlights or the complete vehicle of the overtaken truck in his mirrors. 

This light signal is therefore a helpful hint for all long vehicles and helps to keep the traffic go smooth. 

 

Changing left/right turn signal (or short flashing of the warning lights)

Thank you 

 

When overtaking you see a vehicle at the front indicating to the left

Attention!!! There comes oncoming traffic from the front

Reason: 

There are certain situation the overtaking truck can't see... but the driver in the column can. 

The sudden left indicating doesn't mean that the overtaken truck wants to switch the lane or make a turn, put he wants to draw attention on the danger. This is his only way to give a sign you can see. In such a case you should always look for a gap and pay attention to what is going on ahead. In an emergency, you can "disappear" in the gap fast and avoid an accident. 

For the drivers in the convoy it also means: keep enough distance so that another truck can pull in if necessary. 

 

Short light from a following vehicle in the fast lane or the left turn signal

Please finish the overtaking process. I want to pass

Both are possible ways to show the intention of overtaking.... as long as the safety distance is maintained and it is only a one-time situation. 

Continuous flashing lights or not keeping enough distance is a punishable in real life as well as in-game. 

 

Flashing light from oncoming traffic

Attention!!! Danger/accident on the road 

You should drive along carefully and be able to slow down because there could be a traffic jam/ accident... and therefore drive on the right and slow down. 

 

If someone uses the flashing lights multiple times, it often indicate a big danger.

On the highway, this could be a wrong way driver / ghost driver. The drivers try to warn you of a danger they've just seen.  

 

Flashing light from the oncoming traffic in dark conditions

Your headlights are activated and I can't see something

 

 

And of course you always say "Thank you" if someone helped you...

 

Sometimes a little visual conversation arises. 

Thank you = Left and right signal or a short flashing of the warning lights if the helper drives behind you. 

No Problem = Short flashing from behind

 

If you know other signals, you can post them below

 

Leon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Digital]

Approved.

[Guest]

This is really useful on the road, but few people use it because they do not know their job, thanks for the topic and the information.

[Interstate Nomad]

 

Hazards lights are often used to warn following traffic of a tailbacks/ tail end of traffic jams or slow moving traffic.

[Rootyyy]

Always saying thank you is a must! Most the time I'll flash my lights at oncoming trucks shortly to say hi too, if I hold them down with horn thats usually my way of saying "you've done something wrong"!

[Guest]

What a great guide, thank you!

[BubbleMuscles]

Great guide. Thank you very much

[DJFrontier]

Interesting to put it into practice.

[Dagsy]

This definitely needs to be seen by a hell of a lot more people! Thank you very much for this.

[Terry A]

I love this guide, I just wish more people bothered to use this type of communication with lights. 

Lights seem to have become just another way for people to distract one another. I'll never understand why people attempt to justify driving recklessly by having 20 beacons and hazards flashing. 

We approach desensitization when this happens. If everyone drives with all of their warning lights enabled, I start to disassociate them with danger or a need to pay more attention. 

 

TL;DR Proper usage of lights is important, if we don't do so, they become useless. 

[sgpch1983]

i as a german use my hazardlights to say sorry if i cut someone off too. thank you is always only right left right (in uk left right left).

 

using highbeams and horn(s) togeter of course is for complaining to an other driver or to tell him that what he did was dangerous and wrong.

[Tosh8]

I use it like
Flash once /max. twice/ my lights to the oncoming traffic -  More often like "GreetingZ"  or "Hello & GL"   

If there is any danger, crash or traffic jam for the oncoming traffic, then i'll probably  flash my lights faster several times & use horn to warn them.
 

For saying "Thank you!" when I overtake someone I simply use Hazard lights /if i'm in-front of him/ and 2 short horn signals if he's in-front of me. - this is like in real life too.

[TUNANKA]

Thanks for the information I will use when necessary. 
 

[RMV United]

I always use this type of language, but lots of people don't understand why I'm doing it. But now they can learn what I actually mean.  Thanks

[heyhococo]

This is actually a very useful guide. I've previously had people in chat saying "What are you flashing for?" and I'm like "It's to indicate x" so hopefully people will find this thread as well.

 

I mostly use the flashing hazards to say thanks or flashing headlights to say there's a good gap in front so overtakers can fit in. Another good one is flashing hazards while braking, this indicates a sudden drop in speed ahead so the person behind can brake in time before they crash

Edited March 17, 2018 by heyhococo

[Suleyman.53]

 It's a useful guide. Thank you for that.

[TheGreekGeek]

Thanks, dude!

This helped lots, quite useful!

 

 

Regards,

~TheGreekGeek~

 

[RequieB]

it's useful. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, I hope everyone fits.

[FoneeYT]

Thank you! Someone finally did it! I hope many people see it and follow these "rules".

[welt101]

I've never read that guide here. But however I always followed the guide here. It's common sense for me.

[Matt #CarLadMatt]

Thank you for sharing @NeonLeon

[Guest]

Glad you posted this, I tend to follow these and people are wondering why I am flashing. Also, if you are letting the person overtake, I always use my right signal to let them know they can pass on single roads.

[NeonLeon]

Thanks for your positive feedback! I'm happy that you like it. More happy I would be, if you would give it a vote

Have a great day,

Leon

[Rythme]

I love this language! Thanks for the topic

[TheSim]

This is useful ,  now we need someone to make one on what different horn lengths mean 

 

>Double tap horn within a short amount of time is a greeting as you pass by

>Long horn tends to be anger