Today I was in front of a BMW X5 and I thought the other car flashed me. I then thought he did it again. I was a fair bit in front of him. So I decided to suddenly brake from 40 to 20. he maintained same distance. so now I thought he was tailing me. so I switch to the right lane, still at 20. he doesn't move. car behind me comes up at 40 on my ass. I move back to left lane. I start trying to read the plate, but it's obviously not so easy when you're trying to decipher mirror images of the regplate and by that point he was also speeding up so I couldn't read it anymore. the bmw x5 decides to overtake me. I immediately swing right behind him to read the plate. got it. then I make it clear that I was "on to him" by matching a close distance (but not too close for safety) and mirroring lane changes and follow him for a mile now on a 50 going to 70. He decides to speed past 70 and I decide to turn off at my usual turn off and no one stopped their car.

 

but after I got to work I was a bit freaked out by this and decided to think a bit more on the issue. I realised that I may have mistook the BMW X5's DRL when going over a slope change in the road causing an angle change and making it seem like to the driver in front that the car behind was flashing him. I don't think my confusion was helped by BMW's decision to make their DRL so bright and in the position of its normal headlights. google "bmw x5 daytime running lights" if you want to see how bright and where they are positioned. The light wasn't a different shape to the normal headlights (all circles) and it wasn't in a different place (it encircled headlights, rather than being  below on the bumper).

 

If it was an actual confusion and not him really flashing lights at me, then something regrettable might have happened if both cars decided to stop. 

Wow, that was a waste of a few minutes reading that.

 

Even if they did flash you, what difference would it make to your life or day? Bugger all.

 

Just go where you're going and stop ****ing around in traffic (braking and tailing someone as you've said) and live your life.

Think a better title would be (based on your own post incident thoughts)

 

"Have any of you confused a cars lights changing angles due to a bump or slope for them flashing you before?"

 

To this i say, yeah on occasion with oncoming traffic until the next car hits the same bump and i see the same effect and know what it was.

Traffic behind me, no, cant say i have.

 

Either way, tbh, if i was behind you and watched your driving actions for no apparent reason, from my pov, i would've been gettin a move on to get past you ASAP too when an opportunity presented...

 

1 hour ago, JamieP86 said:

Wow, that was a waste of a few minutes reading that.

 

Even if they did flash you, what difference would it make to your life or day? Bugger all.

 

Just go where you're going and stop ****ing around in traffic (braking and tailing someone as you've said) and live your life.

I've been tailed before and followed all the way back to my house. On one occasion I was mugged shortly thereafter. Which is why I did all that, as a form of counter intel, to get plates, and to visually inspect occupants of vehicle. 

Regardless of previous issues and experiences. Once the X5 had sped up to pass you, clearly showing its not tailing you, then end of issue surely? 

 

But, if you are that paranoid, drive to your local police station.

Or get front/rear dashcams

 

Certainly no need to unnecessarily and suddenly brake or follow other road users...

Not in that sense; I have seen an Audiot stall out, and mistaken their LEDs flashing as they restarted for a "come ahead" flash.

No, and to react the way you mention you did, bonkers, and dangerous too. And asking for road rage, or certainly encouraging it.

I'd have thought you were nuts if i had been behind you, and they probably did too. Maybe why they didn't overtake you straight away - they thought you were trying to cause an accident.

And if it was coppers following you would probably have been breath tested for drink and drugs and been fined for dangerous driving.

Wow, I have full LED headlights too as well as DRL; I hope we never share a road.

Section 3 para 2 paranoid drivers Highway Code, slam on brakes, drive erratically and tail drivers who are trying to avoid you.....

I can understand where your coming from ref thinking the driver may be flashing you as ive encountered this with modern vehicles more so 4x4's,however i soon realised they were not flashing their headlights,that doesnt excuse you driving & reacting like a total knob though.........

Xenon or LED dipped headlights can look as though they are flashing as the car passes over an undulating road. The beam cut-off on xenon / LED lights is very sudden unlike traditional halogen headlights.

 

However it only takes one or two occasions driving at night to quickly realise, understand and adapt to modern vehicle lighting. I'd imagine most capable road users would learn to understand these characteristics without the need to drive like James Bond.

 

"counter intel", "visually inspect occupants", really? Put yourself in the BMW drivers shoes, you probably came across as a nutter, a bad driving nutter at that, no wonder he sped off.

 

LED DRL's are far less likely to change their intensity as the car pitches and yaws.

 

 

 

@silver1011 OTOH if the CANBUS controls go wrong, LED DRLs can start pulsating between daytime and headlights on modes. One of my neighbours has a car with this exact issue.

Why do we bother with bloody DRLs??!!

All it does is create a sea of headlights, in which motorcycles get utterly lost until someone hits them and into which most vehicles just blend. It's made all the worse by how many people have badly adjusted and/or STUPIDLY bright headlights - Seen several I actually thought were on high beam and was stunned when they then flashed... I'm sure you need lights that bright so you can see the road and as long as YOU can see, who cares, right? I'm sure you'll be dead happy when you can see the now-blinded oncoming as he crashes through your windscreen.

TBH, I'd argue that if you really need lights that bright your eyes are knackered and you shouldn't be driving... but since the sun is generally up and shining at 11am anyway, it's probably belt & braces to the whole argument!!!

 

There's also the other issue where some people actually believe that they have their taillights on at all times (and I don't mean Ovlov drivers here) because they have DRLs.

On 12/8/2017 at 10:44, Ttaskmaster said:

Why do we bother with bloody DRLs??!!

 

BECAUSE a certain few LARGE continental cars cannot spot a humble small Skoda driving legally within the limit. I've got round to using dip beams in the daytime, simply for self-preservation.

Perhaps we another eye test for drivers- add name the plate at a set distance, to spotting a car short away

 But from my hearing of the Hazard test, the car needs to be a few metres away before it becomes a hazard.  I was taught that before setting off/ turning into a street, that I should be aware of any other traffic around, and any hazards that I might present. If so - stop there, until the other car had made it's manoeuvre.

Edited 14 December, 20178 yr by VWD

2 minutes ago, VWD said:

BECAUSE a certain few LARGE continental cars cannot spot a humble small Skoda driving legally within the limit. I've got round to using dip beams in the daytime, simply for self-preservation.

They can go **** themselves and get off the road, then, can't they?

We should be upholding standards, not pandering to idiots. I've already lost too many friends to blind and blinded drivers. At least in a car I might be around to hammer them in court for it...

Frozen fog were i am right now, temp only went above freezing for about an hour, so visibility has

been that way on and off all day and now beginning to get dark and there are not only those with DRL's on or Sidelights, 

there are those with no lights.

I have noticed most of those total muppets are in Grey and Silver cars. 

T'master, story I get from my kids ( SIL & daughter- both bikers, who still go out on trips, BUT IN  a crowd.

Problem is that road policing gets no financial return for REAL safety. Perhaps time for the driving test for cars to be aligned with the motorbike test.  Forget the sat navs / parallel parking and 3 point turns

Hazard, test- I'd possibly fail after 50 years on the road, with 30+ no accidents and NIL POINTS. I look for accidents waiting to happen and stay clear well in advance, not WHEN they are about to cause a problem.

It USED to be called DEFENSIVE DRIVING. Or as my late dad ( survivor of the   Monte Casino disaster), and my late uncle( Monty's tank bloke) was asked to teach me to drive after my test remarked( better to be a live coward than a dead hero. "Look for problems/ anticipate them and then you can avoid them.

11 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

Frozen fog were i am right now, temp only went above freezing for about an hour, so visibility has

been that way on and off all day and now beginning to get dark and there are not only those with DRL's on or Sidelights, 

there are those with no lights.

I have noticed most of those total muppets are in Grey and Silver cars. 

Blue & another colour badges on the bonnet, and 3xx/5xx /X ** ON REAR BY ANY CHANCE?

Or "Mumymobies", hoping to get home before the inside got too hot to handle? I blame it the NHS tea served up in maternity.

Edited 14 December, 20178 yr by VWD

No they all have DRL's nothing older than 3 years.

 

Vauxhall Astra, Corsa, Seat Ibiza / Leon, Ford Fiesta, 

sad to say not youngsters in pre DRL cars, not many around with pre drl cars, if so all cheap bulbed up anyway,

more middle aged and more senior citizens, and as i know the cars locally, plenty Home help / carers , council staff, going short stops not turning lights on.

Then the white light commercials, small or medium, those easy to 'not see' until you are very close to them.

Edited 14 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

To address the original point by the OP, my main thought is that I'm surprised that this is the first time you've noticed this, if it's something that's clearly concerned you.

 

BMW, as well as Audi, Mercedes and Range Rover are well known for overly bright headlights - both xenon, LED and DRL. 

 

But I must say, if it was in the X5's position, I'd have got past you as soon as possible as well! Given your reaction and driving decisions to what are normal road and driving conditions these days; rightly or wrongly.

Just going to use this thread for my rant.

 

'Skoda Superb Mk3 front lights.'

How many lights do some drivers of these cars need on in the rain & poor visibility when just following traffic and tailgating,

what is wrong with just Dipped Beam and Sidelights and maybe dimmed DRL's.   Why the Fog Lights as well, and why not even the standard bulbs.

 

It was enough hating Merc's, BMW's, Renault, Seat and Citroen / Peugeot's,   but now it is MK3 Skoda Superb Chav lighting that is just ridiculous.

Cyclists trying to wind up drivers and videoing them annoys me even though drivers are near running into me when dressed almost fully head to toe in hi-viz looking like a right Tw-at, still alive though....

but i liked this vid, driver with the Holy Trinity of lights like many Skoda Superb drivers is blinded by the light.

 

Edited 17 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

On 3/17/2018 at 17:00, AwaoffSki said:

Cyclists trying to wind up drivers and videoing them annoys me even though drivers are near running into me when dressed almost fully head to toe in hi-viz looking like a right Tw-at, still alive though....

but i liked this vid, driver with the Holy Trinity of lights like many Skoda Superb drivers is blinded by the light.

 

The one's as bad as the other IMO. That rear light is totally unnecessary, but the Merc driver is both a fogwit and a tailg!t as well.

 

Actually, after the first touch I'd have stopped for a few seconds to get the Merc cars ahead of me. It's called "defensive driving" and still applies even to the self-proclaimed "holy ones" (cyclists).