Pleng wrote:Maybe I'm the only one, then. But, yes, a flash in the rear view mirror, if I happen to be looking in the rear view mirror at the time, will completely throw me off for a second or so. Alternate sugguestion was already made, by yourself in fact. Use the horn.
Agree about the rear view mirror, even the most careful drivers only use that every so many seconds, but if you notice a car or bike ahead of you preparing to pull out of a side road, a flash of the lights may be more appropriate than use of the horn?
Sorry I meant wing mirror. I don't have a car.
But no, I don't see how flashing at a motorcyclist who is about to pull out is better than a horn. A horn being omi-directinal, I can hear it from anywhere. If about to pull out and am looking left, I'm not going to see you flashing your lights. If I'm looking right, you'll be flashing them straig in my eyes.
I think this is one of those issues where there is no perfect answer - I'm quite sure that in some instances a horn will have the most effect and in other cases a flash of the lights, but of course you will never know for sure which one. I go back to one of my earlier comments, circumstances may dictate how you respond depending on where your hands are at the time - I'm sure that I have used both on different occasions depending on how my "auto-pilot" reacts at the time, I'm sure most of us have done the same?
