How to Communicate With Other Drivers on the Road

Many times there are situations on the road where we may feel that we need to tell another driver something. No I am not talking about when someone cuts you off making you test your brake disc and brake calipers. What this is about is good communication that will help or just show common courtesy when on the road.

Over the road communication is something truckers have used for years, not just with CB radios but with lots of other techniques as well. There are ways to say thank you, your welcome, go ahead and much more but knowing them is the best way to make driving a nicer experience.

Anyone who has let a Semi truck merge onto the highway has seen the flashing lights. Not the turn signal but what look like the hazards for 3 distinct flashes. This 3 flash process is actually them saying thank you not trying to warn other drivers, truckers have been using this for years but most “4 wheelers” don’t know the signs. The name “4 wheeler” is also truck slang for small civilian vehicles such as cars and small trucks.

There are many messages that the average driver should know that can help make driving smoother. The double flash of the high beams can let a driver know they are safe to come into our lane. The triple flash is more to alert oncoming drivers of a hazard…or a hiding cop. Three flashes of your hazard lights tell the driver behind “thank you”, While 3 flashes of your headlights says “hey you just cut me off”.  Even cabbies have signals that they use, the slight honk while driving is to let people know they are available. Knowing these few signals can make driving much easier and also save a lot of stress as well. True there will always be people who speed up to block other drivers from merging and others that cut in line at a traffic jam. These signals can’t help with them but maybe they can make the daily commute a little less  stressful.