Giving Up The Right Of Way

[G-Man]

I see it more and more, drivers will flash there headlights at me, to let me go, when they have the right of way.  I absolutely hate this.  I know, as soon as I take their offer, they will invariabley step on the gas, so I just sit there (in the car or on the bike) until the other dirver finally realizes that I will not take his/her right of way.  Almost got knocked of the bike a couple of time already due to this stupid practice.  They think they are being nice, courteous, but they create dangerous situations.  Daughter is in drivers ed and I find myself imparting pearls of wisdom such as this.

If you have the right of way......TAKE IT.  If someone else has the right of way.....wait for them to take it.

Also, if you are not passing and/or someone is driving faster than you, you should not be in the left lane.

[Westernbiker]

I have had this happen to me many times, more being on the bike. It drives me NUTS! I will sit there on the bike wait till they get it that I am not going till they are clear. I share it G-MAN, drives me crazy!

[Titan]

So you have actually had drivers to motion for you to go first, like at a 4 way stop, and then take off and try to run over you?

I must be luckier than you. I've had people offer for me to go first and have never turned the offer down and have never had anybody try to kill me. Hope my luck don't run out!!

[iliveforcurves]

What bugs me is when I'm on a 2-lane with light traffic or nobody behind me and the car in front of me stops to let an oncoming car make a left turn.  If they allowed everybody to keep moving, the left turning car would be able to proceed in about 5 seconds.

[Daniel Meyer]

The only reason traffic rules work is that everybody *should* know what the others are going to do (if they are following the rules).

Giving up a right of way introduces a variable that can mess stuff up for all...

[Fudd]

It's always good to air your thoughts out, Gman.  The sad thing is, cagers who do what you're talking about don't read VRCC message boards.
I find myself signaling back and motioning "no thanks you go ahead and go".

[Walküre]

It's because moving targets are MUCH more fun!!

I take it if they give it to me, with a nod and a thanks. At least I know they are aware of me. I'm MUCH more worried about the ones that TAKE the right of way, even if it ISN'T theirs. Happens all the time...

R

[Bobbo]

I agree that it can be a tricky situation.  What do flashing headlights mean?  "Please go ahead" or "Look out, I'm coming through"?!   

Unfortunately, only the headlight flasher knows for sure...

I have accepted a few offers to pass through at an intersection, but only if I'm comfortable with the distance between us or I'm turning away from them.

[John Schmidt]

When my four girls were growing up and learning to drive, one of the things I drilled into their heads was "the right of way is something you get ONLY if someone gives it to you. It's never a given."  The other thing they used to argue with me on until they found out differently....Fla. doesn't have a specific "right of way" law. One even wanted to bet me the use of the car with a full tank for a week. I won the bet after she couldn't produce it, she even went to a nearby trooper's station. I relented on the use of the car, just didn't provide a full tank. Now, thirty-plus years later she won't let me forget how "mean" I was. 

[old2soon]

As an ex trucker-and this only when passing-another trucker would-or wouldn't-flash his lights to let me or another trucker know our trailer had cleared the front of his truck. I neve relied on the light flasher to be correct. I looked in my mirrors to make sure i was clear. Who ever said you cannot know what is in the mind of person flashing the lights-you are correctomundo. Always be skeptical. Might be a short coming of mine but i don't trust NOBODY on the road.  kept me alive this long-why change?? RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

Four way stops are the worse.  i almost always motion for the oncoming person to turn left in front of me. I wait for him.

Most people here in Indiana don't know how to handle four way stops. Most consider them as a chicken game.

[Thunderbolt]

I also have a friend that got a ticket for not allowing the guy on the right at a 4 way stop to go first.  The officer said that even though the other driver motioned for him to go first, it was still illegal.

[musclehead]

I agree that it can be a tricky situation.  What do flashing headlights mean?  "Please go ahead" or "Look out, I'm coming through"?!   

Unfortunately, only the headlight flasher knows for sure...

I have accepted a few offers to pass through at an intersection, but only if I'm comfortable with the distance between us or I'm turning away from them.

in the trucking world the flash of a headlight is supposed to denote "go ahead, or your clear" however results vary ALOT!

[Tropic traveler]

I read this somewhere.... "Motorcycles NEVER have the right of way".

I understand the dilemma. I just shake my head no. At least on a bike they can see you shaking easy.

[CajunRider]

My normal routine... if i get a wave/motion/etc. that I don't trust, I kick the bike in Neutral and remove my hands from the bars. 

The waving person usually gets the idea that I'm NOT moving and go on about their business. 

Of course... this is all assuming that traffic behind me is non-existant or at a stand still also, and I'm not waiting for someone to turn my back tire into a backrest.