What does it mean when someone behind you flashes their high beams?

Question

I was driving from Texas to Nashville, TN the other night because I just moved to Nashville. When I was in east Texas, there was somebody driving behind me very, very close. He could have passed me, but he/she wouldn't. I even tapped my brakes to tell him/her they were driving too close. After awhile of that, he/she started flashing their brights at me. This went on for about 15 minutes, and I was being completely blinded and getting creeped out, so I floored it for a couple of minutes to get ahead of him/her.

What was that all about? We were the only two people on the road for miles, all of my lights were working, and it's not like they could be warning me about cops or anything, since they were driving behind me.

Anyone who knows, I'd appreciate it. :)

Answer 1

You're going too slow for their taste.

Oh, and by the way, he was probably a jackass.

Answer 2

It normally means they want to pass you but in your situation you could have been driving too slow or maybe one of your tail lights is out.

Answer 3

It doesn't sound like s/he was up to any good.  Perhaps you had your turn signal on forever??  Perhaps you were driving too

slow?  Perhaps s/he just wanted to scare you??  If you had a cell phone, you should have called 911.  I would've gotten off the very next exit and acted like that's where I really wanted to turn off.  Or you could have signaled to get off the road and then start driving in the exact opposite direction?? It sounds like road rage through slow torture and terror.  S/he knew that it would be particularly scary since you were so isolated.  Try to take well-traveled roads in the future, if possible.  Glad nothing happened to you.  How and when did the ''adventure'' end??

P.S.  In response to this person being European, I would say that s/he is an idiot then for assuming and expecting an American in America to know about  European driving etiquette.   I guess this is why people are starting to carry concealed weapons - just in case this person had actually gotten you to pull over???

Answer 4

maby you were going too slow or something was odd about your car.

Answer 5

Normally someone flashes lights to let you know they would like to pass.

Since they didn't seem to really want to do this, it sounds as if they were just being jerks.

Answer 6

They wanted you to pull over so they could kill you!

Answer 7

did you check your back bumper? maybe there is someone dragging behind your car.

Answer 8

Must of been a Saudi Arabian telling you that you should not be driving because your female. LOL

Answer 9

it means thet think you are goin to slow and they want you to pull over so that they can pass you up

next time slam on the breaks in the middle of he road

Answer 10

It depends literally on where you are.  In many parts of the world, Europe and Asia being especially notable, it does mean for you to move over to allow them to pass.  In Europe to not move over is considered "bad lane discipline" and you can be fined for it.  This is assuming that you were on a multi-lane road of course.

Assuming that there was no emergency situation, I can either consider the above to be true, or the person was indeed rude, though this would only be the case if you were on a single lane road.  The tapping of the brakes can also provoke this behaviour too, but I would then assume that either you were not keeping right when you should have been, or it was a single lane road and the other person was rude.

EDIT:

Based on your additional info, I can think of no good reason why this person would flash you then.  Sadly, rude idiots are all too common these days.  It sucks.

Oh, and to the person below me, point taken, but it is often the case in Europe that US driving ettiquette and courtesies are used  by American tourists, thus confusing us, so I fully rebuke you calling me an idiot, that epithet better suits you!.  It does work both ways.  Besides, I have driven in the US a fair bit, and have seen people use the headlight flashing thing to pass.  US driving ettiquette is not the only style there is, and there are plenty of Americans who know of this rule.