I am familiar with the left blinker meaning it's OK to pass but what about the following:
I am towing my boat and a car pases me with Baja plates. When he is about 100 yards in front of me, two cars approach us about an eighth of a mile
apart, going in the opposite direction. As each car passes him, he gives them 2 or 3 left blinkers. Why did he do that and what does it mean? Is it
a signal to me or the approaching cars?BajaNomad - 7-31-2005 at 07:49 PM
I'm used to the truckers doing that to give oncoming traffic (usually other trucks) a better perspective of the side of their vehicle to avoid being
tagged by the oncoming vehicle. They usually slow down when passing each other this way as well.
I have also frequently used - and seen others - flash their hazards (and headlights) to oncoming traffic to warn of an upcoming hazard (something the
vehicle signaling has just passed by or witnessed - and is of concern for oncoming traffic).
[Edited on 8-1-2005 by BajaNomad]Dave - 7-31-2005 at 07:57 PM
Don't know about the signals you describe but regarding left turn signals in general:
I NEVER assume that a left turn signal means it's OK to pass. It could ACTUALLY mean that the driver is going to turn left. Or, it could mean that he
doesn't know/or care that his signal is on.Mike Supino - 7-31-2005 at 08:42 PM
Dave,
I'll be forced to agree with you regarding the left turn signal interpretaion.
One other item that should be of great concern:
Drivers with their hazard lights on. A friend of mine was pulled over in Ensenada by the police. He was staggeringly drunk. The police told him to
drive home with his hazard lights on!!!!
Driving with hazard lights
Dave - 7-31-2005 at 08:53 PM
usually means that they're the only ones that work.mcgyver - 8-1-2005 at 05:46 AM
I will never pass a truck with his blinkers blinking left. Enroute to San Felipe one day riding with a not too experinced Baja driver we were just
past LA Puerta and just before the dairy at Mazatlan when a tanker truck infront of us started blinking his left turn lights. Realizing my driver was
fixing to pull out to pass I said "Don't", at that instant a Ford diesel 350 pickup pulling a four wheel trailer loaded with ATV's Etc, passed us at a
very high rate of speed. The tanker was a milk truck actualy turning left! My driver pulled hard right with max braking and the Ford pulled hard right
fishtailing and rocking on to two wheels as he some how threaded his way pass the tanker, now taking up both lanes and our front end with his long
trailer. He went far into the dirt to the right, rocked up on two wheels, went left almost to the other shoulder and put the hammer down and never
stopped. WE were stopped in the right ditch and the tanker just barely cleared the pavement before the driver jumped out shakeing his fist at the fast
disapearing Ford and crossed himself before coming over to see if we had been hit. The toy trailer the ford was towing tore off the left mud flap of
the tanker. If the tanker had a US style hanging bumper behind the mud flaps the people in the Ford woul be dead. I have seen 10 people killed on the
stretch of hiway between there and El Crucero in 5 years including 5 children at one time and others who probably died later. I do not pass the left
turn blinkers!Tomas Tierra - 8-1-2005 at 07:54 AM
Rear view mirror eye contact with vehicle left blinking ahead, or left blinker with hand signal...Thats the only way that i wil passOso - 8-1-2005 at 08:33 AM
Be alert and never assume. Some time ago a friend of mine was cruising along a winding 2 lane in the NC mountains when a woman came around a curve in
the opposite direction. Just as they passed each other, she leaned out her window and shouted "PIG!". Startled and insulted, my friend leaned out
his window, turned his head back toward her and shouted "b-tch!" just seconds before plowing into a 300 pound sow in the road.El Jefe - 8-1-2005 at 08:59 AM
On our frequent drives the length of the pinninsula we pass on the trucker's left blinker all the time. Yes, occasionally one is given the wrong
signal, but that is why you should always take the "go around" with a grain of salt and get a clear look ahead before you commit. I like to know that
he knows I'm coming around, and his signal means he sees me.
Sometimes, and very rarely he really is turning left, but the usual practice is for him to fudge his tires over the center line to show his intention.
If you use his signal as an aid but not the gospel you should be fine. Safe passing on the two lane is an art that involves pre-planning, timing and
good perspective.
Oso
jrbaja - 8-1-2005 at 09:05 AM
That's hysterical!!!
When you travel the peninsula regularly, you learn that generally, the left turn signal means it is ok to pass. It's more about common sense and
using it rather than depending on anyone elses signals to help you with your driving..
NO WAY OSO
DanO - 8-1-2005 at 12:17 PM
Sorry, but that is too damn funny to be true.
I've also seen hazard lights used by drivers coming to a stop after a blind curve. They're trying to warn the drivers behind them to slow down. This
happens a lot at the Maneadero checkpoint when the northbound traffic is backed up almost to the pass.bajaruby - 8-1-2005 at 02:16 PM
I second that, DanO
[Edited on 8-1-2005 by bajaruby]Tomas Tierra - 8-1-2005 at 02:31 PM
Santiago..
I think the left blinker to left blinker your talking about with head on traffic is a show of acknowledgement of the other driver..Usually people do
this on open stretches of hiway....Kinda, " hello do you see me? i see you"bajajudy - 8-1-2005 at 02:58 PM
I use the truckers left signal to pass too. However, it is one of those you have to be there to understand kind of things. If you have been behind
the guy, peeking around every so often to see if the coast is clear and he turns on his blinker, you peek again and if the coast is clear and there
isnt a loncheria, Pemex, turnout on the left you can assume that he can see that it is safe for you to pass, so go for it.
Many people who are actually turning left will get over in the left lane anyway.
As for the seemingly random blinking, I think that it is a HELLO. Unless of course there is something in the road they are trying to warn you
of......ganada...or of course a b*tchy pig
[Edited on 8-2-2005 by bajajudy]Oso - 8-1-2005 at 04:47 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DanO
Sorry, but that is too damn funny to be true.
OK, OK, it was actually a friend of a friend's cousin.
