Just say Howdy

[John316]

Okay guys. I wondered how many salute other charter buses and bus conversions. We have found that a way of saying hi, is flashing your headlights once, and then waving. A lot of the charter buses wave or flash their lights back, or just wave. I just thought that it would be great if we all made sure to say "hi" as we pass each other...

Thoughts???

God bless,

John

[Jeremy]

This may sound really silly but one of the ways I judge whether I want a vehicle is whether drivers of that vehicle wave at each other. The first 'unusual' vehicle I ran (air portable ('lightweight') Land Rover) was definitely the sort of vehicle driven by friendly enthusiasts, and you would always swap waves with other drivers. Driving a Yank car here is the same, and most people who drive older Range Rovers also do so because they are enthusiasts for the marque and are pleased to meet someone else suffering from the same affliction. The other car I drive now is an LS400, which is really quite a rare sight on the road here - you do see them occasionally but with the Lexus you are never sure of what 'type' of person is driving the other one, so hesitate to wave. I've probably only passed two or three other LS400s in the whole time I've had mine, but as it happens I saw one last week - I didn't wave at the driver but wished I had as he gave me a very long look and was almost certainly an enthusiast for the model.

Jeremy


On a slightly different topic, there a convention amongst truck and bus drivers here for 'thanking' each other (after being let back in after overtaking etc) by flicking their indicators (turn signals) in a particular way - anything similar in the States?

[Lin]

There used to be a whole series of signals.  It's been a while, but I think that if you came up on a truck you wished to pass, you would flash your high beams on and off.  The truck would flicker his markers when it was safe to pass.  He would then flash his brights when it was comfortable for you to pull in front off him, and you would flicker the tail lights to thank him for his help.  It's been a really long time since I have used any of this, so I may not have it exactly right.  I do not know if anything is used now except between truckers.

[busnut104]

I think he is referring to saying hi: but far as passing when I was driving 18 wheeler most truckers just turn there headlights off and still have parking lights and markers on. this gave the ok to pull back in. Flashing the headlights is hard on the eyes in the mirror, especially when you are on the tired side. Then you usually flashed the markers as a thank you after you pulled back in lane.

[gyrocrasher]

Jeremy:
It is indeed customary, here, (big trucks) to flash one's tailights as a thank you. Cut tailight power 2-3 times at night; flash 4 ways in daylight. (tailights too hard to see)
In fact, most trucks I've owned/driven since the 80s(?) have had a power interupt momentary switch specifically for that purpose. This switch usually kills ALL trailer lights. Mitch

[bobofthenorth]

If you are following a truck or bus in Mexico and he puts his left blinkers on that most likely means that, in his estimation anyway, it is safe to pass.  I do that fairly regularly for drivers who are trying to get by me in Canada & the US and probably about 1/3 of them figure it out and appreciate it.

[Ednj]

I Beleive,
The Greyhound driver's flash their Left turn signal at each other and have a contest to see who reconizes the other hound first.

[John316]

First off, I was talking about greeting others when you pass on opposite sides of the interstate. Just a way of acknowledging the other buses.

Second off, Yes you guys are right on the signals. All of the mentioned signals are correct. Four ways to thank a truck. We do use the different signals a lot.

Bob, You are one of those drivers that we like to pass on a two lane road. Keep it up.

But, I just wondered if you guys acknowledged other buses on the road.

God bless,

John

[JackConrad]

    Since we run mostly non-interstate roads, we don't see a lot of other conversions. When we do we usually wave. What little bitt of time we are on an interstate, we usually wave, but are often so far apart by the median and other traffic.  Jack

[viento1]

I do find that passing another MC5 is a strange event as we both kinda wake up from the whiteline fever. assess each other, posture a little than slowly a smile forms on our faces, our hands come off the wheel and then the moment is gone and I crane my neck to see if his motor is running clean 

I like when I get a wave from charter busses, makes me feel like I am part of a secret society. Of course another MC5 jut makes me giddy.

Slightly off topic... when i am on the highway and the left signal light comes on, i think... hmmmm is this guy turning on a secondary road or is he giving me some kind of sign. If I seen a right hand signal, my first instinct is to check my mirrors and prepare to pass - whether I wanted to or not. But I dont think I can single handedly change the world. that did not sound very inspiring did it? maybe i will start a crusade?

[John316]

Viento,

I am with you. I get most excited when we see another DL3 (which is much more common than a 5, since charters and G-dogs are still using them). We have found a bit of a comradery with bus drivers. And bus companies have helped us out several times when we have needed a part or something, while on the road.

God bless,

John

[NJT 5573]

Driver etiquete for professional drivers at night is cut your headlights once heavy equiptment clears your vehicle. He then blinks his markers twice to say thank you, either as he comes over or after he is back in your lane. In daylight turn your headlights on once heavy equiptment clears your rig and you get two blinks thank you as he comes over or is back in your lane. If you can see the driver in his mirror hit the lights when he is looking at you.

In the old days we got information out to oncomming traffic. Two quick flashes repeatedly meant smokey ahead, three repeatedly meant accident and prepare to stop. Florida is the only state I know of that does not like professional drivers to flash their lights.

[PP]

No matter what I happen to be driving, when I see a bus approaching I always flash my highbeams (daytime) and give the driver a thumbs up as we approach. When I'm in the toad or company rig, most just ignore me, especially them snobbish Prevost drivers What can I say I love buses!

[JackConrad]

We have also found that if stopped where a charter bus is stting, the charter bus drivers usually comes over to talk and see our bus.  Jack

[FloridaCliff]

I havn't noticed alot of waving on the Interstate in the BUs.

But on this subject, I have had a Jeep CJ7 forever, and it would be a rare event that I pass another Jeep driver and they don't wave hi.   

Cliff