Yes, it's legal - at least in California.

Whether it's a good idea or not is another question.

 

... said by the one going slow in the left lane.

 

Most of the time the people going 55 or 65 in the fast lane don't have a clue, and a flash of the headlights simply unglues their eyes from staring straight forward and makes them realize that there are other people out on the road and to GET THE F OUT OF THE WAY.

dick move? sure... call me a dick... I don't hear so well with the top down when you are well behind me... chances are, you just insulted the person you are talking to on your cell phone... but then you are too inconsiderate to worry about that either.

 

When I pass someone on the left lane, I get back on the right lane immediately afterwards. I hate left-lane-bandits. It's sad that these same jerks would consider flash-to-pass an insult of some sort. What's the better way? Pass on the right? That'd be ironic wouldn't it?

 

Speaking of passing on the left:

Years ago I was driving home on the freeway late at night in a Porsche 911. I was in the right lane, not in any great hurry, and had the freeway essentially to myself. After a while a car pulled up behind me. In an effort to get him to change lanes and pass me, I took the car out of gear and began to coast.

I got down to 15 mph before the other driver finally decided to pull to the left and pass me.

Weird.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but isnt it against the law (99% sure in NY anyway) to turn your high beams on PERIOD if there is a car in front of you within a 1/2 mile or so?

 

Rude yes, illegal no.

 

Just FYI on this... in drivers ed I was taught this was a bad thing to do. Reason being is that sleepy or drunk drivers key in on rear light sets to follow, and don't follow by speed, but by placement in front of them. So they taught us that if you think an idiot or drunk driver was behind you, make sure you turn, and that you run the risk of being rear ended if you slow down.

Obviously you dind't have this problem.. but just fyi.

 

Here;s the actual law in PA. Rather than speaking out of my ass.

It IS illegal to flash high beams at night when oncoming traffice is present
, also to turn off your lights. This is for obvious reasons. You blind a person with high beams and turning them off creates an unsafe situation. Your state might not have this law. However flashing to pass during the day is legal as well as flashing to notify drivers of law enforcement or accident.

Here's the PA law regarding flasing to pass

 

*shrug* Here in NJ we get a whole bunch of idiot left lane hugging drivers. Sometimes its easy and they move over for me to pass and then move back. Usually I have to eithor A) stay behind them long enough to get a clue B) Flash my lights for them to move over or C) Flash and then Honk my horn until they move. If all those fail, I go into the other lane (if possible) drive past them honking my horn and giving them the bird.

I have a thing about people staying in the left lane that just annoys me. Don't be behind me if your staying in the left lane