[BullettuPaandi]

Great write-up! Thanks for sharing. I've never driven a car over considerably long distances, so this post is predominantly from a bike rider's perspective.

I'd add 'Body Language' as the third mode of communication; or rather the zeroth, considering it's not something you actively do with the intention of communication, but other riders/drivers notice and ride/drive accordingly. Body language is probably the first thing they'd notice; only thing - if I can put my cynic glasses on for a brief moment - if they're listening to loud music (some of us have speakers inside our helmets), inside double-pane glasses (or) highly noise suppressing earplugs, not paying attention to mirrors, etc. For these reasons, I believe body language is perhaps the most reliable.

It's easier on a motorcycle: Letting your right hand off the throttle and maybe shaking-off to relieve stress or placing it on the hips, even simply leaning backwards would indicate that you are slowing down. On a motorcycle, you also have more room, than in a car to express yourself. You can move to your left significantly more than a car could, to indicate that you're letting someone else to overtake; could be the one behind you, or one on the opposite lane.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Right indicator on highway without junctions: You can overtake me.

Left indicator on highway without junctions: Pull in behind me, there’s no space to pass; or you can overtake me from the left.

Which is why I think this sounds counter-intuitive to me. If I'm behind a car that is flashing right indicator on highway without junctions, I'd assume that there's probably someone in front of the car, that it is hiding, and the one in the car is indicating that they're about to overtake them. I can't recall if I've ever noticed someone using indicators this way; perhaps some did and I misunderstood. In my experience, I can only recall riders/drivers moving slightly towards the left, slowing down more than they otherwise would, to let me overtake.

Everywhere else, indicators are used to indicate the rider's/driver's intention. It'd be hard to distinguish, if it's suddenly a message to the one behind.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

F = Freeze: Develop the habit of pushing in the brake pedal slightly and freeze your foot in that position, so that the brake lights are glowing, but the hydraulic system is not activated (and the car is not slowing down significantly). This is your communication to the vehicle behind to get off his A-pedal and prepare to slow down.

Again this is easier on a bike, but I've developed a habit of pulsing the brake lever/pedal just enough to activate the stop lamp switch a couple of times, to indicate that I'm slowing down. This becomes a necessity if you're engine braking.

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

An 'indicate before you move', not 'as you move', mindset shift alone will make Indian roads noticeably safer.

That comes after people adopt a 'bothering to indicate' mindset first, of course .

There's also those who adopt a 'indication gives entitlement' mindset. I've seen people on a Pep+ expecting a full load lorry to slow down for them, simply because they used the indicators.

[SideSwipe]

Brilliant Compilation: Few more from my end.
1. Gauge the alertness of the driver ahead of you before overtaking: As a thumb rule, i ensure to overtake the vehicle ahead of you only if they are well within the lanes and centered. Even if they slightly kiss the edge of the right lane, i will become cautious and avoid the overtake maneuver. I learnt this trick from one of the van driver who accompanied us in a family trip. He mentioned that any alert driver will keep his vehicle within the lanes but if he is starting to drift away from the lanes it means he is not alert and dozing off and we couldn't predict the way he would react when he is jolted in the middle of the maneuver. If he is drifting right or left without any reasons, i would flash the lights to alert him.

2. Always maintain eye contact: This is applicable either when overtaking or crossing a junction where everyone has equal rights. Looking dead in the eye of the driver whose vehicle either directly (or in their rear view mirror) you are going to over take or cut in means, he is aware of your maneuver. I wouldn't dare (at least in day time) to cut in a person without looking at his eyes.

[microscopic]

Honking is basically shouting. Because you cannot shout and inform the other person that walking/cycling/riding/driving in front of you from your vehicle, you're taking help of an equipment to let the other person know you are in the place where you are.

Now, see it in this way: would you shout at a person asking to leave space for you to pass? If no, then you should not honk.

would you want to let the other person know you are behind them so that they are not caught unaware: Give a honk. Once. It is enough. If they don't respond, please wait. There is no need to honk repeatedly. As I said, honking is shouting/yelling - if you honk repeatedly, it means you are yelling at the person. For sure, the reaction is going to be something you don't like.

[Rohan1511]

Originally Posted by Vikash Kumawat

if you are driving on a 2 lane road and a vehicle approaching you from behind and asks you to give him the pass, and if you give him the way to overtake, then he will overtake you and to say thanks he will flash the hazards once or twice, in return you flash your headlights to say Welcome.

Video/Image Courtesy - Gagan Choudhary

I've lived in Zimbabwe for 2 years and this has always been my daily practice, even on highways. Alas i don't get to use it as often as I'd liked to due to the driving mentality of the folks here. Everyone gives "Mai Pehle" vibes.

I must confess, once I thanked a truck for giving me space to overtake on NH1, and as soon as gave in, he honked his horn which played "Dhoom Machale"

[Dry Ice]

Nice thread!

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

…
Internationally, a quick flash of the headlights to an oncoming car also means You can come forward, I'm waiting for you and giving you way. This is not the same message conveyed in India, …

Rarely, a quick headlight flash from an oncoming car on the highway also conveys the message that there is a police speed trap ahead of you.

Originally Posted by Sting

…
An oncoming car flashing lights- could mean you’ve left your headlight on high beam or, as some have stated earlier, there’s a cop with a speed gun ahead. Accepted internationally as the morally right thing to do- not sure it’s legal.
…

Headlight flash is a tricky one.

UK highway code advises to NOT flash headlights for anything, other than indicating your presence (110, 111).

In practice though, its widely used. If you hold back and flash your headlights, to tell the other driver that you are yielding for them, they feel compelled to go. If they haven’t looked around properly, and dive in, it can be dangerous.

One should always make their own observations and proceed carefully.

Oh, and using it to warn other drivers of Police presence, I guess it can be classified as “preventing an officer from doing his/her duty”?

[KaartooS]

Brilliant thread.

I have seen another way of communicating in Australia using headlights. If there are cops ahead on the side I am driving for checks or random breath test, the incoming cars on the opposite side would flash their headlights to inform. Found it unique to Australia.