Have you ever signalled your thanks to a courteous driver by blinking your hazard lights twice?
On Threads, user @rafmargiana.ii shared that he has found himself using the small gesture more often lately. “Tiny gesture. Huge difference. It somehow makes the road feel much kinder and more mature. Drivers who are reckless like that still exist, of course. But I hope that group is slowly dwindling,” he wrote.
Another user admitted to joining the ranks of drivers who blink their hazards as a thank-you. “Even if sometimes I cut into a lane a bit like an ‘extra’ idiot, but nothing too much. I didn’t use them at all before because of my ego. Now age is catching up and life has humbled me in many ways,” he said.
Not all experiences are positive. A user named Aisha recounted blinking her hazards to signal a lorry to move over — only to be met with a blinding high beam in response. “No, dear, he flashed his high beam back, nearly blinding me,” she said.
Others acknowledged the gesture’s value but stressed safety first. “I had one cut into my lane so abruptly that I spewed foul words, but then he or she gave blinking hazard lights as a thank you. Very mixed feelings,” one user shared.
Alex prefers the traditional approach, often raising his hand to show gratitude, a gesture with a similar meaning.
Aiman noted that the practice is more common in Kuala Lumpur than elsewhere. “When you’re in Penang or Johor Bahru, everyone seems panicked about giving way, even though the gap is just about one car length. I’ve even been honked at before. Usually we’re not trying to cut the queue anyway, but if you’re an outsider, routes with lane changes, roundabouts and flyover U-turns can be confusing on maps. Still, it feels quite humiliating when someone honks and then speeds up to pressure you,” he said.
