Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site reed.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!reed!daveb
From: daveb@reed.UUCP (David Billstrom)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Re: There are two kinds.... (actually highbeam twits)
Message-ID: <1280@reed.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Apr-85 11:07:38 EST
Article-I.D.: reed.1280
Posted: Tue Apr  9 11:07:38 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Apr-85 00:38:23 EST
References: <196@dmcnh.UUCP> <1135@watdcsu.UUCP> <3845@mit-eddie.UUCP> <3852@mit-eddie.UUCP> <3855@mit-eddie.UUCP> <1164@reed.UUCP>
Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Lines: 33

> 
> Interesting thing happened to me when I was driving from San Francisco to 
> Portland (OR) last Christmas...  It was late, I'd been driving for hours,
> and my brights were one when I came up behind a truck.  In order to inform
> me my brights were on, he flashed some side-mirror-mounted lights (that I
> swear were as bright as regular headlights) right at me.  I shut off my
> brights immediately.
> 
> I have never seen headlights pointing backwards on anything except firetrucks,
> police cars, and ambulances.  Do all semi's have these nasty (but exceedingly
> useful) devices?  Some?  Or was this driver just looking for a way to
> get back at all the buffoons who blind people with brights?
> 
> -Rafe
>  (rafe@reed)
> 

What you probably saw were the rear-facing loading lights, used to see
the condition of the trailer behind the tractor cab, or put chains on,
or whatever.  These lights are flood lights, different from headlights
in that they have a much shorter range, but wider throw (of beam).

Ambulances have the same kind of light for loading patients and for lighting
the accident scene.  Firetrucks have even more, for illuminating buildings.
Police cars generally have only a single spot light, flexible forward; and
two flood lights, one to each side of the car.

Truckers regularly flash their load lights to communicate exactly what
that fellow did.

Note: in most states such flood lights and spot lights, whether pointed
to the side, to the rear, or on a swivel, are illegal to use while in
motion.  A technicality surely only used for abusers.