I have done only one drive (or two...there and back) on roads that both had truckies and were single lane. Brissy to St George. West of Dalby I saw truckies indicating right to communicate that it's safe to pass constantly. I had heard about it before and explained it to my co-driver because he was unfamiliar, but this was the first time I experienced it. And my experience was very strongly that yes, it is indeed a real thing.

I have never heard about the left blinker being used in the same way as you describe.

[–] TimePencil@infosec.exchange 3 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

@Zagorath
Generally, truckies just talk to each other on UHF40 (or 29) to arrange safe overtaking.

But a turn signal has always been a warning signal. It points to where one should never be.

It's not uncommon, though, for a truck that has *already* executed an overtaking manoeuvre to 'thank' the vehicle now behind them with an R-L-R-L combo of single flashes, *after* they're back on the correct side of the road.

Some truckies add a 'flourish' of one or two 'hazard light' flashes to the end of the sequence.

But, in all my years on the roads, I've only heard of recently deceased idiots who've tried overtaking a truck that has had its right-hand indicator on.

Things may have changed in the last decade, but FIIK why!

[–] dgriffith@aussie.zone 2 points 3 weeks ago

I've seen plenty of trucks do the single right hand indicator blink, usually b-doubles and larger.

I interpret that as a few things:

Old mate has noticed me behind them and has judged the road ahead to be suitably clear, so I can nose out and have a look and go for it if I think it's ok, and
That they in turn have a good bit of road ahead of them so they can attempt to nudge all the trailers to the left for me as I come past.

[–] Sternhammer@aussie.zone 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I was driving from Brisbane → Tasmania last week and a helpful truckie definitely used the right indicator to tell me it was safe to pass. Thanks, mate!

Of course you treat it as a suggestion, nose out and judge for yourself before trying to overtake.