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Taken from USA/Canada -
The flashing of headlights is open to interpretation but usually has the same meanings as it has in the UK and Europe, depending on the situation:
At night, for no apparent reason: - Turn on your lights!
At night, by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction: - Dip your lights!
From behind on the open road: - Speed up or get out of my way!
By a vehicle coming in the opposite direction, for no apparent reason: There's a police car, a speed check, or some danger or obstruction up ahead - slow down!
At a four way stop, from a vehicle which draws up to the intersection at the same time as you: - After you!
As in Europe, many US and Canadian drivers, when overtaken on a high speed road by a large tractor-trailer truck, will flash their headlights to indicate to the truck driver that he's far enough ahead to merge in front of them. This is because it's often difficult for truck drivers to judge the length of their long vehicles, and because drivers sharing the road with trucks don't wish to be hit by trucks whose drivers have pulled into their lane in front of them too soon. Most truck drivers appreciate headlight flashes and will flash their "marker" lights (those on the corners of their vehicle) as a way of saying "thank you."
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