I agree with you, they ARE annoying, but they ARE effective. The first time I was behind the Sonata, it did kind of got pissed me off but I didn't know why. BUT, what I did do was go for my brake quickly because the flashing caught my attention very effectively. I can't stand drivers that cut in front of me especially when driving the Crossfire causing me to jamb on my brake but that occurs all the time. I don't experience the same lack of respect when I'm in a larger vehicle. Small cars get little respect. That's why I don't tailgate because I don't want to be the one to run into someone's back end and give them whiplash that I once encountered in a rear end accident from an aggressive cab driver. If I hang back from the car in front, then the jamming of brakes seems minimal. Generally, I find truck drivers hang back (many times) when they are in stop and go traffic . I agree with you, the flashing brake light is annoying. It could be sole the reason they are effective.