Social Etiquette Tip of the Week - Driving with Manners

[Maria Brady]

When driving I often wonder where many people learned to drive as it seems that they don’t exhibit what I consider common driving etiquette. There are still many courteous drivers on the road but, in our hustle and bustle world, we tend to notice a bad driver more than that courteous person who let us into traffic when no one else would.

Don't get me wrong. I am not perfect and I have abused the rules of the road myself. It's just that lately I've noticed more and more drivers disregarding the fact that driving is a shared experience and some of the things they do put others in harm’s way.

Our vehicles can easily become producers of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde behavior. Sometimes really nice people can become really dangerous people when they get behind the wheel of a car. So here are a few tips to help keep Mr. or Ms. Hyde at bay.

The Turn Signal…A Wonderful Invention.
When driving an automobile you need to perform certain acts to ensure the people around you actually know what your intentions are. Turn signals (the little stick on the side of the steering wheel) are just one of those automobile tools which need to be used for obvious etiquette reasons.

I get that the person merging into my front seat is really very busy flipping through radio stations, talking on a cell phone, changing their clothes and applying makeup while driving, but it takes only a two-inch movement of the left hand to flip the turn signal. Please use it so I don't slam into the back of your car, or change lanes at the same time as you!

Turn Your Phone Off!
Pay attention to the road! Driving a car requires multitasking all on its own. You need to concentrate on the traffic. You do not need a distraction like dialing, texting or talking on a phone while driving. If you must receive a call while driving, use a wireless hands free device.

The Car Horn is a Safety Device.
Your car horn is primarily a safety device, not something that is used to indicate road rage. If you are behind a driver at a stoplight and they don't move after a few seconds of the light turning green, a light tap on the horn is acceptable. But when stopped in a large traffic jam, and drivers are blaring their car horns, what exactly do they expect to accomplish?

The Four-Way Stop.
We all know how this works. The general rule is that the vehicle that gets there first gets to go first. And if two vehicles get there at the same time, the rule says to yield to the right. That doesn't seem to be the norm however.

And what to do when the traffic piles up at the stop sign? We were all taught about taking turns in grade school…we should apply that simple concept at the four-way stop.

Watch for pedestrians.
Acknowledging the existence of pedestrians is another wonderful opportunity to display your driving etiquette (or lack thereof). Crosswalks were invented so that foot traffic would have a place to cross. If you are in the driver’s seat and are approaching a crosswalk, stop for the people who want to cross!

I power walk several miles every morning and that has made me very aware of puddles. I cannot tell you how many times I have been splashed from head to toe. Awareness is a courtesy that we all need to keep in mind as drivers

Figure out where you are going!
There are many drivers who don’t consider their plan of attack before putting their key in the ignition. If you find that you are unsure of where you are going, your lack of planning is not the problem of the motorist behind you. If you feel the need to stop and ponder your surroundings please, for the sake of those who are tired of watching you hit your brakes and drive slower than a turtle, pull off to the side of the road.

Turning lanes are for turning.
Have you ever witnessed someone, who has no intention of turning, driving in the turning lane to avoid traffic and at the last moment, stop and put their right-turn signal on so that they can get back into the driving lane? Very wrong!

Your ‘fast’ may be everyone else’s ‘slow’!
Only use the fast (left) lane if you want to go faster than every other car around you. This may come as a surprise to some but going 65 mph in a 65 mph zone is not fast. Even worst is the motorist who drives 50 mph in the left lane; in a 55 mph zone. Only one word comes to mind when I see this. Why?

1-800 How's My Driving?
At times I think all vehicles should carry that sign we see on semis, the 1-800 how's my driving? I know I would be making frequent calls, but not while driving!

[Judith]

Love your comments and tips. It's very nice to have someone who understands good manners in general and addresses topics related to the current times when it appears that the economy has pushed some people over the edge. Not just with driving but what I see as an increase in road rage. What a shame. Thanks for all of your contributions.

JD

[Karen Gardiner]

One of my pet peeves is the ignoring of the laws about solid white lines between lanes. So many people ignore the fact that they are not to cross over this marking to change into another lane