Road politeness

[Ian Raleigh]

Back in the day when I had my Ford Escort MKII RS2000, I would come across other RS2000's
and we would flash our headlights as a mark of respect! Todays car market is no longer like that
My friend had a blue Ford Focus RS and if he came across another they would pass each other
with ignorance of what the RS badge stood for back in the oldish days.

The other day I pulled up at a junction and a car turned into my section of the road,
he didn't come round like a nutter but stopped safely and I was a bit annoyed,so being
a nice guy and instead of the other reversing back on to the main road, I reversed back
at so he could get by me safely. I expected a nod or a wave of thanks but got nothing
in return but to show my anger I 'horned' him aggressively then gave him the finger.

 

[alanf]

if I stop and let someone out, or through a gap and they dont say thank you, I politely raise my hand to wave, palm towards them all friendly like then as they look at me like I'm something they've trod in I flick my wrist round and shoot them a one finger salute while smiling it usually gets a response :twisted:
In the village where I live there is always a row of parked cars on one side of the road causing the oncoming traffic to be on the wrong side of the road, there is always one idiot that will try it on and pull out when I have the right of way, forcing me to stop and let them through, my trick is the close up on the parked cars and shut down there exit till it's just big enough for them to get through, unless its the t@@t in the ovlov estate that lives in the village and needs a slap, and then I just drive forward and stop so he has either pull into a gap in the parked cars or back up out of my way

 

[jimihendrix]

I'm a Class 1 HGV driver (44t Artic), 95% of my driving is in a truck, i find some people are polite some are not, have noticed when i flash a car to let them out a slip road into lane 1 i get no thanks, but a car flashes them to let them out into lane 2 the other car gets a wave , had a few raging car drivers joining the motorway who think i'm responsable for pulling my wagon out from lane 1 into lane 2 to let them out the slip (flashing, horn, finger etc) i will pull out if it's safe and convenient but most of the time it's not, even had road ragers when i've spent 10-15 seconds in lane 2 of a dual carrageway overtaking another wagon :roll:, used to get worked up about all that but nowadays i just chill out behind the wheel (including my car) if minor sh!t happens (like encountering rudeness) i just laugh it off (an older driver taught me that, he used to sit there laughing "ha,ha, look at the state of this guy" etc ), if stuff is happening that's out of your control it's not worth getting stressed.
Generally i think the roads have become more hostile in the last 10-20 years, dont know why ?, cost of fuel ?, longer working hours ?

 

[unkleGsif]

I'm a Class 1 HGV driver (44t Artic), 95% of my driving is in a truck, i find some people are polite some are not, have noticed when i flash a car to let them out a slip road into lane 1 i get no thanks, but a car flashes them to let them out into lane 2 the other car gets a wave , had a few raging car drivers joining the motorway who think i'm responsable for pulling my wagon out from lane 1 into lane 2 to let them out the slip

I am a staunch advocate of "the truckers wave"... even in my little Lupo

 

[Alison]

A while ago I was on a duel carriage way that was quite full and some chap was behind me tailgating in the extreme, I could see the whites of his eyes. I did what my sister had told me to do when I was a young driver, to press the brake pedal a touch just to show the lights, well he obviously saw the lights as he suddenly retreated and when the traffic had cleared he overtook me, him and his passenger shouted a LOT of abuse out the window, but I had achieved what I intended until he could get past he stopped tailgating

Alison

 

[daugs]

I think part of the problem round here on the lanes is that some drivers, while shuttling their darling little ones to school in their 4x4 safety cage, find it difficult to wave or even flash while on the phone in one hand, putting the lipstick on with the other and trying to drive at warp factor 2 to make up lost time because they got up late or failed to herd their disfunctional cats into the car at a sensible time to get to school on time.

 

[jimihendrix]

A while ago I was on a duel carriage way that was quite full and some chap was behind me tailgating in the extreme, I could see the whites of his eyes. I did what my sister had told me to do when I was a young driver, to press the brake pedal a touch just to show the lights, well he obviously saw the lights as he suddenly retreated and when the traffic had cleared he overtook me, him and his passenger shouted a LOT of abuse out the window, but I had achieved what I intended until he could get past he stopped tailgating

Alison

I'd have done the same TBH, two guys shouting abuse out of a car window at a woman, big men eh ? :roll:

It's probably the one thing that bugs me the most is tailgating, especially when doing 30 (or 33) in a 30 limit, if someone is behind me and is tailgating and impatient (when i'm on the speed limit) i'll take great delight in slowing them down :twisted:, they are the ones that's stressed and in a hurry, not me , have "brake tested" a few, but have also pulled over and let a few scream past, usuallty white van man

 

[legrandefromage]

As a former taxi driver (hah!) I saw the worst in everyones driving, from tailgating truckers to little old ladies going through red lights just as I'm about to pull out...

Most drivers are pretty good. A former work colleague was always 10 seconds away from beating anyone to death - its these drivers that should calm down a bit.

I drive calmly and defensively muttering about how bad everyone else is. I give way where I can and am polite as long as you dont do anything to threaten my safety or other road users. I have chased a few in my time though!

 

[Chute55uk]

I was riding home the other week and there was a car in a right turn filter lane ahead, I sensed a car behind me and waited for the inevitable inch gap but lo! he held back. then there was a pedestrian island about 30 yards further on where I regularly get squeezed and waited for it but lo! he held back! he went past when it was safe and to my amazement it was a bmw estate, yes you heard me a real bmw with a brake pedal that worked! I caught up with him at the next traffic line and tapped on his window and said I wanted to thank him for not driving like a dick. the only time I would ever give a car driver any form of communication other than to give them grief as I hate them all, including myself and my wife when we drive.

 

[jimihendrix]

I was riding home the other week and there was a car in a right turn filter lane ahead, I sensed a car behind me and waited for the inevitable inch gap but lo! he held back. then there was a pedestrian island about 30 yards further on where I regularly get squeezed and waited for it but lo! he held back! he went past when it was safe and to my amazement it was a bmw estate, yes you heard me a real bmw with a brake pedal that worked! I caught up with him at the next traffic line and tapped on his window and said I wanted to thank him for not driving like a dick. the only time I would ever give a car driver any form of communication other than to give them grief as I hate them all, including myself and my wife when we drive.

I drive a BMW 728i , so thats TWO BMW's that are driven sensibly then