Minor annoyances happen all the time, whether it’s someone cutting you off in traffic or spilling your coffee.
Some are accidents and others are just plain rude. We often see the biggest offenders on the road. Sometimes it is a minivan taking up too much space, and sometimes it’s the Porsche going too fast. Every driver slips up.
It makes sense, you are in your car with no face to face confrontation and you will likely never see the other person again. That makes it easy to break traffic etiquette. But that is exactly why you shouldn’t. It perpetuates a vicious cycle of middle fingers and blaring horns.
There are many common courtesy rules you should follow when driving. There are a few that really stand out when someone breaks them.
To start, you have the people who stay in the fast lane going at or under the speed limit. This does two things: One, you are forced to slow down to match their speed. And two, you now must pass on the right which makes you seem like the jerk.
If you do this, stop that. Nobody wants to have to slow down in the fast lane or switch lanes just to pass you. It causes a bump in traffic and adds points to the annoyance meter.
Another, more unintuitive rule is waving after someone lets you merge.
They don’t have to let other cars in. It’s up to the merger to find a spot and slide in. So, when a car slows down to create that opening, put your hand up and give them a little wave. It lets them know you recognize what they did and is appreciative.
Perhaps some of the biggest offenders of that are pedestrians. For some reason, pedestrians have a minor complex. They think that it is their right to cross wherever and whenever they please. Especially when it is not at a stoplight.
I’m not saying you should pause mid-walk and stare deeply into the driver’s eyes while mouthing “thank you.” But a nice raise of the hand while you saunter by is much appreciated.
Last, but not least infuriating, we have elefantenrennen. What could elefantenrennen mean? I’m happy someone asked. Elefantenrennen is a German word meaning elephant racing.
It is most commonly used when one semi-truck tries to pass another semi-truck at minimal speeds, blocking all other lanes in the process.
I call it elephanting, for short. Elephanting is not restricted to semi-trucks alone. Any other slow cars on the road can and will do this.
It is perhaps the most selfish thing another driver can do. It obstructs the flow of traffic for the next two or three miles just so you can gain a few feet on the road.
If you drive a big truck or a slow car you need to accept your place in the highway hierarchy. You are low on the food chain. Just sit back, set that cruise control and watch the miles tick.
You shouldn’t be in any rush and god-forbid you have to pass someone, push that accelerator to the floor. It’s the least you could do.
Driving etiquette may seem intricate but in the end just be a courteous person and put that hand up occasionally.
As the great Zac Efron once said, “We’re all in this together.”
Griffen Winget can be reached at [email protected]