Etiquette Friday: Practice Good Driving Manners
By Angela Marshall, 20th Apr 2012
Practice Good Driving Manners
It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday”, to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day. I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.
Friday always seems to be a day when drivers are in more of a hurry, especially Friday afternoons. For some reason people who are usually quiet can change when they are behind a steering wheel. It may be due to the fact we are not looking at the person face to face and are surrounded by a lump of metal.
If someone offends you and drives like a lunatic or cuts you up then rise above it. Don’t behave like them, count to ten or think of the colour pink to calm you and stay relaxed.
7 Reminders:
- Consider others – all drivers including slower drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, traffic wardens and tollbooth attendants.
- Give way to other drivers – allow other drivers to join the queue e.g. from out of a side road.
- A Thank You – remember to acknowledge when someone lets you into a queue or out of a side road.
- Keep your distance – don’t drive too close to other cars.
- Don’t cut other drivers up – be patient and allow for slower drivers and don’t drive too fast.
- Parking – allow time for others to park and do not pinch another persons space.
- Accident – if you do find yourself unfortunately involved in an accident, stay calm. Keep out of the way of traffic. Remember it is upsetting for everyone. See if anyone needs help or medical attention, if so call the emergency service.
- Signal – use your indicators at all times.
- Horn – limit using your horn.
- Speed limit – be aware of speed limits especially in towns, villages and in busy traffic. Always allow pedestrians to have time to cross the road.
Remember to consider “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
