Is the courtesy wave a lost art?
The courtesy wave is a simple gesture to thank your fellow driver, cyclist or pedestrian for being courteous and considerate on the road. It can be expressed in a number of ways from an effusive hand-wave out the window to a more subtle, subdued head-nod.
The courtesy wave can be used in a variety of situations:
- When merging lanes and your fellow driver creates space for you to merge
- When driving on a narrow street and the oncoming driver pulls over allowing you to pass
- When yielding right of way when the right-of-way is unclear
- When acknowledging a driver of the same vehicle – a particular favourite of motorcyclists and Kombi drivers
- When apologising for a driving indiscretion such as (accidentally) cutting off another driver
While it may seem like an antiquated notion, there is still considerable support for this form of driving etiquette. There are at least 16 Facebook fan pages created by supporters and a Canadian website called MyRoadWaves was set up so recipients of the courtesy wave could enter details of their experience (including locating the incident on Google Maps), and then share that experience with fellow courtesy wave advocates.
The courtesy wave is not a legal requirement but it can substantially raise the tone of driving while at the same time lower the temperature of motorists. A breath of fresh air in a busy and congested city like Sydney.
https://twitter.com/#!/NRMA/status/73620903799427072
Is the courtesy wave a lost art or is it alive and well on our roads?
When do you think it’s appropriate to give or receive a courtesy wave?
Totally agree with all the situations you have mentioned and a courtesy wave accompanied by a smile makes all the difference in the world.
I’m not sure if cyclists understand a courtesy wave especially on our congested Sydney streets when applied to all the situations above?
I agree too! It’s easy to wave or let someone in front of you for the sake of a couple of seconds. My friend calls it “paying it forward” – as opposed to “paying it back”.
The NRMA can perhaps supply car stickers to remind drivers about the courtesy wave.I always wait my turn, and it is a privelege when someone is courteous towards me, and I certainly wave to thank them.It is easy to do the right thing, and help others in a little way, but isn’t it annoying when someone just pushes in without even recognising that it is actually your way.They don’t realise that it is courteous to be let in , not a right.And they don’t even wave, like you don’t exist.
Courtesy all the way
I agree. It is such a pity that in Brisbane most drivers only use one finger to wave with
When ur driving in the middle of nowhere its ok to wave hello to a passing motorist.. especially if you haven’t seen any other cars for hours.. then as you get closer to civilisation it just becomes weird.. ive tested this while driving thru the NT.. ive found you need to be at least 100 km from a township before you can start doing the “wave” without looking creepy and Wolf Creek-like.. maybe this should be your next study?
Everything’s different in the country… you’re considered rude if you don’t one-finger-off-the-steering wheel-wave at everyone who drives past. Not sure if this is the Wolf-Creek creepy wave Hugh mentions But it does look silly and annoying in the city.
I always courtesy wave… but it annoys me when people do it only when they’ve cut in and only as an afterthought out the rear window. It should be like indicating…you have to do it BEFORE you cut in, otherwise there’s no point.
I also agree with you guys! its okay to wave with a smile.
But not to raise your hands like you’re not driving. lol. Remember! You are driving, not on a stage with your Fans. 
Drive safely and god bless!
If I let someone in (which is common) and they don’t return with a courtesy wave, then I want to kill them.
agree agree agreee!!!!!!!
Yeh I agree
Receiving a well earned courtesy wave can make your day. I am a fan of a courtesy smile to accompany the wave to just spread a little bit more love out there in the city.
Totally agree with Matt there. If I let someone in I expect the wave and if I don’t get it, it REALLY annoys me.
AGREE. I get very terse and abuse them if they don’t wave! ha ha
Thanks for mentioning our site and glad to see drivers from Australia also believe in the power of the courtesy wave. We hope to keep getting more members from around the world to help make the site more interesting and fun. Please do spread the word, join up and Start Waving!
Also totally agree with Matt.
Just like one of the previous blogs – “the lost art of indicating” – this is another one of those little things that used to make driving pleasurable, but is fast disappearing.
And I liked the My RoadWaves website.
Thoroughly agree with the situations mentioned bar one – how do you “accidentally” cut off another driver or perform any other sort of indiscretion ?
Just wish there was something more meaningful and long-lasting than a rude gesture or use of the horn against all of the dipsticks out there.
Almost got wiped out by a bus this morning – he definitely didn’t get a friendly wave.
I can remember hand signalling out the window when slowing to a stop was a norm. Haven’t seen that for years.
Also on the motorcycle to motorcycle wave thing – there are rules, eg. it’s only big road bike to big road bike generally. I rode a 1000cc and wouldn’t ever dream of waving to anything under 250cc, a dirt bike (crazy people), let alone scooters….shameless!
Courtesy waving is good, but is not a panacea for poor driving/riding habits.
Bike to bike & car to similar car type waving, is more an acknowledgment of a kindred spirit than recognition of a
courteous act.
I courtesy wave when driving the cage, I acknowledge wave/nod to other riders when riding the bike (courtesy wave too, when appropriate), and notice that the only ones who generally don’t reciprocate are Harley riders. Hmm, I am not sure what that says about them!
When a heavy vehicle does a kind act, I acknowledge it with a rapid left/right/left blinker sequence, as they are often sitting
too high to see a hand wave (unless I am on the bike), from within the cabin of a cage.
Just thought I’d let you know that it is illegal to have any part of your body protruding from a moving car. Maybe that’s why you don’t see that any more!
I know in South Africa, we had a different version of a courtesy wave (although the wave, ala the royal wave is quite popular) whereby the hazard lights are turned on and off briefly to indicate thanks.
A lot of our city buses use hazard lights as a way of thanking a courteous driver for letting them in to traffic. It really can make your day a little better if someone thanks you with a wave.
Truckies use the ‘left blinker, right blinker, left blinker’ as a wave to fellow truckies since they’re too big for a hand-wave to be seen… I use this too when they let me in.
I would like to thank all the truck drivers out there who get stuck behind my learner driver daughter on the open road and wait patiently to overtake and then honk in encouragement and wave. Same to all the fellow mums who know what it is like to teach a learner driver and smile.
I’ve seen and used it many times… it’s alive and well. Definitely not a “lost art”.
I agree with Steve, It annoys me no end when someone forces there way in front of you then gives you a wave. I’d like to take there wave and ….never mind. However if you let them in then they should give you a wave. I agree with all the items except when there is a merging lane. The traffic is REQUIRED to merge it is not a matter of courtesy otherwise all the traffic in the left lane could just come to a complete standstill. In my opinion the wave is only required where someone lets you in there lane when ther is no merging lane. It also annoys me when people don’t merge at the merging point but try to cut in early, like there afraid that they will get stuck at the end and won’t be able to get in. These people just slow down the merging procedure and allow cars behind them to move further up the merging lane slowing all lanes down.
Sorry Bruce, but merging traffic must give way.
A broken line is a defacto give-way sign ( as per the RTA ) , and if you have to cross one, you have to give way to traffic already in the lane.
Merging is truly a courtesy thing, and most drivers don’t understand the “zipper” principle.
Those that force their way in deserve a……………now what’s the opposite of a friendly wave ?
I thought the “Zipper” was actually required by law now? Maybe since the mid-90′s?
People who are actively “anti-Zipper”, i.e. not letting 1 person in front of them, really p— me off…
“Zipper” doesn’t apply where one car has to cross a broken lane to merge. In that situation the law is that the car crossing the broken line has to give way.
I think there is still a lot of confusion about “merging” traffic, broken lines or not.
As I understood it and in particlaur on highway onramps, even with the “broken line” which is indicating where the lane border is, it’s the car in front that has the right of way whether on the left or the right – thus basically forming the “zipper” effect as each car in turn becomes the car in front.
Otherwise you might never get back onto the highway when you are meant to be speeding up to the highway speed, not slowing down, waiting to have a look if there is a gap in the traffic.
The signs on the highway as you approach these onramps say “merging traffic” to make you aware that someone might be entering your lane from the left at near the highway speed.
As for the freindly country wave, its easy. You wave to passersby on any non-major road/highway and especially unsealed roads.
It’s a bit like saying “hi, I see you”.
Can I suggest that you first read the motor traffic handbook, ( it even has little pictures ) then if you’re still unsure, call the RTA for clarification.
If you have to cross a broken line, you have to give way.
Not according to the RTA.
If you have to cross a broken line, you have to give way, end of story.
Those idiots that overtake me from the merging lane, then force their way in to my lane, thereby forcing me to take evasive action to avoid a collision really p*** me off.
The mentality out there seems to be “I must get in front, no matter what, and I don’t care what I have to do, or who I upset, to do it”.
I totally agree with all that Bruce has said. So much common sense.
Courtesy? On Sydney roads? Huh??
Yes, it is more a rural thing but lets just try to make it catch on.
LOVE the courtesy wave!
The problem I have with the courtesy wave is that my partner insists on also doing it, so the opposite driver receives two waves. She just can’t help herself.
I sent this suggestion to the NRMA 4 years ago. A great way to lower road rage. The NRMA/RTA need to make up and give away stickers for the backs of our cars.
Thank you for a great story. I dips me lid.
How sad that this and so many other niceties like saying, “g’day”, “please” and “thank you” are falling by the wayside. Thank you for reminding people that a smile and a kind word cost nothing and improve the days of everyone involved.
I drive an ancient Land Rover some of the time and never pass another without mutual salutation.
A nice idea but the person in the photo is obviously not concentrating on driving and has been completely distracted by giving a courtesy wave and is not even watching the road ahead. Most accidents occur when a driver is distracted.
I courtesy wave whenever someone has let me in, regardless of whether it’s a merging lane or just a lane change. I love doing it and I love to receive a wave… it’s just plain good manners. Who doesn’t like being thanked for being kind! Waving when you accidentally cut someone off is a polite way of acknowledging you stuffed up… cos it can happen if you simply don’t see them (wet weather is a classic example).
Unfortunately people from some cultures who have taken residence in Australia don’t understand the courtesy wave and don’t do it. New generations haven’t been taught it either. So yes it’s a dying art but not lost yet. Perhaps it can be part of NRMA’s next TV ad? ‘Reduce road rage; say thankyou’.
Outback driving rocks… we do the one-finger-off-the-steering-wheel-wave too. It breaks up the boredom.
I have taught each of my 4 children to drive – whether I was a co-instructor along with some formal paid lessons, or the sole instructor as in my youngest daughter’s tuition. I know that they are all followers of the courtesy wave. Sometimes I think that my youngest, in particular, seems to think that courtesy waving is part of the rules of driving!! Her waves are very clear with the right hand raised high (like she’s answering a question in class!). I see the others respond with a nod in any of the rear vision mirrors, or a flurry of right hand waving fingers from the steering wheel, or the original hand wave, whichever safety permits. Proud to say my family are courteous drivers and acknowledge other driver courtesies – not totally a dying art!!
There is definitely an art to the courtesy wave. Especially when you have to factor in making sure that the other driver is watching when you wave, the type of wave (flailing hand versus queen wave) & watching the cars that you’re merging with it front of you.
It is and always will be a way to show appreciation of a good deed whilst driving on our roads, although i am courteous at all times, i don’t expect a wave as it should just be common sense.
The only courtesy wave that hasnt been forgotten in Sydney is the one finger wave or the bird as labelled by American drivers.
Courtesy, in my opinion is a lost attitude in Sydney and in fact I have experienced situations where it has led to me being deemed at fault in a accident.
I have learnt me lesson consequently, I stick to the rules and do not second guess others or try and be polite.
I agree with “morgul the friendly drelg” except ” a……………now what’s the opposite of a friendly wave”. Perhaps there should be a hand signal for “Sorry, my mistake
”
I always make sure to wave and try to make the driver see the wave.
I hate it when u do the right thing and people don’t wave – how rude!!
Re “matt”. I ride both a 570 dirt bike and a 1000cc adventure bike. Most riders I see on dirt bikes will give a helmet nod regardless of which bike I am on, but most roadies will ignore the dirt bike and only nod to the big bike. However, my favourite pasttime regardless of which bike I’m riding is to wave at Harley riders as they never ever wave/nod/acknowledge(and I’m not just talking “bikies” but anyone on a Harley). Whether they are just too cool for school, or are worried about their next break down, I don’t know.
PS next time you see a scooter rider try waving…it’s hilarious watching them try to keep the thing upright while waving back!
Because I have a big van I usually wind my window down before being let in so that I am ready to do an appreciative thank you wave as I merge.
I’ve actually notice that peak hour drivers are much more generous and courteous than drivers at other times of the day.
Of course it’s not a lost art! I do it regularly if someone lets me into a line of traffic, or pulls off for me on a narrow street, or does some similar act of consideration for me and for safe traffic flow. And people frequently acknowledge it when I do likewise. Not always, but more often than not. And I appreciate it when they do.
The only times I feel miffed when they don’t, is when I’ve really gone out of my way to be thoughtful. Let’s face it, most of the things I acknowledge are simple, competent safe driving tactics, that everyone should be doing automatically – but it’s still nice to be acknowledged! Those tiny rewards at some level reinforce a driver’s tendency to behave well again, and that’s good for safety, and for smooth traffic flow, and that’s good for all of us.
Gotta luv the Wave, it also seems to be popular with caravaners, expecially those towing a similar type eg. Poptop, and the likes wise with others types while on the open road.
Australia is the only country I have ever been to (40 others) where the “courtesy wave” is not used by EVERYONE in every traffic situation where it would be warranted.
Why are there so many ‘don’t give a damn’ drivers in this country? Just be nice. It’s not difficult.
(waving)
The world would be a happier place if we all waved ‘thanks’ more often.
Have just read the rest of the comments, and would like to ask – what about the apology wave? When you have cut in, or inconvenienced someone, probably through inattention or mirror blindspot rather than malice (come, you KNOW you’ve done it!), how should you indicate you’re sorry? From the responses, a simple wave apparently annoys more than it placates, how do you signal “oops, sorry!”?
I don’t know. I do the ‘wave’ as an apology now and then – it’s a reflex. The only differences for me between an apology wave and a courtesy wave, are that the apology wave also includes a shrug of the shoulders and a ‘wince’ of the face, and me mouthing sorry to the other driver if I can make *very quick* eye contact. Maybe they can’t see the difference, but I KNOW there’s a difference, and I a really am sorry. If they can’t accept that, it’s no longer my problem. Sorry.
The courtesy wave is alive and well in Canberra, and is spotted most days on the roads here.
The “courtesy” wave is alive and well as an excellent cop out to road rage inducing incompetent and criminally offensive rude individuals who use it as a defence.
” I gave the wave, therefore I can get away with anything I do which is extremely offensive to others.” Ask any incompetent police officer who can only do RBTs and speed detection for revenue collection.
I think the whole courtesy campaign thing sensibly disappeared years ago because people kept stopping to give way unpredictably and other people rear-ended them. As a general rule, observe the road rules. Or if you must, just check your rear mirror before surprise stopping for your “courtesy wave”. And for goodness’ sake, don’t stop on a roundabout!
I use the wave a lot but then again I am in the older age bracket of drivers. I guess I was taught it by a father who drove a lot outback. By the way Chris did you see that the girl in the photo was in a left-hand drive vehicle?
How about an addition light at the back of the car — say, green light, to represent a thank you sign. It is safer and easier to say thank you to the other car.
Who pays for these quaint little lights and stickers, when it’s only a common sense courtesy. Mostly it stems from our upbringing, and sadly, lights and stickers won’t help those who have had a poor upbringing, but still manage to hold a drivers licence – (or not, but they are still on our roads!)
G’day,
No, I don’t think the Courtisy Wave is a dying art. I use it quite regularly, not to other drivers, but also to pedestrians as well.
Safe & happy motoring to all.
Maurie.
Well, yes, courteous in principle, but extremely discourteous when the courtesy wave occurs SIMULTANEOUSLY with the push-in. Just the slightest pause between the wave and the push-in makes a huge difference.
I have to agree with Michael, how can you make an “oops, I’m sorry” wave. I too get annoyed when someone cuts me off, then gaily waves and smiles. There needs to be a sorry signal.
We feel disappointed when pulling over at a narrow spot or single-lane bridge and the oncoming driver fails to acknowledge our courtesy.
I agree Alexie. It is pretty annoying when I pull over and wait at a narrow spot and get no acknowledgement. Sometimes I wave at them – like teaching a child to say thank you! Sometimes I just rave on to myself for a moment. My children think that’s interesting and ask “Is that a moron Mummy?”. Interesting to note that it’s often the “larger” vehicles on narrow inner city streets that don’t seem to think courtesy matters – or they are above it.
A quick wave doesn’t take much effort and it really improves the spirit.
Yes I have had the courtesy wave given to me after being cut in on instead of merging or the person pulling out in front without warning. Quite laughable on those occassions.
Cheers
I feel ‘ripped off’ if I let someone in and they don’t acknowledge it with a courtesy wave. It is only manners and it makes you feel happy to have done it.
Yes the courtesy wave is a dying art, but isn’t that true of most things that used to be done as a courtesy? Who opens a car door for a woman now (central locking), it is the law to give way to merging traffic so why say “thanks”, people fight over parking spaces at local shopping malls, etc. We are becoming an insualr society on trains and buses with iPods, iPads and the like. Why would we expect road manners to be any different from the rest of modern life?
Wrong.
It is not the law to give way to merging traffic !!!!!
It is courteous to give way, but it is not the law.
If you have to cross a broken line, you have to give way.
I checked with the RTA – their quote was “……..a broken line is a defacto give way sign…..”
A very large proportion of Sydney drivers either don’t know or have no interest in the road rules. They just make up the rules as they go. Otherwise things would be very different at Chicken Rings (roundabouts) where no-one follows the rules and “give way to all traffic approaching on the right at high speed” applies.
And drivers would use indicators to tell others what they are going to do, not signal half way through a turn or not at all as is usually the case. It’s such a huge strain on your finger to push that turn indicator lever so I suppose that’s understandable.
Spot on , Bob.
Even judging by some of the comments posted, a lot of drivers out there don’t know the rules.
In addition to this blog, you only have to refer to one of the previous blogs “the lost art of indicating” for confirmation.
No wonder our roads are such a mess when the users haven’t got a clue.
Thanks Morgul. I can see from your comments here and in other discussions that you and me think very much alike. Maybe it’s because we both got our licenses in a slightly earlier era when courtesy, good manners and understanding and following the road rules were the norm, not the rare exception as they are now.
Yep – couldn’t agree more.
You don’t get to have an ( almost ) blemish-free driving record for 45+ years without doing the right thing all of the time.
Unfortunately we’re a dying breed
It seems this rule that once was law has now been repealed! It used to be law to give way to merging traffic if they were ahead of you under Aust Road Rules Reg 149, but it was repealed. I can’t find the date though. I still do this as a matter of course, as I think it’s rude to not let them in… I often have people speed up to block me from merging!
I think this is a problem with the rule changes not being passed on to drivers.
Never was the law.
The car in front has right of way ONLY if there is no broken line to cross.
It’s in the road rules.
Forgot to mention – Rules #148 and #148A apply, not #149
#149 only applies where there is no broken line.
A Courtesy wave; a flash of the lights; seems to be the way, with an indication to where you intend to go in time is safety in lane changing. Thinking ahead, looking behind as to viewing the sides is a full time outlook. If drivers could only find the time to use round-a-bouts correctly life would be far easier.
I don’t think people know how to react to a courtesy wave, especially here in Canberra. I get puzzled looks when I wave someone to come out of a side street when traffic is busy. They expect me to change my mind at the last second and floor it I think. Mind you the courtesy wave is the common “get out of jail free card” that useless, stupid, incompetent drivers use to excuse their shit driving or agressive behaviour. That sort of use just infuriates me. If you are going to be a rude ass, just avert your gaze and get the hell away from me.
I think that a lot of people just don’t give a damn and will just move in and force you to brake even when you’re 2/3 of the way in front of them. It’s a bit like the non-working indicator lights on most of the cars (and a lot of them are new and expensive BMW’s) – why do so many think we’re mind readers!
I absolutely agree, Janet.
Is the courtesy wave a lost art…..LOST???…you have to be kidding. Its never even been found in Australia! I have lived in several countries and have to say (sorry folks) that Australians are the rudest drivers I have ever come across. Have lived in Sydney, country Vic and country NSW, and almost NEVER see the courtesy waves which you see on every single trip in the UK. Its a bizarre phenomenon, as out of thier cars australians are a pleasure to live with, but put them behind the wheel of a car and they become rude, ignorant and dangerous.
Try a trip across central London in a car and you will see better manners in 5 minutes than you see in a whole day driving in Sydney.
Exactly.
Courtesy, not cursety, is the only way to survive out there, whether it’s a quick wave, a smile, or flicking lights briefly. PLEASE keep it going!!
Hold it a minute. If you become very annoyed when someone does not acknowledge your act of courtesy then you should really consider your motive for doing so in the first instance. What does it matter if a wave comes your way or not? Show some maturity and feel the benefit of doing a good deed for it’s sake alone, not for a reward.
Hear hear! Like anything we do, we shouldn’t be doing it for the accolades, but because it’s the considerate thing to do.
I love the courtesy wave and, while you don’t always get it, it’s nice when you do. I think it’s often safer to do it after, rather than before, being let in as often that is often a spur of the moment thing requiring you to drive first and wave later. Sydney drivers can be a bit crazy but a lot of them are nice people. If we expect them to do what is courteous and safe and set a good example, then maybe more will follow.
I like to wave left handed for safety, or my wife does it for me . We are retired and are members of the A VAN club and i always lift a few fingers off the wheel to all other caravans approaching to inform them all is well ahead in their direction. i also have channel 40 on cb for accident reports from truckies , a lot of caravan and rv’s use 38
The wave is not yet dead, only unknown to Australia – but I insist on setting an example. There have been many instances in my 30 years here in Aussieland where, by observing others courteous conduct, the custom of ‘Consideration for Other Road-users’ slowly takes hold
eg.
a:- Using the 1 for 1 rule when allowing side-street users to enter the Mainstream. Even if the primitives take advantage of your courtesy I still persist and do not let it phase me. I console myself always with the knowledge that they just don’t know ‘cos they have never been taught.
(Who trains the trainers?)
b:- Even though every news coverage of accidents reveal Head-on crashes they have yet to realise that the culprit is not speed (otherwise why do professional racing drivers walk away from 160+ kph crashes) but the fact that they have not been taught to drive on the left unless overtaking.
They don’t realise that by ‘Hogging the Crown of the Road’ they have a closing speed of 100+ kph with only a few inches separating their cars and it only takes a sneeze, kid in the passenger seat or mobile phone to eliminate those few inches.
Note: The chicken run was first brought to the publics attention by James Dean in the film ‘Rebel without a Cause’ but I don’t think many have made the obvious connection. Once again – They just don’t know. You can usually get a double-decker bus between them and the kerb but how does one get the message across?
Alamo.
We were very pleasantly surprised by the driver wave habit on Norfolk Island. Every time you pass an oncoming vehicle, you acknowledge them with a small wave. I can tell you that it felt nice to do this and to be on the receiving end of this, bringing smiles to our faces every time we hit the road. When we returned home, we found that we continued this habit and were actually quite sad to realise that drivers here wouldn’t reciprocate. Really wish it was something that Australian drivers would do.
It’s a sad indictment upon our society where suggestions need to be made in terms of stickers, etc; to remind people to say “thank you”, when shown some courtesy on the road. Regretably, that’s what it seems to have come to, as this very basic of home upbringing seems to have gone the way of the Dodo.
Regretably, I – like many other people – am required to live in Australia’s angriest and most impolite city – Sydney – and, like many others, I am forced to use a road system that belongs more in the Edwardian era than in the 21st century. Unfortunately, it is this very road system and many of its under-skilled and poorly trained patrons that are contributingly, signficantly, to the frustration and annoyance of other road users which, sadly, contributes to outbursts of so-called “road rage”.
However, there is no excuse for this and no lesser an excuse for not displaying good manners when shown some courtesy. A polite “thank you” does not require efforts of Herculian proportions!
It never ceases to amaze me that many people can “go off the deep end” over an absolute misdemeanour on the road and expend signficant amounts of energy reading the offender the “riot act” in triplicate, but a simple “thank you”, in many cases, seems to be just too much to ask for!
In the words of Michael Douglas from the movie “Falling Down” – “Can anyone see anything wrong with this picture?”.
I agree we all should practicce the wave here in NSW and why should it be confined to the country areas. Make someones day! GIVE A WAVE and say thanks.
To one of the first posters…..Erhmm…. I am a cyclist and only today on a 3 lane road a bus driver passed next to my bike with literally 30cm gap between the side of his bus and my bike. I couldn’t wave to him because I was too afraid to take my hand off the handlebars. On another occasion, when I was negotiating a roundabout, I tried to wave at a car… but all I heard was a screech of brakes before almost being run over. I believe I had the right of way. Anyway… the point is, I try to wave at friendly motorist, but most times I can only manage a nod with my head.
I try to do something courteous for another driver at least once every day. That’s my contribution towards making our roads a more pleasant place to be! And when the favour is returned the courtesy wave is mandatory!
It’s always nice to have acknowlegement when you let someone into the traffic. I like to give a friendly wave whenever I benefit from some driver’s courtesy. As a motorcyclist, I know it’s frequently a “them versus us” mentality. Anything I can do to humanise the relationship has got to be a plus.
Most people like to be acknowledged for doing something nice. Certainly roadrage is not the next step if one doesn’t get the CW but I always smile a bit when I do get “the wave” for letting another motorist into traffic or getting a wave from a contruction flag person etc. Thanks to NRMA for mentioning our site. We created it so people would know that there is still some courtesy out there on the roads.
As a pom the CW is part and parcel of English (and British) driving. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Aussie (or maybe Sydney) drivers. The CW is the exception rather than the norm as generally drivers here seem either much less aware of what’s happening around them on the road or just more selfish and ignorant…..which is a shame for those polite and good road users.
It`s a sign of being polite. It is related to some of the old fashion values, my parents and grand parents taught me. It costs nothing but is invaluable. It extends your consideration and should be encouraged
In Japan they have a different version of the courtesy wave… if somebody lets you in or lets you merge you can flash your hazard lights once or twice to signal your thanks. It is a really nice way to communicate with drivers around you!