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No part of our culture seems to be untouched when it comes to changes in etiquette, general kindness and compassion. Including driving.
Research doesn't show that people are worse drivers. It does indicate, though, that driving culture has changed. And it shows up many times when I'm on the road. Even on short trips to run errands or head to the gym.
The experience that drove (ha-ha, or groan) me to writing about this was after following an SUV through several turns. The driver didn't use a turn signal for a single turn. Even when there were others that would have found value in the use of his or her turn signal. Although the lack of a turn signal only negatively impacted me once on the drive, it did highlight a common problem. Lack of driving etiquette. I'm sure other drivers would have appreciated a turn signal at every turn. Not using a turn signal is disrespectful to others on the road, pedestrians included.
This is one example of many over the last few years that have frustrated me when it comes to driving. The culture seems to be developing into an increasingly rude culture where people are so wrapped up in their own world that they forget others exist. Or maybe their self-awareness is so bad that they do not realize how their driving decisions and actions impact others. Or, perhaps, and I hope this is not true, they simply are out for themselves and don't care how they impact others.
One of my biggest driving pet peeves, and something I'm seeing increasingly on the road happens at turn lanes. Drivers often choose to enter a turn lane well before they need to or are supposed to. When there is a long line of vehicles waiting to go straight, and someone who wants to turn left pulls out of the line of waiting cars, and gets into the left turn lane, even when it isn't the right time to do so, it is rude and frustrating but also dangerous. How do they know that another vehicle, one waiting for the correct spot to enter the turn lane, isn't going to pull out in front of them?
Since I mentioned turn lanes, did you know that using a turn lane to merge into traffic is also illegal? And rude because it scares other drivers.
Another driving behavior I believe I see more of is cutting through parking lots and other public and private spaces to get ahead of other vehicles on the road or to avoid red lights. It's rude to the property owners and other drivers, and it is unsafe.
Speaking of parking lots, can we also stop driving through parking lots opposite of the lanes in a way that makes zero sense and is dangerous?
I once started questioning the way I treated a two-way stop. It seems that there are as many ways to treat it as there are drivers. Some drivers go by the "first there, first to go" rule, while others seem to think the person who goes first is the one was waved on first by another. Still others seem to think it is a tough vehicle competition and go no matter what laws exist.
So, I looked it up.
I learned that most people treat two-way stops incorrectly. We can probably all agree that the traffic on the non-stopped road has the right-of-way, but then do you know what is supposed to happen next? I'll let you do your own research to see if you have been treating two-way stops correctly.
It seems like we recognize poor driving etiquette and unsafe driving practices, yet we are doing little to change our own behavior. Do we think we are better drivers and can get away with doing things that are rude or illegal? Do we lack such self-awareness that we cannot even see how we are contributing to the driving culture problem? Or, and I hope this isn't the truth, have we stopped caring about anyone but ourselves?
Many seem to have forgotten or dismissed driving etiquette and it is not only rude but also dangerous. I suspect there are readers thinking, "I am a good driver, the other drivers are the problem." And perhaps that is correct in some cases, but I would still encourage everyone to pay more attention to what you are contributing to the driving culture and decide if that's really what you wish to be contributing.
On an unrelated driving note, to the person with the skeleton strapped to the top of their white station wagon looking vehicle, I love it! It makes me smile every time I see it. In a world where driving culture is increasingly bad, this is a fun and welcome addition in my opinion!