traffic calming etiquette....

[whitewash]

something ive often wondered. and now because my commute takes me through a traffic calmed (or traffic agrivating) area where the road is narrowed at a point and you either have priority or not. im not a bit stuck.

do you thank that cars that are waiting to allow you through when its your priority anyway? is it polite? is it necessary? will people think of me as weird for doing it.

I ask because I am unsure as to what is the polite and proper thing to do, i did air on the side that they didnt need a polite thank you wave unless they went out of the way and perhaps gave you clear warning that you could head through with a flash of the lights etc.


any ideas folks? i tend to be the type of driver who will always thank other road users when i drive along, unless of course you have no idea of how wide your vehicle is and try to drive me into the ditch (when i may give you a different sort of thank you)

 

[Tumbleweed.]

Definately wave in thanks.

They've introduced this on a stretch of road near me. You can hardly see to the end of it to discover if anything is coming and fustrated drivers, tired of waiting often go when it's not their priority - This gives my other half road rage and he goes at the same time driving straight down the middle towards them. There have been lots of complaints and it's going to cost approx £30,000 to change it to traffic lights. I'd say wave as some people will not stop even if it's your priority

 

[Nod]

A flash of lights isn't (or at least shouldn't be) an invitation for you to proceed, it's supposed to be a visual warning.

I always thank people who wait, even if it IS my right of way (equally, if I wait for someone and they don't thank me, I stick my tongue out at them!).

 

[Martyn...]

I always thank someone who has given way to me, even when I have right of way, it is polite and costs nothing.

 

[gramps]

I always thank someone who has given way to me, even when I have right of way, it is polite and costs nothing.

Absolutely, also encourages polite driving habits.

 

[paulyoung666]

Absolutely, also encourages polite driving habits.

+2

 

[MartynK]

Courtesy can also infuriate the oafs, which is quite good fun.

Be careful about people flashing their lights. It doesn't really matter what its supposed to mean if everyone has their own ideas about it. Around here it can mean anything from "Go ahead, I'll wait" to "Hi mate", "Speed trap" and "Don't even think about pulling out, I'm in a hurry....."

 

[exalto]

I behave as I would as a pedestrian. Manners cost nothing and I believe in karma - what goes around...

 

[birdy961]

+2

+3

Manners cost nothing

 

[niv2]

Be polite!

 

[seriousrikk]

I always thank folk who have given way
What does annoy me more than a little is how often people just blank me when I have right of way but have let them through anyway. Ignorant numpties.

 

[paulyoung666]

+3

Manners cost nothing

the problem is it seems to have been bred out of a lot of people :bang:

i was overtaking a long line of cars the other day with nothing coming towards until a car came out of a side road , the driver looked right but not left , should have seen the look on her face when she realised a 10 Ton bus was in her face , then she expected me to reverse out of the way

 

[inaneredstripe]

i drive a big truck, so i have priority.

 

[paulyoung666]

a question , at a x roads controlled by traffic lights with no yellow hatching in the middle , do vehicles that are both turning right ( i.e. heading towards each other ) pass nearside to nearside or offside to offside , answers on a postcard please

p.s. i will explain after a couple of people answer the question

 

[mj4456]

a question , at a x roads controlled by traffic lights with no yellow hatching in the middle , do vehicles that are both turning right ( i.e. heading towards each other ) pass nearside to nearside or offside to offside , answers on a postcard please

p.s. i will explain after a couple of people answer the question

I believe the correct way is offside to offside, yet I have yet to see this happen, people forget what is right after passing their test.
To the OP,I'd wave thanks if there is no "Priority" sign, as said before, manners cost nowt.

 

[Carl V]

a question , at a x roads controlled by traffic lights with no yellow hatching in the middle , do vehicles that are both turning right ( i.e. heading towards each other ) pass nearside to nearside or offside to offside , answers on a postcard please

p.s. i will explain after a couple of people answer the question

Well, it's been a while since I last read the Highway Code, but if I remember correctly it does state you can either turn right in front of one another or behind each other.

I think it would depend on the circumstances. If there were only the two of you wanting to turn, then I guess either way would work but if there were a long line of cars in front and behind you, all wanting to turn right, then it would be a case of some drivers having to leave a gap to let you through. In this instance I would turn in front of oncoming cars. To be fair, in all the years I've been driving I found this is how most drivers manoeuvre anyway.

 

[Matt]

I always wave, nothing more annoying than people who dont!

 

[paulyoung666]

I believe the correct way is offside to offside, yet I have yet to see this happen, people forget what is right after passing their test.
To the OP,I'd wave thanks if there is no "Priority" sign, as said before, manners cost nowt.

Well, it's been a while since I last read the Highway Code, but if I remember correctly it does state you can either turn right in front of one another or behind each other.

I think it would depend on the circumstances. If there were only the two of you wanting to turn, then I guess either way would work but if there were a long line of cars in front and behind you, all wanting to turn right, then it would be a case of some drivers having to leave a gap to let you through. In this instance I would turn in front of oncoming cars. To be fair, in all the years I've been driving I found this is how most drivers manoeuvre anyway.

good god almighty it would appear that i have met the only person on the road that has read the highway code , the only problem was he wanted to go offside to offside with a 40 foot long bus that was not even past the lights it had gone through :bonk:

 

[Carl V]

good god almighty it would appear that i have met the only person on the road that has read the highway code

It was a while back I have to admit, so I wasn't too sure if the rule had changed since then.

Going back to the original post, I always thank anyone who has given way to me regardless of priority. Some drivers will even acknowledge your thanks by waving back.

 

[paulyoung666]

It was a while back I have to admit, so I wasn't too sure if the rule had changed since then.

Going back to the original post, I always thank anyone who has given way to me regardless of priority. Some drivers will even acknowledge your thanks by waving back.

going to ask one of the instructors at work his take on it , should be interesting

 

[Trig's]

a question , at a x roads controlled by traffic lights with no yellow hatching in the middle , do vehicles that are both turning right ( i.e. heading towards each other ) pass nearside to nearside or offside to offside , answers on a postcard please

p.s. i will explain after a couple of people answer the question

Try doing that with a truck...... Then see the amount of cars that want to turn right when you was the 1st to want to go right..... They soon pile up down the OS of you - esp after they have just put the pedal to metal 100yards down the road in order to do it... :annoyed:

Me I would flash the car to turn right if I wanted to go right before I got to that point of where I wanted to turn right - as then I would block the cars from behind me coming up the inside

 

[TinaC]

a question , at a x roads controlled by traffic lights with no yellow hatching in the middle , do vehicles that are both turning right ( i.e. heading towards each other ) pass nearside to nearside or offside to offside , answers on a postcard please

p.s. i will explain after a couple of people answer the question

Should be offside to offside but...