| These are tough questions for many drivers to | | | | consequences. Even on the best of road conditions, |
| answer, since driving etiquette is no longer universally | | | | having someone cut you off in traffic forces you to |
| taught within driver's education courses. While there | | | | make a split second decision and reaction to avert a |
| was a time when the basics of driving were Driving | | | | collision. By simply following the dictates of driving |
| etiquette often seems to be a quaint anachronism | | | | etiquette, we can all help to reduce the danger |
| from the past, as today's drivers seem more | | | | associated with being forced to make those decisions |
| interested in saving a precious few seconds of their | | | | on a consistent basis. |
| own time than in safely cooperating with the other | | | | Of course, driving encompasses far more than just |
| drivers with whom they share the road. But is driving | | | | cutting off or not cutting off another driver in traffic. |
| etiquette really a relic of days gone by and does being | | | | Such poor driving choices as failing to use turn signals, |
| cut off (or cutting someone else off) even qualify as | | | | tailgating, and drifting out of your own driving lane are |
| poor etiquette?considered to be almost as important | | | | also examples of poor driving etiquette that increase |
| as the laws and rules of the road, adherence to such | | | | the risk and irritation levels of other drivers on the road. |
| niceties as basic respect and common courtesy has | | | | Other common rude driving habits include slow speeds |
| given way to a more egocentric world view. Most | | | | when driving in a highway's left lane, refusing to allow |
| drivers seem to focus only on their own needs of the | | | | faster drivers to pass you, and a failure to dim your |
| moment and true driving etiquette really does seem to | | | | high beam lights when other cars are coming towards |
| be little understood. | | | | you. |
| To be honest, most drivers these days may not even | | | | Those examples of bad driving are, of course, just the |
| understand what driving is designed to do, or even | | | | tip of the iceberg. The reality is that anything you do |
| what behavior it requires. At its core, driving etiquette | | | | while driving that causes other drivers otherwise |
| encompasses all of the unwritten behavioral choices | | | | avoidable concern or danger can be classified as rude |
| that each of us should make to ensure an enjoyable | | | | driving. The problem is that, unlike poor table manners |
| and safe driving experience for all. Laws related to | | | | and other social etiquette, a failure to use proper driving |
| motor vehicle operation may have little to say about | | | | etiquette has potential consequences that extend |
| cutting off another driver in traffic, but that is hardly an | | | | beyond mere social embarrassment. When you are |
| excuse for the behavior. | | | | driving without regard for others, you are placing lives |
| Although most of us are guilty at one time or another | | | | at risk including your own. Because of that, there is |
| of careless driving choices, failure to abide by simple | | | | never a good time to cut off another driver. |
| driving etiquette can result in a variety of negative | | | | |