To think that other drivers who don't acknowledge you when you let them pass or out of junctions are just rude, ignorant twats?

[NeonMuffin]

I was always taught by my driving instructor that when out driving if someone lets you pass or let's you out of a junction when they don't have to then its common courtesy to wave, smile, nod your head or if dark flash your lights to thank them.

I've always done this and to be fair most drivers do acknowledge you when you let them pass. So it really pisses me off when they don't. Just now I was driving into my street, it's a tight corner with cars parked either side and as I turned in another car was driving towards me driven by an older looking lady. Obviously due to cars being parked there was no where for her to pull into and it was quite obvious that she had no intention of reversing to allow me to drive onto the street despite it being my right of way. So to avoid a stalemate I reversed back onto the main road, something which is obviously quite dangerous and possibly illegal. She then drove on and completely blanked me, no smile, so wave no nod, nothing.

I didn't have to reverse to allow her to come through, it was my right of way after all. I could have been really awkward and refused to budge making her reverse back down the street but I didn't. An acknowledgment would have been nice, to me it's the driving equivalent of not saying please or thank you in a shop or when someone holds a door open for you.

Why are some people such rude, ignorant cunts? It really, really pisses me off for some reason?

[lizzypuffs]

YDNBU. This is my pet hate and perhaps it's the area I live in but I regularly end up fuming at people's rudeness. It costs nothing to be polite and nod or smile thanks.

[SauvignonBlanche]

How does it blind you?

OP said or if dark flash your lights to thank them therefore,your lights are already on and flashing someon at main beam,at close quarters,will adversely affect their vision.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Yanbu.

I've never had my eyes adversely affected by someone flashing a thank you at night either

[2tiredtocare]

It's very odd Alisvolatpropiis

[alemci]

me neither. works fine

[SauvignonBlanche]

Try opening your eyes?
Seriously though, people with cataracts, for example can be affected by this, just because it doesn't bother you, it does not mean others are not affected.

[2tiredtocare]

But if your lights are on they are already 'searing into other drivers eyeballs' I am speaking from experience when I say it doesn't blind me and I don't have a special pair of night driving eyes

[2tiredtocare]

I'd hope someone with bad cataracts wasn't driving at night

[SauvignonBlanche]

DH's ophthalmologist says he is safe to drive at night 2tiredtocare or see anyone else's viewpoint, following hs cataract repair, maybe you know better. He is, however momentarily blinded if some fucker flashes him with main beam.

See UK government guidance.

[mercibucket]

to the poster who stopped when reversing onto a road - well done. you have to do this. it is part of safe driving. it is not you doing someone a favour (shudder)

light flashing - obv this depends on distance between cars. don't do it if you are right in front of the car. instead turn lights off and on for the same effect

op. dont reverse onto a main road. make little old ladies drive safely and legally. plus you get to laugh at their crap reversing skills

we are mostly polite round here. ime it is directly related to how much of a reputation for violence an area has. working class northern town - very polite. middle class southern town - drive like twats. its all down to the expectation the other driver will hunt you down and batter you

[mercibucket]

the exception to this rule is all of south yorkshire

[sonlypuppyfat]

If I ruled the world not nodding or smiling would be a hanging offence.

[2tiredtocare]

He better not do anything worthy of thanks then no fucker will flash him

[SauvignonBlanche]

The sad thing is, he has started being less courteous at night, we live in a place where there is a lot of too-ing and fro-ing and whilst happily gives way in the day, and always acknowledges others,he is put off doing so at night for fear that some ignorant fucker will flash their main beam right in his face.
It didn't hurt my eyes when I was 20, it does now.

[2tiredtocare]

That sounds like the best idea if being flashed thanks is dangerous for him

[TSSDNCOP]

I think it's nice but not essential to give a wave if scene lets you through.

Might be the person coming through doesn't feel safe enough to take their hands off the wheel. I'd rather they kept them off than went all swervy.

The light flash at night dazzles me too. I have perfect eyesight. Because it dazzles me I'm concerned it would dazzle the driver I was thanking too, so I don't.

I'm amazed any instructor would actually teach a students to do anything other than keep their hands n the wheel or use their lights for their intended reason.

[silvermantella]

The non-acknowledgers who are so safety conscious they cannot for a second move their head an inch/change facial expression/move hands glued to steering wheel at 10 & 2- seriously, how do you manage with everyday driving distractions like changing the radio station/kids whining in the back/pulling sunscreen down?

Agree that if a split second nod/smile/hand half raised (not a semaphore two armed wave or grandiose genuflection as some people seem to be equating acknowledgement to) is too much for you then you probably shouldn't be on the road, if you can't react to more than one thing at once.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I'm sorry 2tired but I disagree, if more drivers realised that it is not wise to dazzle people at close quarters but used an alternative acknowledgement, then affected drivers would be confident to be courteous at night. This would surely make for happier and safer roads?

[SauvignonBlanche]

I don't need to take my hand off the wheel to acknowledge others, I agree with the above, a "grandiose genuflection" is not required.

[2tiredtocare]

I dont think there is an alternative way of thanking at night time as people cant see a acknowledging wave. People flash a thanks so they are not thought of as rude so you cant do right really as either way someone is going to call you an ignorant fucker aren't they

[SauvignonBlanche]

I wouldn't, at close quarters a wave can be seen.

[SirChenjin]

not a semaphore two armed wave or grandiose genuflection as some people seem to be equating acknowledgement to

Love it - and spot on

[chinatown]

isthisactuallyfair

1. you do not have right of way when reversing into oncoming traffic, you are supposed to stop. you shouldn't expect thanks for following the highway code.
   
   
2. you should not be reversing out of your driveway in the first place.

[alemci]

also some people manage to be on mobile phones while driving through a gap as you have got out of the way sharpish but don't expect a thank you yet they feel safe to be on a handset and drive like an idiot

you can definitely make an acknowledgment at the wheel with 2 hands on it or just smile and mouth thanks if concerned.. Did this today.