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Speak Up

The cost of driving has skyrocketed in the past year and there seems to be no end in sight. I conserve gas as much as possible since driving from Bayside to St. Andrews or St. Stephen costs twice what it did two years ago. The needle progresses a much shorter distance for the same $20 bill.

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As temperatures rise and people's pockets are lightened tempers can flare on the road. The basic rules of driving we all learned at a young age go a long way to ensure safety for all who enjoy our beautiful community.

You've heard the term "one good turn deserves another." That's also true when driving. Proper driving etiquette can be contagious. If you let someone into the traffic flow, they'll do the same for someone else down the road. Most people who let people in expect at least a thank-you wave, and are frustrated when they don't get one. A polite acknowledgement is often forgotten when a driver is in a hurry.

For a real twist on this, practise random acts of kindness. For example, on a toll highway pay your toll and tell the toll attendant you'd like to pay the toll for the next car as well. You will always get a smile and often that chain of kindness continues.

Allowing enough time to reach your destination makes you a safer and more courteous driver. Aggressive driving is dangerous and puts others in danger. People get nervous when a car cuts too close in front of them, especially without signaling and especially when there's an infant in the car. When you can see both headlights of the car you passed in the centre rear-view mirror, it's safe to pull back into the right lane, remembering to use your turn signal.

Even when there's no one else on the road, I use my turn signal automatically. It's a very good habit to have. Trying to cut corners to get through traffic faster doesn't save any time; it just gets you to the next red light a little sooner.

Driving within the speed limit seems like a thing of the past. I have noticed teenage girls are the group guiltiest of this, at least around here. They zoom down town streets with little regard that a toddler or stray animal might bolt into the path of their car. I remember watching one day as a girl ran over a cat. The cat was badly wounded and would eventually die. The girl was devastated. She was remorseful and in need of some serious consolation. What a terrible way to have to learn about the necessity of speed limits.

Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is another danger. This is not isolated to a single demographic group. Sadly, it covers everyone who has a license, even those below the legal drinking age. More times than not, one loses one's sense of speed when driving under the influence. Parents really need to teach their children that the dangers of this practice can have serious consequences such as a criminal record, loss of driver's licence and loss of respect from others and from oneself, not to mention serious injury. There was a party here recently following the senior prom. People from many local high schools came to a central private location where several sets of parents agreed to be responsible chaperones. All of the keys were collected so there would be no chance of driving under the influence. Those students who thought they'd beat the system by parking on the road were greeted with deflated tires (that were inflated the next morning). There were about 200 youth and there were no troublesome incidents.

Driving defensively is the best policy. In order to do that, your full attention must be on the road. Be totally aware of all the cars near you as well as the road conditions. You can't do this while adjusting the radio, chatting on cellphones (which is illegal in many areas for just that reason) or rummaging for a CD. I know this firsthand. I was driving on a ski trip one day with two passengers when I fumbled for a CD and hit a patch of black ice concealed under the snow. The Land Cruiser went into a spin, crashed into a rock and flipped. Through a miracle there were no injuries despite the fact the vehicle was totaled. Imagine what that outcome could have been.

Civility and good manners will never do us any harm, on or off the road. Driving is a privilege and one which we take for granted far too often. Be ever mindful of those around you. It may just save a life.

Jay Remer is certified by the Protocol School of Washington as a consultant for corporate etiquette and international protocol. He lives in St. Andrews. E-mail your etiquette questions to jay@etiquetteguy.com and visit his website at www.etiquetteguy.com.