Safe Speed Forums

I’ve been thinking about the way road safety has been changing over the last 30 odd years or so. Quite a few here will remember when motorists used to be courteous to each other. If a lorry was holding back traffic, they used to pull over and let the line of traffic past, in return the car drivers would give a thank you beep on the horn to acknowledge the fact, which I would imagine made the lorry driver feel better also. When you were driving down a narrow road and there were parked cars, it was courteous to stop if the car was on your side of the road, (and you gave a smile with it), and once again in return by doing so you where rewarded with a thank you hands up, a smile or a beep on the horn You also felt better for doing so.

I know our roads are heavily congested and more and more obstacles are being placed in our way, but I believe we should not let this stop us from being friendly towards each other and show some respect for each other. Let’s start being more courteous to one another, Let’s put the smile back into our lives, and not let it get us down. I believe in doing this we will once again start to make the world a better place to be in, the one I knew 30 – 40 years ago. Who knows, even the weather might start getting better.

Take care

Dixie

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

Move to my neck of the woods: 75% of people still drive like that.

Yep I must say, in my area politeness still exists, but not from everyone, and interestingly less in the summer when the flux of tourists 'invade'.
This is NOT to say all tourists do NOT thank people, just that more less polite people seem to be 'about'.

The increase in traffic can tend to show an intolerance of others, and so 'why bother' & less caring attitude to each other, prevails. Seems like too much effort. Interestingly when I have thanked others in busy areas, you sometimes, get a surprised response to an appreciative thankyou.
Public info films are good to remind and encourage people of achieve the right and expected good behaviours.
The Drivers, 'good behaviour guide' is ever more important, when people are stress and depressed.

When the Country is 'depressed' are more citizens depressed, and if so, how and is their driving effected?
Are they less tolerant?

Influences on Courtesy :
Traffic levels (esp summer)
Do less 'locals' effect the community or a few (care less (or more) for 'tourists'?)
Tolerance levels (esp busy themselves)
Delay annoyance, supercedes politeness
Fear of danger (invite trouble by 'stranger' connection?)
People see it as un-necessary or needed (?)

Advantages to Courtesy :
Makes people feel good and appreciated
Encourages good behaviour the next time
Encourages tolerance and patience
Encourages joint 'coping' strategies (e.g. with badly parked vehicles)

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.