Let’s be wheely nice

Afew weeks ago, Karen Matthews wrote about the rather annoying occurrence about being left high and dry at the servo. The driver in front fills up, then goes in to pay, buy the paper, order and wait for a coffee, then returns to their car and proceeds to check emails or whatever before casually driving off, quite oblivious that you’ve been there all along, slowly steaming.

Or words to that effect. Patience is a virtue, but even that can at times can be sorely stretched.

Consideration for others – “do unto others …” – and basic driver courtesy is what it’s all about.

Well, my beloved and I have experienced some of this courtesy recently in, of all places, New Zealand.

Five days driving around the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula – highly recommended if you have a chance to journey over “The Ditch” – and the local drivers have been, almost without exception, courteous.

As a visitor, new to the often winding Coromandel coastal and mountain roads and soaking up everchanging stunning scenery, in the mirror we often found a local driver travelling behind.

“Tourist!” we could imagine them frustratingly exclaiming in the confines of their car.

But we didn’t hear that. Nor did they tailgate, flash headlights or make hand gestures.

No, they would just follow rather patiently behind.

Fortunately, Coromandel roads have reasonably frequent turn-out areas. And when we pulled over to let those behind pass, there was always a quick toot or hazard-light flash to say thanks.

A very nice gesture – simple to do, but shows appreciation.

Such very occasionally happens in Oz, but with nowhere near the consistency.

Likewise, on odd occasions in NZ when we were the vehicle behind – possibly tailing another tourist or a local not in a particular hurry – they’d pull over at the first reasonable opportunity.

We soon became proficient with our hazard lights.

Simple, courteous driving habits such as this – a culture really – can become infectious. I can recall many years ago the famous motoring writer Toby Hagon calling for courtesy lights to required as part of Australian vehicle design standards.

While this has not yet happened, the principle remains even more relevant today.

In the meantime, we in Geelong could lead the charge and proactively work on establishing such courtesies as our town’s motoring culture.

A quick wave of thanks as someone waits for their turn on the Queen’s Park Bridge is a great example. Or waiting for someone executing a parallel park, rather than driving around them. Or a quick hazard-light flash if a car pulls over on the Great Ocean Road.

Not only would such basic courtesies help reduce road tension, but they are also simply nice things to do.

Who knows, you could well brighten the day for someone who needs it.

And yes, I agree with Karen, please pull forward at the servo if you can.

Simple, courteous driving habits … can become infectious.