5 things you need to know about road etiquette

Whether it’s the increasing pressures of modern life or a simple case of more people waking up on the wrong side of the bed, road rage has been on the increase in recent years in Australia.

A 2021 survey revealed that more than 70 per cent of Australian drivers have had another driver shout, curse or make rude gestures at them, while another survey saw almost half of all respondents admitting to verbally abusive behaviour toward other road users.

It’s clear that good road manners need to make a comeback, so here’s a simple refresher on how to make your commute a more friendly experience.

1. How to help a truck overtake you

Need some tried-and-tested tips from real-life truckies? This Escape article

 features tips from Trev that are unbeatable and will change how you encounter trucks in future. In essence, if you’re travelling on a highway with no overtaking lane in sight and a truck on your tail, there is a technique you can use to help them pass safely. Start by putting your right blinker on to signal it’s safe for them to pass, then slow down a little as they begin to overtake you to make the process easier for them. If the truck is pulling multiple trailers, you can also flash your high beams once the trailers are all past you to let the truck driver know it’s safe to pull back in.

Tip: Be mindful of a truck’s blind spots, and be courteous about giving them space to turn a corner if doing so means they’re taking up more than one lane.

2. What to do when lanes are merging

Speeding up so another car is unable to merge into a lane is one of the most common forms of aggression on the road. If lanes are merging, remember to wait your turn to be let in, and be courteous in terms of letting a car in front of you. The unwritten rule is for every car to let in one car in front; this is colloquially referred to as ‘the zipper’. Pulling suddenly into lanes when there is not a safe amount of space is also a big, unsafe no-no.

3. Tailgating is illegal

Riding the tail of the car in front of you because you’re annoyed isn’t just dangerous, it’s also illegal. If you find yourself on the receiving end of a tailgater, don’t pump your brakes in retaliation. If you’re going under the speed limit you can accelerate to clear some distance, or simply pull over to the side of the road to let the tailgater pass.

4. Only use the right lane to overtake

Staying out of the right overtaking lane unless you’re actually overtaking is the most simple road etiquette rule there is. And did you know, it’s theoretically punishable by fines? Yep, keep left!

5. Treat cyclists with kindness

Remember that cyclists are legally permitted to use the road, too, so extend them the same courtesy you would another car. Sure, getting stuck behind a slew of cyclists when you’re in a hurry can be frustrating, but that’s no excuse to start acting aggressively toward them.