THE PENULTIMATE DRIVING TIP
08 December 2006 - IAM Institute of Advanced Motorists

Produced during our 50th year

Driving Tip No. 49

Driving experiences can be less than positive sometimes. But one of the
things that makes even the most stressful journey more bearable is the
simple act of courtesy between road users.

Nowhere is this more apparent than at junctions. If it''s busy and you
are joining a queue of near stationary vehicles, none of whom are making
any progress on the main road, you are in a position to extend a little
courtesy.

Make an effort not to block that junction. Why not pull up a few feet
behind the car in front, in order that you can ''let out'' a driver trying
to emerge from a side turning?

If that driver is turning left, and joining the queue, that''s no real
hardship. And if they are turning right, they will bless you if you at
least allow them a little room to emerge and ''have a look''.

That said, just because you are letting that driver out, there''s no
guarantee that everybody will. So make a point (before you create that
gap) of checking your mirrors. For example, there may be a motorbike
''filtering'' at a reasonable speed approaching you down the outside. So
if your emerging vehicle assumes all is well your side, because you have
''let him out'', how do you know that he will spot the bike? He may well
be looking the other way in order that he can complete his right hand
manoeuvre and so be totally unaware of the bike coming towards him.

Sometimes courtesy is motivated by self interest. If you pull over
behind a parked car in order to let another road user pass at a ''pinch
point'' and you do so in good time, everybody benefits. Your positive
''body language'' makes it clear you have anticipated the blockage and
that you are letting the on coming vehicle past. They get through
quickly and you will be able to move on quickly as well. The alternative
is two moving vehicles moving very slowly, trying to squeeze parked past
cars, and worried about crunching their mirrors.

Remember a little courtesy can be catching. Make a point of thanking
other road users when they have done you a small favour.

www.iam.org.uk

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