Liz Henson asks whether road etiquette is a thing of the past and how we can bring it back starting with a simple wave

A small hand gesture to acknowledge someone did you a solid on the road can go a long way. But is it a dying institution? Liz Henson asks whether road etiquette is a thing of the past.

The humble wave whilst driving is a simple gesture of thanks and is not that hard to do but is it dying out?

It’s a small gesture that makes people feel good but, sadly, so many find it difficult to execute.

There are many ways to do it – Just one finger can do the job (not the middle one – that’s something else), or a full five fingers, if you’re feeling enthusiastic.

The humble wave whilst driving is not that hard to do. It generally involves nothing more than simply raising your fingers off the steering wheel.

But it’s an important, appreciated and free salute to an act of kindness on the road. Yet, there are quite a few Adelaide drivers who seem to have not received the memo.

So many times I’ve been driving along narrow suburban streets where there’s a gap only wide enough for one car to pass and I’ve stopped to let an oncoming motorist through and they just zip past sans the hand gesture.

And other times when I’ve let people into a busy lane ahead of me, they just squeeze on in without so much as a second glance.

Where is the courtesy wave? Please tell me it’s not a dying institution.

The wave is a basic common courtesy. Do these non-wavers also fail to say “please” and “thank you” to others as well?

Nobody is asking for a full curtsy or bow, or for anyone to post their gratitude on Facebook, but a quick hand gesture to acknowledge that somebody did you a solid is just the polite thing to do.

Some pedestrians are just as bad when it comes to road etiquette.

Only a few days ago I was driving in Henley Beach and came to a pedestrian crossing on Military Road, next to the Ramsgate Hotel, and a group of people just sauntered across the street at a glacial pace without even acknowledging that a car had stopped for them. The audacity.

Yes, pedestrians have right of way at pedestrian crossings, so drivers are not technically doing them a favour by pulling up to let them cross. However, when a checkout operator gives you your receipt, or a bartender hands you your wine, you still thank them. They’re doing what they’re being paid to do but it is still polite to say “thank you”. Or in the case of pedestrians, you give a little wave or a nod of the head.

Furthermore, it is also incumbent on all able-bodied pedestrians to make their way across the road quickly when a car has stopped for them. I myself do an awkward quasi run, which is probably more like an exaggerated walk, in an attempt to convey to the driver that I am indeed hauling ass.

It just shows a bit of appreciation. And a bit of appreciation goes a long way.

Disappointingly, the flagrant shunning of the unwritten “courtesy wave” rule seems to be becoming commonplace.

You can’t control what others do on the road – but you can control what you do.

Let’s bring back the wave in 2024.

If you’re one of those who doesn’t currently observe this great Aussie tradition, why not make it your New Year’s resolution to start? It’s easier than losing weight or saving up to buy an avocado. Just raise your hand at the appropriate time and voila – you’re doing it.