Is the courteous thank you wave out the window?

The other day I was driving somewhere (don’t ask me where, probably hockey) and I let another car merge into my lane. I could have overtaken this person to be sure they’d have to take their place behind me, but I slowed down, knowing their lane was coming to an end, and made space for them. 

And you know what he did? Nothing. Merged into my lane like the space just miraculously appeared with no effort at all on my part. No wave, nothing. 

I’m not surprised. I don’t think people wave anymore. 

When I learned how to drive (just a few years back) it felt customary to give the person behind you a wave if they let you merge, or if they waved you through a Stop sign before them. It felt especially necessary if they flashed their high beams at you to keep you out of getting a speeding ticket, but no more. 

And what is the result of the lack of waving? The lack of wanting to create space for other people.

Maybe it’s because there are just more cars on the road and driving is more rushed and crowded, or maybe the world is just changing into a place where we consider other people less than before, but it feels like the common courtesy of a quick wave to the person behind you is a thing of the past. 

My own reaction to the lack of a wave  is usually pretty feisty, I’m sorry to say. I just did a really nice thing for this person and they can’t even be bothered to lift their hand for a simple, appreciative gesture? Rude. 

So should I stop letting people in? If they don’t appreciate my gesture, then why do it? 

I guess we never really know what people are going through. Maybe the driver is new, or nervous. Taking their hands off the wheel might feel scary. Maybe they really didn’t notice that I made space. OR maybe they really are a jerk. 

But do I want to let their jerkiness stop me  from letting someone in the next time the opportunity presents itself? I hope not. That might end up making me the jerk.

The only thing you can control is yourself. Your choices, your reactions, and your behaviour. 

I could let myself get worked up about that persons’ lack of road courtesy, which sometimes I do (probably more than I care to admit). In fact, there are a lot of things I could do to show my dissatisfaction, but I try to choose the high road, pun very much intended. If there really is a lack of courtesy in the world these days I can either add to it or I can help to counter it by letting people in my lane anyways and waving at the person who lets me in. 

Do you find that people are forgoing the “thankyou” wave or is it just me? Maybe I need to let people into my lane more often to get a better sample size.  Let me know in the comments! 

Alex <3