Do you wave back when someone let's you change lanes in traffic? (Dallas: safe, land)

[jobert]

I've always regarded this as a cultural staple of Austin, and a foregone conclusion when driving: that when someone let's you over in traffic, you wave at them, they wave back. Even though I still wave at people (even when they try to cut me off) and always will, I'm seeing less reciprocation these days. Perhaps people are becoming apathetic, or newcomers aren't aware of this custom, or care about being simpatico with their fellow Austinites. My question - do you wave at people when they let you over in traffic?

[sinking]

Yes, I wave when someone makes an effort to let me into traffic.

I don't think Austin can claim this as an Austin thing.

[jobert]

Originally Posted by sinking

Yes, I wave when someone makes an effort to let me into traffic.

I don't think Austin can claim this as an Austin thing.

True on that count, but that type of etiquette has existed in Austin for a long time, and has been woven into the culture here. It's probably a "small town" thing and to a lesser extent a "Texas" thing. I never got waved at back in Dallas, though. I probably had more people switching lanes with no signal because they assumed I would try to cut them off if I knew otherwise.

[neddy]

I always wave and I think it is more of a Texas thing. In my adventures out of state not so much...

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by jobert

I've always regarded this as a cultural staple of Austin, and a foregone conclusion when driving: that when someone let's you over in traffic, you wave at them, they wave back. Even though I still wave at people (even when they try to cut me off) and always will, I'm seeing less reciprocation these days. Perhaps people are becoming apathetic, or newcomers aren't aware of this custom, or care about being simpatico with their fellow Austinites. My question - do you wave at people when they let you over in traffic?

Yes, I do and, like you, I even wave or blow a kiss to that idiot who just cut me off. I also wave at just about everyone I meet on a county road or other two lane.

As to why it's becoming less common? Maybe that's because Austin, along with the rest of Texas, is filling up with non-Texan's who bring their right or left coast attitudes with them. They haven't been here long enough to adopt our more genteel manners.

Be patient and teach them. They'll either start doing it themselves or go stark raving mad trying to figure why everyone keeps waving at them.

[hoffdano]

I do often. I like the gesture very much.

I also honk when people do stupid things.

[Lillibelle]

What do you do when you gesture to someone to let you in and they look at you and shake their head no? I had a woman do that a while back and I was so mad!! Yes, I see you, and no, I will not let you in even though you won't be able to get on Mopac now. Grrr.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by Lillibelle

What do you do when you gesture to someone to let you in and they look at you and shake their head no? I had a woman do that a while back and I was so mad!! Yes, I see you, and no, I will not let you in even though you won't be able to get on Mopac now. Grrr.

Keep in mind they may see an unsafe situation you don't. There have been several instances where someone has signaled for me to proceed but I or someone else would have been creamed. I also hate when someone else has the right of way but the want to be the nice guy and signal someone else to go. All this does is cause confusion and slows everyone down.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by Lillibelle

What do you do when you gesture to someone to let you in and they look at you and shake their head no? I had a woman do that a while back and I was so mad!! Yes, I see you, and no, I will not let you in even though you won't be able to get on Mopac now. Grrr.

Why does that make you angry? Because you didn't get what you wanted?

[umaboshi]

I'll have to second the notion that this isn't an austin only thing. Up (and over) gere in PDX, this waving is quite common. I'd also have to say that the left and right coasts are pretty wide swaths of land to lump into one bucket...