Older Customs of the Road
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It dawned on me the other day that many people have no clue about some old customs of the road.
It used to be when a driver signaled to merge to the next lane, many people would flash (on, off) their headlights to let the driver know that they were clear to merge over. It was most common place with big rig drivers yet many other drivers did it also.
When you drove down roads less traveled or smaller 2 lane (one lane each direction) roads, when a driver passed you from an on coming direction you might see them give you a "Hi" sign. Simply holding up an open hand or the fore finger pointing up, a way of acknowledging that they see you. When one travels down dirt roads this too is a common old timer custom. I personally find it a little silly that some clubs or drivers of particular vehicles (jeeps) think they created the "Hi" sign, when in fact it dates back to the days of the horse drawn wagons.
On the flip side I recently noticed a new sign, when there is a caravan traveling on dirt roads the first driver will often hold up a number of fingers noting how many vehicles in his or her party. The last car often holds up a hand in the shape of a zero to let you know that that vehicle is the last in that party.
When driving down those same roads mentioned previously, don't tailgate, if your in the lead and you have vehicles tailing you, pull off the to the shoulder to allow them to pass when it is safe to do so.
Don't be surprised to see a vehicle pull off on the shoulder of the road and travel a ways before making a turn. It is not only a way to turn safely off the highway or roadway, it also helps to prevent accidents. When I was being taught to drive by my step father, if the on-coming lane was clear for more than a mile and we were making a left turn, we often would drive on the opposing side of the road to make our left turn. Again preventing accidents and being courteous.
When traveling down dirt roads around rural homes, I was always taught to be polite and not tear up the roads for those who lived on then. Those people out in the middle of no-where depend and rely on the roads to be passable. My step dad always said, you never know, one of those residents lives may depend on that road being passable.
Another courtesy in more rural areas is never to move through a closed gate to enter the property. It is customary to honk 2 polite beeps and wait for the residents to come outside. The residents will do one of three things; 1) motion for you to enter. 2) approach the gate, opening it for you, or 3) they will simply approach the gate or fence and speak to you through it.
Having traveled many of these kinds of roads the majority of my life, I felt is was a good idea to pass on this little bit of old timer stuff to others.
Safe travels!
It used to be when a driver signaled to merge to the next lane, many people would flash (on, off) their headlights to let the driver know that they were clear to merge over. It was most common place with big rig drivers yet many other drivers did it also.
When you drove down roads less traveled or smaller 2 lane (one lane each direction) roads, when a driver passed you from an on coming direction you might see them give you a "Hi" sign. Simply holding up an open hand or the fore finger pointing up, a way of acknowledging that they see you. When one travels down dirt roads this too is a common old timer custom. I personally find it a little silly that some clubs or drivers of particular vehicles (jeeps) think they created the "Hi" sign, when in fact it dates back to the days of the horse drawn wagons.
On the flip side I recently noticed a new sign, when there is a caravan traveling on dirt roads the first driver will often hold up a number of fingers noting how many vehicles in his or her party. The last car often holds up a hand in the shape of a zero to let you know that that vehicle is the last in that party.
When driving down those same roads mentioned previously, don't tailgate, if your in the lead and you have vehicles tailing you, pull off the to the shoulder to allow them to pass when it is safe to do so.
Don't be surprised to see a vehicle pull off on the shoulder of the road and travel a ways before making a turn. It is not only a way to turn safely off the highway or roadway, it also helps to prevent accidents. When I was being taught to drive by my step father, if the on-coming lane was clear for more than a mile and we were making a left turn, we often would drive on the opposing side of the road to make our left turn. Again preventing accidents and being courteous.
When traveling down dirt roads around rural homes, I was always taught to be polite and not tear up the roads for those who lived on then. Those people out in the middle of no-where depend and rely on the roads to be passable. My step dad always said, you never know, one of those residents lives may depend on that road being passable.
Another courtesy in more rural areas is never to move through a closed gate to enter the property. It is customary to honk 2 polite beeps and wait for the residents to come outside. The residents will do one of three things; 1) motion for you to enter. 2) approach the gate, opening it for you, or 3) they will simply approach the gate or fence and speak to you through it.
Having traveled many of these kinds of roads the majority of my life, I felt is was a good idea to pass on this little bit of old timer stuff to others.
Safe travels!
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