New road courtesy code

-Chris-

http://www.rte.ie/motors/2010/0330/passiton.html

Semperit and Maxol have teamed up in a bid to make driving easier and safer for everyone by launching a new guide that encourages motorists to be nicer to one another.
Entitled 'Pass It On', the guide highlights 10 simple ways in which drivers can show more courtesy and understanding towards other road users - in the hope that they will then pass on the good deed to someone else.
Some of the ways motorists can 'pass it on' include:

Giving way to other drivers in traffic.

Leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front.

Always saying 'thanks' if someone does you a good turn.

Being thoughtful about how and where you park.

Being extra patient around learner-drivers.
"There's a lot of stress on the roads of Ireland, and of course a lot of that stress is caused by things we can't change like heavy traffic and road works," said Paddy Murphy of Semperit Ireland.
"But one thing we can do to ease the tension is simply be more considerate to each other..."
"In launching this guide, we'd love every motorist in Ireland to give it a try - do someone a good turn today and maybe they'll pass it on," he added.
Brian Donaldson of Maxol said the Road Courtesy Code was an opportunity to "restore good manners" to our roads.
"These are very simple ideas but they can make a big difference. For instance, if you let someone out in front of you and they don't raise a hand to say 'thanks', it's annoying. You think, 'I won't do that again' and suddenly you're thinking negatively. That doesn't help anyone," he said.
Supported by a forecourt poster campaign, the 'Pass It On' courtesy code booklet is available from Maxol fuel outlets and Semperit tyre dealers nationwide or can be downloaded from: www.semperit.com or www.maxol.ie.

http://www.maxol.ie/images/stories/maxol_semperit_courtesy_code.pdf

What do you think?

Berty

P*ssing into the wind.

But Good Luck to them because it is something more Irish drivers could learn.

Nice bit of joint advertising for them though.

vectra

Well out of those BOLD Pointers


Giving way to other drivers in traffic. <<< I often think I am the only person in my town that does this.

Leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front. << Depends

Always saying 'thanks' if someone does you a good turn. << Always say thanks when someone lets me out but rarely get thanked in point one above.:o

Being thoughtful about how and where you park. << I make it a rule to park correctly and parked where I should.

Being extra patient around learner-drivers.<< 110% yes. after all.. we all had to learn sometime and it is harder these days with the .. "Impatient Drivers"

BrianD3

Doing someone a good turn? Everyday I see good samaritans driving in a "courteous" way which causes confusion, danger and traffic congestion.

As for drivers failing to thank those who show courtesy - if I let someone out of a side road I don't particularly care if they wave at me or not. But what will annoy me is if they proceed to dawdle in front of me or if they double park and block me after I've let them out :mad: This has happened enough times and cost me enough time that I now rarely let anyone out.

ottostreet

women never thank me when i let them out or cross the road.

men generally do though. if maxol can solve this, i will view this campaign as a success!

squod

Love the idea. Be even better if everyone else ****ed off for a while. Or even just learned how to drive on a motorway.

bazz26

Most drivers haven't got to grips with the old one yet.

-Corkie-

I always thank people for leaving me off etc but rarley get thanked especially from women.

Matt Simis

ottostreet wrote: »

women never thank me when i let them out or cross the road.

men generally do though. if maxol can solve this, i will view this campaign as a success!

Was just saying that to my girlfriend too, it's weird but true.

_Kaiser_

Good idea in principle, but like the roundabouts ad, I dunno how effective it'll be.

I always "thank" someone if they do me a turn but it's generally only truckers that will say "you're welcome" in return. Women never say thanks, but then nor do they normally let you out or whatever in the first place.

Equally if I'm approaching a spot that I know it can be tough to get in/out of and it's safe to do so, I'll slow and flash to let whoever it is in/out - but again I find this is rarely returned. Another thing with this one is people who'll sit for 5 minutes trying to turn right, rather than go left and use the roundabout 100m away? :rolleyes:

Atomic Pineapple

I have to say women usually say thanks to me when I let them out, certainly as much as men do. I have never noticed more women failing to say thanks than men.

I tend to do all of the above in the "guide" anyway.

Most of it is common sense like if there's no traffic behind me there's no point in stopping to let someone out as they can get out behind me anyway and if traffic is moving slowly anyway you might as well let someone into the procession.

Alanstrainor

-Chris- wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/motors/2010/0330/passiton.html




http://www.maxol.ie/images/stories/maxol_semperit_courtesy_code.pdf

What do you think?

I can't really say i'm against it tbh. I mean it's mostly common sense. I do have a problem with someone who goes out of their way to "Do someone a
good turn", and makes an ordinary situation into a potentially dangerous one to try and "help" someone else.

slimjimmc

SARASON wrote: »

I always thank people for leaving me off etc but rarley get thanked especially from women.

It's difficult to wave when you're gripping the steering wheel as if you're hanging off a cliff .

I usually wave when someone is curteous to me, I don't get involved in all that hazards and headlight flashing malarky. I don't flash anyone to let them know I'm yielding because I don't want them assuming it's safe. I prefer to give them room to make up their own mind if it's safe or not.
Personally I'm not bothered if someone doesn't acknowledge what I've done for them, consideration for other road users is (read: should be) normal part of driving and makes things more relaxed. Though I have to admit it is nice when they do.

colm_mcm

Wow. lessons on how to be a nice person from an oil company....

ninty9er

vectra wrote: »

Being extra patient around learner-drivers.<< 110% yes. after all.. we all had to learn sometime and it is harder these days with the .. "Impatient Drivers"

Only if they're accompanied;)

Hal1

A bit of courtesy on the roads costs nothing.

PCPhoto

Giving way to other drivers in traffic. .....not even sure I understand this, does it mean allowing a parked person out into traffic ? or facilitating someone change lanes in traffic - I have some issues with these !!! .... some people drive up the "inside" in a lane which only turns left and then indicate right at the last second and expect someone to let them in....I have a problem with this, but for "normal" and "nice" drivers, will occasionally let someone out of a parking space and/or change lanes - but I get irritated when someone does it in front of me (and the person takes an age to get out of the parking space)

Leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front. ..... always

Always saying 'thanks' if someone does you a good turn. ..... no problem

Being thoughtful about how and where you park. .... I wont ever park in a disabled bay or double park...but will park on double yellows - if I deem it suitable/safe to do so.

Being extra patient around learner-drivers. - the missus is a learner car driver and a full licenced biker .... so I've become extra vigilant for those on the roads.

Steve

-Chris- wrote: »

Semperit and Maxol have teamed up in a bid to make driving easier and safer for everyone by launching a new guide that encourages motorists to be nicer to one another.

What do you think?

The problem as I see it is anyone who actually cares about driving skills and thinks about how they drive will already know this.

The others will remain oblivious to the fact that there are 'rules' and a code of conduct and will keep their focus on texting their friend on the motorway whilst holding everyone up in the right hand lane.

Does anyone really think they're going to take enough time out of their super important day to read a pamphlet when they can't even be ar$ed to look in their rear view mirror and realise they're causing a rolling roadblock?

It's a well intentioned idea, I'll give it that. It just seems to me to be something dreamed up by a PR person trying to justify their job by jumping on the PC bandwagon and using it as an advertising tool.