Courtesy is civility and respect, if not kindness, that we show to those around us in everyday life. The same is true with driver courtesy, which carries the added importance of safety implications for all who are on the road, including drivers, passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and others.
Universal driver courtesy is an essential ingredient for safer and more pleasant driving experiences.
What is Driver Courtesy?
It can be thought of as a golden rule—treat other drivers and road users as you would like to be treated. The video tips presented below and at the right offer several do’s and don’ts of courteous driving.
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Curb Your Road Rage |
Don’t Block Driveways |
Don’t Tailgate! |
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Drive Right, Pass Left |
Focus On Driving |
Give Space |
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Merge Courteously |
No Rubbernecking |
Park Between the Lines |
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Pass with Purpose |
Scrape It Off |
Stay Out of Blind Spots |
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Stop for Emergency Vehicles |
Weave Baskets, Not Lanes |
Yield Right |
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Be a Courteous Driver |
Dim Your Headlights |
Don’t be a Slowpoke |
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Don’t Block the Box |
Drive Steady, Drive Safe |
Heads up in Parking Lots |
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Large Trucks Need Space |
Let On-Ramp Traffic Merge |
Let the Train Win |
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Move Over for Emergency Vehicles |
Park Tight to the Curb |
Secure Your Stuff |
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Use Your Blinker |
Yield to Cars in a Roundabout |
Yield to Pedestrians |
You, no doubt, have other examples of driver courtesy. We’d love to hear them. Email us at nma@motorists.org.
About the National Motorists Association
The National Motorists Association, Inc., founded in 1982, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal Tax ID Number 39-1951971) consisting of an alliance of motorists joined together to protect drivers’ rights in the courts, on the streets, and in our vehicles. NMA members are active in all 50 states as well as in several provinces of Canada.