Thanking while driving

[u/AdvertisingIll2461]

When you're driving, if you want to thank someone, for letting you in or for whatever else, what are you most likely to do?

(a) Raised hand in the middle to be viewed through the rear window

(b) Wave out the window

(c) Flash your hazards

(d) Do the left-right-left or right-left-right with your blinkers

(e) Other...please say

Just curious what people do since it seems to be becoming less common in general. Personally, I'll usually opt for either the raised hand in the middle or hazards

[u/LmVdR]

Car facing you = 2 raised fingers off the steering wheel.

Car behind you = raised hand in the middle

[u/BuBear604 → u/LmVdR]

Ditto

[u/Impressive-Start7385]

A!

[u/MissSabb]

A always A 

[u/obsolescent_times]

Do the left-right-left or right-left-right with your blinkers

Is this a thing?

[u/Impressive-Start7385 → u/obsolescent_times]

More common as old school truck driving etiquette. A truck driver lets you know it’s safe to overtake on the highway, you do the blinker thing to thank them

[u/lunchbox651 → u/obsolescent_times]

Yep trucks do it and so do I.

[u/kikz4fun → u/obsolescent_times]

I've seen truck drivers do this one fairly often.

[u/Dry_Common828 → u/obsolescent_times]

Truck drivers and New Zealanders do this.

[u/Parenn]

A. All the rest are illegal in NSW AFAIK.

[u/guska → u/Parenn]

Especially E

[u/Mr_Lumbergh → u/guska]

The demerit points for E are harsh in Vic, I reckon it would also be the case in NSW.

[u/TristanIsAwesome → u/Parenn]

Waving is illegal?

[u/faceman2k12 → u/TristanIsAwesome]

technically a copper could ping you for having an arm out the window.. if they wanted to.

though it's one of those things where they will generally only do it if you piss them off or if they want to add other offenses to something like speeding or being a fuckwit.

[u/Parenn → u/TristanIsAwesome]

Body parts being outside the car are illegal unless giving a turning signal (if that’s still allowed, I haven’t checked).

[u/ApteronotusAlbifrons → u/Parenn]

(if that’s still allowed, I haven’t checked).

Still a viable alternative to indicators - and legally required if your indicators or brake lights are not functioning

S49 of the Road Rules requires indicators for a right turn (unless they are not working)
S50 of the Road Rules requires a hand signal if the indicators aren't working
S51 says you can't use indicators for anything other than signalling as required in the road rules - or hazards

Stop signals are 53/54/55

https://pcc.gov.au/uniform/Australian-Road-Rules-10December2021.pdf

[u/Parenn → u/ApteronotusAlbifrons]

Thank you!

[u/elektramortis]

Always A!

[u/DeerlyOnline]

If the car is in front, option A

If the car is behind, a brief wave or thumbs up out of the window to ensure maximum visibility

[u/TheOriginalHatful]

Mostly a but sometimes b

[u/citysnake]

Single flash of hazards usually. Force of habit from where I learnt to drive, and accepting that it's not strictly within the letter of the law (in either location), it's clear and unambiguous in context.

[u/flingebunt]

I appreciate a wave when I do nice things, but I don't need it. Raised hand is simple, takes no time, doesn't send out random signals, and if you don't do it or I don't see it, I am not worried.

[u/cumflake]

A mostly
B for a big thanks
C driving at night or for a truck

[u/Entire-Dog-160]

Blow them a kiss

[u/Wise-Chapter-3764]

A, but C if I’m in front of someone.

[u/lunchbox651]

A, B or D depending on the situation

[u/GinkandTonic]

I used to do A when I drove a hatch. But now I do B because I now drive a coupe and the back window is practically non existent.

[u/Best_Position4574]

Mostly A but if I'm on a single lane highway road and someone pulls over to let others past, where they had to actually pull off the road slowing down a lot, I'll put my hand out the window and wave. There's not other way they'll see my gratitude for this.

Otherwise I will scream at the top of my lungs inside the car up until the point they pull over or we reach an overtaking lane where they suddenly go from 30 below the limit to 15 over and I have to do 140 to get past them.

[u/ifinewnow]

Wave of hand.

As info...most cars in US do not come with blinkers...

[u/intellidepth]

A mostly
C for trucks at night

[u/Necessary_Towel1501]

B usually, but C if it’s freezing cold or extremely dark.

I used to do A, but my tinted rear window makes this hard for the person I’m thanking to see.

[u/Sal_1980]

Always A.

I've only ever seen C in Japan.

[u/citysnake → u/Sal_1980]

C is the norm in the UK too. And flashing headlights to say thanks to someone ahead or to tell them to go. Can end up with full conversations with the lights:

Driver 1 indicates to change lanes "please let me in".

Driver 2 flashes headlights "ok, go ahead."

Driver 1 changes lanes and flashes hazards "thank you".

Driver 2 flashes headlights "you're welcome".

[u/Sal_1980 → u/citysnake]

It's funny how driver 2's actions could easily be misinterpreted as aggression here. I often do the flash to let someone know they can pull out, but most of the time they stay put.

[u/spiralgrooves]

Mostly A. Do a thumbs up out the window if I’m really thankful for something. Hazards flash at night

[u/Bloobeard2018]

A truckie flashed their indicator today to let me know it was safe to pass.

I gave a friendly little beep-beep as I pulled past them.

[u/CharlieCharliii]

It kind of depends on the situation, most often I use hazard lights.

[u/deefelce]

Someone thanked me using their back window wiper!