Bringing The Thank You Wave to CA
May 14, 2005 – 4:41 pmThere are many differences between people in Texas and people in California. One such difference is the use of the “thank you” wave while driving one’s car. In Texas, people do this. In California, people don’t. I have made it my mission to bring the “thank you” wave to southern California, and I’m receiving mixed results.
Today was one of the more unique results I’ve received yet. I was driving south on Lake Avenue, and traffic was horrendous. There were at least fifteen cars or so in each of the two lanes waiting at each red light. An older woman with her son was waiting to pull out of a parking lot onto Lake. It was during a red light, so when the light turned green, I waited and motioned her to pull in front of me. She did, and then she gave me the most half-assed “thank you” wave I’ve seen. She throws up her limp wrist and fingers in front of the rear view mirror and then pulls her hand back very quickly.
Now, I don’t mean to nit pick here (well, yes, on second thought I do), but if you’re going to just show me a limp hand with fingers dangling in front of your rear view mirror, forget it. Either wave to me or don’t, but don’t insult me by feigning gratitude. That ain’t cool.
6 Responses to “Bringing The Thank You Wave to CA”
I’ll typically throw a thank you wave when someone lets me in, or it’s cousin the no problem wave when someone does something annoying (but not stupid) and gives me a sorry wave.
Mine’s not so much a wave, though; there’s no movement: just a hand raised palm toward the recipient with all five fingers mostly splayed.
It’s possible this woman has adapted a variant that allows her to maximize the time both hands on the wheel instead of just one. How old was she? She may not be as spry as she once was.
Or maybe she’s a jerk.
By MDA on May 14, 2005 at 5:29 pm
I think you should keep your poker face on while driving. No signals, no discernible reactions, and then BAM left turn. But some times you need to act like you’re gonna make a left turn and then not do it. That way they can’t tell when you’re bluffing.
By gv on May 14, 2005 at 8:20 pm
I’m right there with you, Jeff — if more people showed gratitude, other people might be more willing to let, say, people turning out of parking into the traffic. And everyone would win.
There are a few other useful signals that drivers in South Africa use. I’ve not seen them used here, so I don’t use them so as not to confuse people. A sample: “thank you” can also be indicated by flashing your hazard lights once or twice, and “it’s a pleasure” by flashing your main lights. So, for example, when on a one-lane long distance road with a wide shoulder, slower cars will often pull partially into the shoulder to help faster cars overtake them. The faster car would then flash hazards, and the slower flashes main lights. Everyone is happy. A second example is flashing your main lights as a “lighter” option to honking, say if someone isn’t noticing the lights have changed. Also, main lights can be flashed to say “go ahead”, if you’re letting someone pull into the road in front of you.
And a last one that’s probably more common further north, but is moving into SA: if you’re stuck behind a huge truck on a narrow road, it’s hard to see when you can overtake. So trucks will sometimes signal as though they’re turning into the road, to indicate to you that it’s safe to overtake — using the higher truck cockpit for longer sight range.
By Paul.za on May 14, 2005 at 8:49 pm
Oh, and gv: I’ve been suckered by someone pretending to turn left, but then doing a U-turn to the right. Though it cost the other guy’s insurance $3000 for the pleasure of the joke.
By Paul.za on May 14, 2005 at 8:50 pm
You’re right Mike about maybe trying to maximize her hand time on the steering wheel. She did not look very relaxed, to say the least. I’m not sure how old she was; probably between 55 and 60. Traffic was pretty bad. Nothing to put anyone in a good mood, that’s for sure.
Paul: wow. That’s some pretty impressive communication happening on the road. I’ve seen fluke occurrences of such things happening in the past. The only form I can specifically think of is the flashing of one’s brights to opposing traffic to let them know of a police officer waiting shortly up the road. That’s a big help.
By jjk on May 15, 2005 at 10:11 pm
Here in SW Virginia, it is a custom to wave at every car that passes you with sort of a lift of the index finger off of the steering wheel. Of course you have no clue as to who these people are, but you give them the acknowledgement anyway. Done mostly between men - I’ve noticed that when I do it to women, they typically ignore me. It’s become such a habit after living here for 9 years, that I tend to do it elsewhere with some very strange looks.
By Mark on May 16, 2005 at 7:52 am