Here’s Lizzie Post’s advice for dealing with six other sticky driving situations beyond whether to honk or not.
You and another driver are coming from opposite directions, and you both want the same parking spot. Who should get it?
This is really a case of first-come, first-serve. “If you both arrive at the exact same time, it comes down to who is more easily able to pull into the spot,” says Lizzie, who also advises bypassing the spot if you’re young and healthy since the other driver might not be so lucky.
What about when I arrive at a four-way stop as the same time as another driver?
While it’s acceptable for either driver to go first, Lizzie prefers letting the other car go first.
Must I always move to the left lane when someone is trying to merge onto the highway?
Lizzie says yes. “Move to the outer lane whenever it’s safe to do so,” she says. “The other driver is speeding up and might not be paying as much attention as you are.”
Must I stop to let a pedestrian jaywalk?
While it’s frustrating to stop, you still should. “People need to pay more attention to traffic than they do,” Lizzie says. “That said, let them go—but feel free to give them a glare.”
What about when everyone is patiently waiting to merge and some speed demon races to the front of line and tries to cut in. Am I justified in not letting him in?
“While you never have to let someone in, try to let them in,” says Lizzie. “They might be trying to get to a job interview, to see someone in the hospital or have another legitimate reason for being in rush. Sometimes I create a dramatic story to make the act easier.”
OK, so I let the speed demon cut in front of me and he doesn’t give me a wave. Is that a faux pas on his part?
Lizzie agrees it’s rude not to wave. “You definitely want to give someone a clear wave, if possible, to signal your thanks,” she says.
Read the full story from Erie Insurance: “Other Sticky Driving Situations“