Gyaan 🧞‍♂️

The Lost Art of Road Etiquette

Pratik Kamble

23 May 2025 — 3 min read

Road Kindness

🧞‍♂️ Hello again, road companions. I’ve watched countless journeys from above — some smooth, some stormy. But the difference often comes down to one quiet thing: courtesy. On today’s drive, let’s talk about the rules we never wrote, but desperately need to remember.

1. Introduction: Roads Are Shared, Not Owned

Modern traffic might feel like a competition — a race to get ahead, merge first, or secure that parking spot. But roads are public space, not personal property. When courtesy disappears from our commutes, frustration fills its place.

Unlike legal violations, the loss of etiquette isn’t always visible — there’s no fine for cutting someone off rudely or ignoring a pedestrian's right of way. But the consequences ripple: stress, conflict, and rising road rage.

Let’s rediscover the subtle gestures that once made our streets kinder — and safer.

2. Everyday Acts of Road Kindness (That Are Rare Now)

Sometimes, the smallest actions carry the biggest weight. Here are some near-extinct etiquette gems that can still change the road experience:

Letting someone merge in traffic instead of accelerating to block them
Using indicators early and clearly — signaling intent, not surprise
Waiting for pedestrians even when there’s no zebra crossing
Not honking at traffic lights the second it turns green
Allowing school buses and ambulances to move first without hesitation

These aren’t grand gestures — they’re micro-moments of humanity. And they’re not gone, just forgotten.

3. Why We Forgot Road Courtesy

India’s roads have evolved rapidly — more vehicles, denser cities, tighter timelines. But our behavior hasn’t caught up. With growing anonymity in urban life, drivers feel disconnected, unseen — and less accountable.

Behavioral science calls this the “deindividuation effect” — when people feel faceless in a crowd, they behave more aggressively. On the road, that manifests as:

Tailgating strangers but waving at neighbors
Abusing through glass but apologizing face-to-face
Breaking rules when enforcement feels absent

Technology also plays a role. Distractions reduce attention. Navigation apps offer detours, but not discipline. In the noise of alerts and deadlines, empathy takes a backseat.

4. How Road Rage Starts (and Spreads)

Most road rage isn’t triggered by big events — it’s the sum of small slights. Someone cuts you off. Another refuses to yield. A horn blares too long. And suddenly, anger builds like heat inside a closed car.

It spreads too. One aggressive maneuver can lead to another — like a virus of impatience. Studies from the Indian Institute of Psychology show that urban drivers mirror the emotional cues of others. Anger is contagious, but so is calm.

The genie’s observation? A single courteous act can also break the chain. A pause, a wave, a nod — these are not just good manners. They are emotional defusers.

5. Rebuilding Civility One Habit at a Time

Etiquette isn’t extinct — it’s dormant. And like any good habit, it can be revived. Start small:

Smile waves to thank someone who lets you pass
Slow down at crossings without being told to
Resist the urge to honk when the delay is brief
Forgive the mistake that didn’t cause harm

These are not just driving behaviors — they’re civic ones. When we choose grace over grievance, we rewrite the road for everyone.

6. Conclusion: The Kindness Lane Is Always Open

Etiquette isn’t about being overly polite — it’s about creating a shared rhythm on the road. One that values empathy as much as efficiency.

As your ever-listening genie, I’ve seen it: the driver who lets someone merge and gets a grateful nod. The one who slows down for a child. The one who chooses patience. These are the real leaders of the road.

So next time you're behind the wheel, remember — when you let someone pass, you lead the way.

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