Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

Leading Etiquette Expert and Modern Manners Authority Diane Gottsman’s official blog, with Business Etiquette, University Etiquette, Social Media Etiquette, Dining Etiquette and more.

Memorial Day Driving Etiquette for Drivers and Passengers

21 May 2014 By: Diane Gottsman

Memorial Day Driving Etiquette for Drivers and Passengers by Diane Gottsman Etiquette Expert and Modern Manners Authority

Drive safe this Memorial Day Weekend!

People will be gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend in a few days, and many will either be behind the wheel of a car, or a passenger along for the ride. It sounds like fun when planning a “road trip,” but a drive down the highway can quickly turn into a frustrating experience. Expedia.com released results of a 2014 Road Rage Report, identifying behaviors that are most likely to elicit road rage.

According to John Morrey, Vice President and General Manger of Expedia.com, “Expedia rents millions of cars to Americans, so we set out to learn what behaviors on the open road are most welcome, and what behaviors most aggravating. The rule, as with airplanes and hotels, is that shared spaces demand decorum and attentiveness.”

The top 5 offenses on the road are:

  1. The Texter (drivers who text, email or talk on a phone while driving): 69%
  2. The Tailgater (drivers who follow others far too closely): 60%
  3. The Multi-tasker (applying makeup, eating, reading, etc.): 54%
  4. The Drifter (either straddling two lanes or weaving between them): 43%
  5. The Crawler (driving well below the speed limit): 39%

Read the full article here.

Here are a few more behaviors that incite both drivers and passengers inside the vehicle:

  • The Two Footed Driver – The person who rides his brake while accelerating, blaming it on the fact he learned how to drive a standard transmission 30 years ago. It’s maddening to feel the back and forth jerk of the transmission.
  • The Wanderer – “That guy” (or girl, but usually a guy) who gets lost and refuses to use a GPS or stop to ask for directions. He would prefer to wander aimlessly for an extra hour or two…
  • The Photo Sharer – The passenger who decides it’s important to show the driver a picture of their new back yard furniture, funny video or latest Facebook post while the car is traveling at a high rate of speed on the highway. Even just a quick glance can cause an accident.
  • The Selfie Self-Impressed – The driver who insists on taking a picture of themselves while sitting at every light and stop sign between Oklahoma and New Jersey. Not to mention holding up the drive thru lane while they snap one last shot before paying for their fried chicken to go dinner.
  • The Sun Tanner – The driver who insists on opening the sun roof in the scorching heat, regardless of your request to turn on the A/C. You arrive with tangled hair and a  mouth full of gravel from the truck in front of you – okay, a slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

I could go on (and on), but I’d love to hear from you. What is your biggest passenger pet peeve? Post a comment on my Facebook page and tell me how you feel. Okay, let me mention one more…the passenger who dramatically holds their chest with one hand, braces the dashboard with the other hand, and slams on the imaginary brake with both feet at every curve in the road. Road trips are so much fun!

For more of my Memorial Day Driving Tips read my latest Huffington Post Travel blog.

Have a safe  and happy Memorial Day!

Signature

Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.