Dear fellow road enthusiast,

Unlike you, I use my signal when I change lanes. I stop at red lights, and to the dismay of some of you behind me busy barreling toward victory, even some yellow ones. When you let me into your lane, I ALWAYS give you that little wave. Hell, sometimes my wave isn't even little. I even give real special heroes out there – the ones I definitely inconvenienced – the roll-down-my-window-with-thankful-hand-outstretched wave just to make sure you can see my appreciation. When it's dark, I wave my hand back and forth for several seconds so you can see multiple fingers, and not just that one finger, if you know what I mean. I am sincerely grateful, and so I take the two seconds to thank you. It's a tough highway out there, and you should all be acknowledged for your good deeds, even if a generation ago it wasn't considered a special extra effort, but just the right thing to do.

I don't ask for much. But would you mind so much giving ME that wave as well? I don't think I'm particularly heroic. Did my letting you into my lane get you home faster? Maybe yes. Maybe no. But it sure didn't hurt you at that moment. So why don't you drop the attitude, or pay two seconds of attention to the world around you, or ask your friend to wait a moment because you have to set your phone down for three seconds to wave thank you to me? Would this kill you? Are you getting home any faster by NOT waving to me?

By the way – I thought you were very clever about NOT signaling, and then sneaking over in front of me. But you know what – you were obvious, and I knew you couldn't pass up that opening. That's why I slowed down to give it to you – something YOU don't realize. So how about a fricken thank you. I've heard of budget cuts to driver's education, but could the parents out there at least add the polite thank you to THEIR curriculum?

Nobody cares anymore. And you know what? It's THIS kind of societal breakdown that grows into other things, and becomes huge NBA brawls or misguided wars in the Middle East. I'm not quite sure I'm kidding. Not waving thank you on the road is definitely a gateway faux-pas to more anti-social behavior and rudeness. And I just can't stand it anymore.

Manners. Jerry McGuire's fish had them. Can you at least try?

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Todd Flora
Defensive Driver

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