October 24, 2007

• Driving tips

  So one of the things we miss the most from Maui is the driving with Aloha – simply put it means driving with courtesy. Not to say that their aren’t idiots who tailgate, drive erratically while texting or talking on a cell, or those that will speed up and cut you off only to slow down. These drivers however all belong to a special club with limited members. These drivers belong to the OPAO – which you can read about HERE. For the most part though, Maui drivers tend to be polite, patient and courteous. For instance it was not uncommon for not one driver but two or three drivers to stop and let me turn across a busy street. Oncoming drivers will stop and let someone turn left in front of them – halting traffic to create an opening for the driver waiting to exit a side street or parking lot. If you turn your blinker on, someone will courteously wave you in. Merging is rarely a problem as even if one driver is a jerk, there are four or five non-jerky drivers to compensate. The accepted response to this common practice to shoot someone the shaka and carry on – you will get your chance to show your Aloha spirit later.

   

  

  This is not true in any way for Albuquerque. Matter of fact we have found that by being courteous and waving people through, we just piss people off. I’ve wondered about this. I generously stop and wave someone waiting to exit a parking lot on and they get livid. They yell and gesture rudely for me to go on – as if to say “leave me alone, I’m happy waiting here forever”.  Once I was following hubby home. A guy on a bicycle was stopped by a flashing bike crossing light.

   

  

  We stopped awaiting him, allowing him the crossing he requested by pushing the button that activates the flashing lights. Other motorists followed suit. Soon about 8 cars were waiting for this guy and he refused to cross. He kept shaking his head and glaring at us. No shaka, no “thanks” wave. Eventually he went, cussing us the entire way. For some time this was a mystery to me.

  Why would drivers refuse the opportunity to go? Why would pedestrians get angry when you stop and wave them on? Why on earth would anyone in their right mind prefer to wait for an opening instead of accepting the kindness of others?

  While my folks were here I think I answered at least one of these questions. I was discussing this with my dad and he stated when living in Tucson, he would never go, because he didn’t trust the idiots there. And this is one of those NO LIE situations – we were exiting Lowe’s while talking about this. We came to the large cris cross painted crosswalk and stopped for traffic. A mature lady in a big old boat slowed down and waved us on. I – being from Maui and used to this – started crossing. She speed up and missed hitting me by millimeters – I actually put up my hand and yelled Whoa! I was still at the beginning of the car! I practically ran to get across and she speed up again and almost clipped me as I exited the crosswalk.  Now I was irate. Why had she waved me on when she was planning to continue forward? Why bother to let me in front? Why not just go and leave me in safety?

  Now I understand. I understand why people get irate when they get waved on – they are going “yeah, right you crazy person, like I’m going to give you a chance to kill me, uh huh – forget it!”. I’m wondering if the car situation is the same thing. I haven’t experienced that yet, because frankly, no one has been kind of enough, or crazy enough, to let me in traffic. I think that if someone does, I may just make an ugly face and wave them on back.

   

  

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  Question of the day:

  Take a wave in or wait for traffic to clear?

  • 8:19 pm
  • 12 Comments