how do you say "I'm sorry!"

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meep

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Was reading the "nascar maneuver" thread and it occurred to me that i've been stumped here....

I drive defensively. My wife calls me a "laid back" driver. Basically I am a laid-back-for-mpg driver, but I know how to jump on it, heel-toe, drift... I just choose not to. I like being a good citizen on public roads.

And even I make mistakes. Don't see someone. Get distracted. Too tired. It's those moments when had I been going 5mph faster.... (so being laid back has its benefits!).

Ok, so let's say I just cut someone off or took their right-of-way for whatever reason-- misjudged it, didn't see them through my 9" thick A-pillar (do not like curtain airbags). And I want to tell them, "I'm sorry!!"

How do you communicate that? Wave? Mouth the words?

M
 
Roll down the window, say your really sorry and that you hope he never uses that finger in anger again.
 
I`ve had people do stuff like that to me. Sometime`s they`ll smile and wave. The fact that they acknowledge me lets me know they`re sorry,and it was an honest mistake. Makes all the difference in the world. I always do the same as well :^)
 
I try to make some 'pathetic, submissive' gesture, like hunch down a bit, put my hands up in an 'I surrender' gesture....

I agree, it would be really nice if there was auniversal "I'm sorry" gesture!
 
Unfornately, the "I'm sorry" gestures have almost always been confused with the "[censored] off" gestures. I've only one time tried rolling down my window to apologize, but ended up rolling it right back up after being immediately cutoff by a stream of profanity.
 
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Unfornately, the "I'm sorry" gestures have almost always been confused with the "[censored] off" gestures. I've only one time tried rolling down my window to apologize, but ended up rolling it right back up after being immediately cutoff by a stream of profanity.



people are so friggin uptight anymore! Especially in the NORTH EAST.
 
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i don't miss the NE road rage. life-threatening scary in rare moments when I was up there. Very quick to flare, from seemingly almost anyone.

Down here it's much less, but you do run into that occasional person who's just looking for a fight. Just as dangerous, just not as common. But there IS a lot of ego! How DARE you take my lane...

NE traffic knows how to merge and flow better, but might not have the manners I've seen here. OTOH, folks down here can take things more personally, like merging into traffic when they think you shouldn't (speed matched, no pedals needed).

I wish there was a universal "sorry" sign.
 
Originally Posted By: meep
i don't miss the NE road rage. life-threatening scary in rare moments when I was up there. Very quick to flare, from seemingly almost anyone.


The "North East" is pretty general. NYC isn't Boston isn't Hartford etc. For the most part, in the NYC area, just pay attention to driving and no one will bother you. Most folks around here are so used to driving in heavy traffic it really takes alot to phase them even if you cut them off or do something silly. At most a flip of the "bird" is all you're going to get. Massachusetts is a whole 'nother story-very psychotic divers

Originally Posted By: meep
Down here it's much less, but you do run into that occasional person who's just looking for a fight. Just as dangerous, just not as common. But there IS a lot of ego! How DARE you take my lane...

NE traffic knows how to merge and flow better, but might not have the manners I've seen here. OTOH, folks down here can take things more personally, like merging into traffic when they think you shouldn't (speed matched, no pedals needed).


Sounds like alot of "passive aggressive" stuff which really is aggravating and unnecessary.
 
Quote:
Point a finger at yourself and mouth "My Fault"

Slap yourself on the forehead in an exaggerated "duh" maneuver.


Yup, some gesture like the above or a combo thereof. I too drive very conservative yet I too can have a lapse or not see a vehicle coming behind the A-Pillar and cut someone off. It happens.

If the other person can see you try and look at them and mouth I am sorry and point to yourself. Make it clear you are apologizing not antagonizing. You can convey an apology by your movements and gestures.

I do not advice ignoring and refusing to look at the other driver as another said. That is usually the act of someone who did it purposely. Also, a half hearted waive basically means the same thing.
 
Originally Posted By: Drew2000
Originally Posted By: meep
i don't miss the NE road rage. life-threatening scary in rare moments when I was up there. Very quick to flare, from seemingly almost anyone.


The "North East" is pretty general. NYC isn't Boston isn't Hartford etc.


YEAH! What the heck grouping us all together like that.
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It all depends on rural vs urban too. The closer you get to any city be it in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, whatever the worse the drivers around you will be. Being a crazy driver doesn't mean it is road rage. I definitely have not seen more road rage here than elsewhere be it rural or urabn.

There are some very scary drivers in the Northeast for sure but I have seen some just as bad in other areas of the country as well. With that said Boston-MA , NYC-NY, and Hartford-CT are some of the scariest cities and areas to drive in and near I have EVER driven in/near. I was pretty freaked out on Long Island in NY as well trying to get in and then back off over the bridges as well. Some plain crazy folks out there.
 
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sorry (no pun!). not meaning to lump everyone into a generalization. I spent a lot of time around DC, No. VA, Baltimore... technically not even NE, more like mid-atlantic.

Agreed- it follows more of the congestion level than a specific area.

I like the self-point idea, unless it's read as, "that was mine!" I've tried the window-down wave, last time it happened. at least tried to show I was going out of my way to acknowledge.

sometimes it doesn't matter what you do--- if they're that mad. .

--and not to make it sound like I'm some apologetic weenie, either... earlier thread just got me to thinking... I appreciate polite drivers.

M
 
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I have been the recipient of many bad driving errors.
The 'sorry' gestures help.

I still find myself thinking, "Get a car you can see out of and drive properly. Get off your cell phone." Etc..
Drivable living rooms are partly to blame, also.
 
A wave of the hand is usually good enough. I really appreciate that when someone pulls a bonehead move on me if they at least acknowledge it.

As for the person who said "stare straight ahead..." NOTHING makes my blood boil more than to have someone do something stupid too me and then have the unmitigated gall to act like nothing happened. That's the absolute WORST thing to do, at least when I'm on the receiving end. Failing to acknowledge fault makes me want to get under 'em, get 'em loose and put 'em in the wall, to quote Jeff Foxworthy. I doubt that any polite gesture would be interpreted the wrong way.
 
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