Bring back the wave

Hi John

I still see a fair few people wave - it's just that now a days they are trying to be more economical with their effort and only use one of their fingers.

But seriously, I agree - it seems to be a thing of the past when you are close around town but a lot of "real country people" or travellers will give you a wave.

Cheers

Anthony

Hear hear mate, I've taken to converting the wave to something else if they don't wave back, after they've gone past of course! And only if the wife isn't watching!

We have hired a caravan for Easter for the last few years. Getting used to the waving again was the biggest change I had to make to my driving style haha.

John,

All this waving might be alright in the bush but since reading your post I have been driving the Hume freeway and I now have a dreadful dose of RSI. Nobody waved back that I noticed but at a terminal speed of 220kmh its hard to tell. I'm thinking of getting a plastic hand and sticking it on the windscreen. Hope this helps your cause !!

My approach is to give a wave which usually is just a couple of fingers off the wheel. No not with the back of the hand towards the oncoming car. I don't bother looking to see if they waved back. I just keep my eyes on the road ahead. This has 2 benefits. Firstly it keeps my eyes concentrating on the road ahead. Secondly I don't get all bent out of shape if the other guy/gal doesn't wave back.

Simples (;-))

Cheers
Pop

Hi John,
I think there are a few different ways to wave......
(1) the tree in the wind.......all 4 fingers and thumb moving side to side
(2) the tree....... all 4 fingers and thumb still
(3) the branch......a couple of fingers just raised
(4) the twig......one finger off the wheel
(5) the bird......one finger out the window.... what you give when you don't get one of the other 4
Cheers Andy

Hearing you John. I made a few observations on a trip back in 2005. Here they are;

1. The “Peace Man”; Left hand at 12 o’clock, index and middle finger raised in the classic sign of the 60’s.
2. The “Cockatoo“; Left hand at 1 or 2 o’clock on the wheel, thumb remains and four fingers move up and spread to the left.
3. The “Dicky bird“; One for true cricket lovers. Right hand up with fingers clenched and the index straight up. Slight movement forwards towards windscreen as if answering that age old question “ow-iz-ee?”.
4. The “Goal“; Hands in the classic 10 and 2 position on the wheel, both index fingers rocket upwards at the same time as if Sav Rocca has just threaded a beauty through the eye of a needle from 65 meters out.
5. The “Stop!”; Right hand up in front with palms out towards oncoming driver.
6. “The Howe”; (Refer Amerindian custom - F Troop etc) Left hand gesture. Elbow stays to rear and in middle of seats, hand up vertically with palm exposed and all digits extended together.
7 “The Frank“; My personal favourite and named after Cousin Frank who’s to tight to waste much energy. Left or right hand at 12 on the wheel, index finger only moves slightly up. At least it’s a gesture of acknowledgement, no matter how small.
8. “The Cowboy”; Index and middle fingers outwards like you’re playing shoot-em-ups.
9. “The Pope”.Hand forward palm outwards. Thumb out and index and middle fingers straight up. Ring and little finger bent inwards to palm. Also more effective if you make the sign of the cross as you pass vehicle!

In a blog here;Heading up to the Cooper 2005.

Cheers Mick

I don't like indiscriminate waving, it comes across as insincere. A wave should mean something and be reserved for special occasions. There are too many cars out there these days meaning the pressure to wave is too high and intrudes on my day dreaming behind the wheel. I think that waves should only occur between those with the same model car in the case of popular brands like Toyotas, or the same brand of car for the less popular makes. Land Rover drivers tend to wave to each other even in the city, especially Defender drivers. They usually meet for a chat while the car is getting fixed at the mechanics once a month anyway.

Too many people in their own world and in too much of a hurry to even acknowledge anyone else is on the planet. Unless of course they want something from them. "Friends" on facebook - what a joke!

It reminds me of walking down a George Street in Sydney (sorry Melbourne but I haven't been into the city for decades.

Wave and they think that your off your rocker, try to be friendly and they avoid you, but worst of all smile and they lock you up.

I basically gave up waving on anything but dirt roads. But I will always respond and add a smile to boot.

It's not worth giving anything negative like suggested above.

Phil

May be a state thing. Only ever saw any kind of acknowledgement in Vic in the remotest areas. SA country it happens and is common in desert areas.

Motorbike riders commonly do it in Vic country but not cruiser/Harley riders. Go figure.

Well here you go, yesterday I got pulled over for speeding in Jabiru I was doing 75 in a 60.
I got out of the car and the local copper asked me how I was going, I said a bit fast apparently to which we both laughed. He then asked me why and I said I have no excuse and he said fair enough, he then asked if I had my licence on me and I said no.
As I knew my licence number he did a licence and rego check and he put me on the breatho and all was good, I asked him how much was it going to cost me and his reply was it is just a warning this time because your're a good bloke.
I said how is that, to which his response was out of all the people in town and all the visitors we have you are the only person that gives us a wave every time you drive by.
Guess what I did this morning as they drove past lol, so yes it pays to be nice.

Near Hyden (WA) there are roadside signs 'wave to say goodday'. I always wave on country roads - cars trucks 4WDs -the lot!