Dear Margar-etiquette,

I think I might have a slight case of road rage. Is there such a thing as driving etiquette?

Revved Up

Dear Revved,

Yes—driving etiquette absolutely exists! In fact, it’s one of the more critical areas where courtesy and consideration for others can quite literally save lives. Etiquette is how we interact with others, and the road is no exception. In this case, many of the guidelines we follow aren’t just social—they’re codified into law.

Now, you mentioned road rage. That’s a sign of feeling overwhelmed, disrespected, or unsafe on the road—and often, it’s triggered by other drivers ignoring basic etiquette. While you didn’t share your specific frustrations, I’ll start with one of mine: turn signals.

Turn signals are one of the simplest, most effective ways to communicate your intentions to others on the road. When drivers fail to use them, it creates confusion, slows down traffic flow, and can lead to serious accidents. Even if you think no one is around, there may be pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles you haven’t noticed—so it’s best to make signaling second nature.

Turn signals should be used when:

• Turning left or right at an intersection
  
• Changing lanes
  
• Passing another vehicle
  
• Entering a driveway or parking lot
  
• Merging onto a road or highway
  
• Pulling over or parallel parking
  
• Exiting a roundabout
  
• Preparing to pull in or back into a parking spot
  

Using your turn signal is a small act of consideration that helps everyone feel more confident and safe on the road. And when drivers respect each other, there’s a lot less to get angry about.

If we all adopted a little more courtesy behind the wheel, the roads—and our moods—would be much smoother.

Drive kindly,

Margar-etiquette

#LITA (Love Is The Answer)