Opus 2021-017: On the Street: Road Manners

The Interstate System has made travel much more comfortable.  Most drivers today are too young to remember what it was like driving across the country on two lane roads.  It was an adventure.

Although I don’t miss the adventure, I do miss the mind-set of the travelers that used to draw us together in a mystic bond.  One of the mysteries that held me in wonder was the way that truck drivers used to work together to speed everyone’s travel.  I never understood it, but my dad had it down.  Truckers had a code system with their lights which told people behind them when it was safe to pass the slower truck.  On an uphill, curving road this could be a lifesaver.  

There was also a courtesy that has largely disappeared.  When a truck was passing another truck the one being passed would flash his lights to show it was safe to return to the travel lane.  Then the truck that was pulling ahead would blink his light to say, “Thanks.”  The professionals would extend the courtesy to us common people in cars.

I saw little of this on my trip.  I only had one truck flash it was safe to pull over and one that blinked his lights in thanks.  It didn’t slow me down but it sure takes away from the spirit of the road.  It may not make much difference because if the governing elites have their way we won’t be doing much traveling in the future.  

Enjoy it while you can.

homo unius libri