How do you communicate "sorry, my bad" when you make a mistake while driving?

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• Crazyslinkz@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Hand up, and bow head.

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  • Zonetrooper@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This. It says, “I acknowledge you are upset, and accept blame.”

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    • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Instructions unclear. Ended up doing the wave (like you see at baseball stadiums) alone in a car.

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• MantisToboggon@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I have a huge purple dildo. I just start beating myself about the head and shoulders.

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  • UndulyUnruly@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    What about the “sorry, my bad” while driving though?

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    • actionjbone@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      You can do that at the same time as beating yourself with the purple dildo

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    • anton@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      It’s performative self-flagellation, same as you would do in any religious event or office setting. The pink dildo is just for better visibility.

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  • Rhoeri@piefed.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Otherwise known as a catholic penance.

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  • Akasazh@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Found the saints row player

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  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Mantis starts beating off with a purple dildo

    Me: “…the fuck is he doing?”

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• supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I think the fact that there isn’t a good way I think escalates a lot of otherwise defusable road rage situations.

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  • snooggums@piefed.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Many people who get angry at strangers easily see someone apologizing as legitimatizing their anger, and people not apologizing as not understanding they are wrong. I don’t think there is a good solution if people can’t just accept that other people make mistakes and move on without any needed follow up.

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    • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Hard disagree, everyday life is full of defused accidental escalations because pointless escalations benefit no one.

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  • FrChazzz@lemmus.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I live in Hawai’i and, as far as I can tell, we have far fewer road rage incidents than other parts of the US (but not zero). I honestly think a lot of it has to do with us having a third hand-gesture: the shaka (I mention this elsewhere in this discussion). The shaka is truly amazing. You give it when someone lets you in the lane AND you can give it when you mess up and everyone understands that it’s you admitting your mistake. Might even get a shaka in response for giving the penitential one. It’s awesome.

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    • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Telling people in New England to use the Shaka hand gesture is gonna end up a lot different.

      Best case scenario, they think it’s the “I love you” hand sign. 🤟

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• BenderRodriguez@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Sorry? Hell naw. Double down. Make it their fault. Get even more mad than them. Brandish your gun. Then brandish your second gun. Fire a warning shot towards their vehicle. Finish your beer in case you need to get out of the car. Challenge other driver to fisticuffs. Lose. Go home and explain to wife why you lost another fight. Get sad. Go to bar. Get really drunk. Pass out on stoop of the Wayne County Building. Miss work for the 3rd time this month. Get fired. Get kicked out of house by wife. Move into bachelor apartment. No artwork on walls. Only Kroger brand bread, condiments, and cheese slices in fridge. See kids every other weekend. Start going to AA meetings on a whim. Find new job. Hit the gym. Find new hobbies. Meet new girlfriend. Come to terms with faults and find peace through meditation and mindfulness. Experience growth. Drive to work one day. Accidentally cut a guy off…

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  • anomnom@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    The figure 8 of life

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• KumaLumaJuma@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Flash the hazards twice, also works as a thank you for letting me merge in or whatever, it’s pretty common in the UK.

  I have gone to using a single hazard flash when people are in front of me as well instead of flashing high beams(reserved as the head tap equivalent for cars) because I hate when people blind me at night trying to thank me… high beams are way brighter than they used to be.

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  • ExtremeUnicorn@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This is SO true. I let a few people pass at a narrowing in the evening and they sometimes thanked me by blinding me temporarily. Like, I appreciate the gratitude, but just don’t.

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• sik0fewl@piefed.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I usually just honk “SORRY” in Morse code.

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  • Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    … — .-. .-. -.-- for anyone who wants to try

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    • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      That’s an absurd amount if honking.

      Try and record it if you do.

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• Septimaeus@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Mount one of these in your rear window? Neon style LED wall art script saying “chill”

  Real answer: double tap a light (beams, brakes, or hazards) because most things you would say to them are two beat’s long:

  • “Thank you”
  • ”Sorry”
  • “My bad”
  • ”Go on”
  • ”Nice drift”
  • ”You drunk?”

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  • Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I once got an A on an anthropology paper by analyzing body language in vehicles and different driving cultures in different places.

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    • Septimaeus@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Rock on. Were there any instances of local parlance you found peculiar or surprising?

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  • SendMePhotos@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I remember reading a while back that the hazards twice = thank you.

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    • Septimaeus@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I’d certainly interpret it that way if it fit.

      The only issue I’d see with that convention is that in many scenarios in which you’d use it — other driver makes room for you to merge, brakes early to let you turn left, and so forth — you (should) already have half of the hazard lights actively repeating, which could muddle the message. But otherwise I like it.

      Another random convention I learned early on was rapid triple-tap beams (i.e., like a strobe) = “speed trap ahead”

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  • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I’ve mostly seen the double-flick of lights to mean either “Go ahead, make your move, I see you and I won’t hit you” (to pedestrians or someone waiting to turn into/out of a driveway in heavy traffic) or “turn on your lights you idiot, it’s pouring rain.” But it’s always heavy traffic in Southern California, and it never rains, but man, it pours.

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  • violetring@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    For me, I go with:

    One long honk : PAY ATTENTION! Right now to avoid an accident!

    One short honk: hey bud, not mad but the light changed, or similar. Also used when I see someone I know.

    Two short honks: did not respond to one short honk. Also used when I was the one to fuck up - accompanied by head nod/bow, arms up with hands upturned, mouthing “I’m sorry”, and/or similar gestures.

    Two long honks: you did something bad, like turning out in front of me with not enough room. I’m yelling about it!

    Combination of short and long honks: I’m pissed at what you just did. Mad enough that I want to shame you, at least enough to make your next several minutes awkward. Given the chance I’m flipping you off, or simply shaking my head in acknowledgment of your shame.

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  • fizzle@quokk.au ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    because most things I would say to them are two beats long

    LOL. Doesn’t that mean it’s completely ambiguous? There’s plenty of awful things you could say in 2 beats.

    I imagine that people flash twice because once could be a mistake, twice demonstrates intent. Three would make me wonder whether it’s an ongoing flashing light.

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    • Elgenzay@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I think generally one long flash is a negative acknowledgement or warning, 2 quick flashes is positive, and 3 or more is back to negative

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    • Septimaeus@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      LOL. Doesn’t that mean it’s completely ambiguous?

      Well granted, it’s high-context communication. But I’m willing to bet you’d know what I meant if you were trying to merge and I double-tapped lights.

      Three would make me wonder if it’s an ongoing flashing light.

      Yeah IME three is less general, usually reserved for a problem or need for caution, like if someone is driving at night with all their lights out or a visible chassis/drivetrain issue, or there’s a cop/wreck ahead.

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• hperrin@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Just hit their car slightly with yours. You know, a love tap, to show them love and appreciation. Then show them your extended middle finger, signifying that you are standing with them in solidarity of thinking you’ve made a mistake. If you have a weapon with you, you can hold it up and show them to indicate that you are aware you could be perceived as a threat, but are making the effort to indicate that you aren’t.

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• Aremel@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I flash my hazards for a sec. I also use that to say thank you.

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  • sem@piefed.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This is the only correct answer.

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  • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    No no no. First you do the walk like an egyptian dance. Then flash your hazzards. Then play peekaboo.

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  • illi@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I only ever used or interpreted this as a thank you. But in the end, if someone makes an error and then flashes a “thank you” at me I usually let it slide because at least they said thanks. So I guess it works.

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• tiramichu@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Here in the UK, turning on your hazards for a couple of flashes means either “Thank you” or “sorry” to the car following, depending on context.

  Someone let you merge in? "Thank you!*

  You cut someone off? “Sorry!”

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  • Zorg@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    In Sweden they blink left-right-left or right-left-right.

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    • tiramichu@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Same here in UK honestly - it’s that or the hazards, they both sebd the same message :)

      Probably down to whichever is easiest. I’ve personally observed that drivers of big trucks tend to do the indicator thing, while most people in cars do the hazards. Not sure if there’s a specific trucker reason for that divide!

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  • boonhet@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Same in Estonia, seems continent-wide basically.

    Truck gives you 2-3 flashes of the right (left in the UK I suppose) turn signal in the middle of the road, they want you to pass because the road’s clear and they don’t want a convoy forming behind them. So you pass and flash the hazards to thank them. Sometimes they’ll flash their brights as “you’re welcome” during daytime.

    We can be completely self-centered assholes on the road, but we keep our common courtesy.

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    • bitwolf@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      In America I do the turn signal hint as well. It seems no one gets the context, even when I can tell by their behavior (body language)?

      That they desperately want to pass, and I want them to pass before I do (left lane is open).

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  • theTarrasque@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Same in Germany! I mostly use it to signal „ thank you“ though. Usually the reply is flashing the high beams once very quickly.

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  • Underwaterbob@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Huh. Same in Korea. Which was odd to me when I moved here since I’m from Canada and it is not the practice there.

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    • tiramichu@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Weird. You’d think Canadians at least would have a way to say sorry ;P

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• Pacattack57@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Like this 🖕

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• joyjoy@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Can’t go wrong with the classic 🖕. 

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• slothrop@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I pretend to shoot myself in the temple.
  Then I put the gun back in the glove box.

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• noxypaws@pawb.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Image

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  • BreadOven@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Anyone can give someone the finger. But no one ever expects to get the toe.

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• Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I roll down the window and do the Sorry/ThankYou Wave. 👋

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  • dellish@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This. I will forgive most driving indiscretions if I see a wave/acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

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  • bstix@feddit.dk ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Remember to say toodle-oo like an old lady while waving.

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    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I am legitimately a little old lady.

      But if they can see my face I say “Sorry” or “Thank you” and make the appropriate grimace.

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• deranger@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Look ashamed and maybe do a single flash of my hazards.

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  • thermal_shock@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Hazards = boobs

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• ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  People will not think “oh, he just made a mistake, bless his soul”. Instead of thinking “fucking asshole” they will simply think “fucking idiot”. Just keep driving, focus and try to make less mistakes.

  One time a guy rear ended me (lightly, no damage) and when we got out he said “sorry, I started breaking but it was too late”. I just laughed at how silly it sounded. Like yeah, the whole point of breaking is to stop before you hit someone. I think “sorry, I’m a bad driver” would be more honest. Hey, maybe that’s a solution? Put a neon sign that says “shitty driver, sorry” in your back window and turn it on when you make mistakes.

  And don’t get me wrong, I know everyone makes mistakes. I just think "being sorry’ is simply another excuse. “It wasn’t on purpose so it’s fine”. It’s still not fine. If it’s happens rarely don’t worry and keep driving. If it happens often get some extra classes or stop driving.

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• ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Back of the hand high and visible through the rear window, fingers and thumb slightly apart to reduce the chances of them thinking your giving them the middle finger (or two fingers in the UK).

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• diabetic_porcupine@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Middle finger possibly brake check

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  • Leather@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Sounds like NE USA, but where is the swearing?

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• MrRandom@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  rais your hand?

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• MutantTailThing@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Honk louder to assert dominance.

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• bitjunkie@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  🚬😎🖕

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• rmuk@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I have a 52" screen mounted to the tailgate connected to a laptop on the passenger seat with a bunch of PowerPoints queued up.

  Sorry.pptx SorryNotSorry.pptx Thankyou.pptx NiceDrivingDipshit.pptx YouBlindMotherfucker.pptx Appreciated.pptx ILoveYourSprinterTruanoAE86ItsJustLikeTheOneFromInitialD.pptx

  Not all of those get a lot of use. I’ve never used SorryNotSorry.pptx, for example

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  • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Funny, I know the Sprinter Trueno from either Forza Motorsport 2 or 3, Gran Turismo 3, or Sega GT 2002. It may have actually features in two or all three of those games.

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• bitwolf@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Most people follow and likely understand the manual hazard lights.

  Two blinks in the tempo of “I’m sorry”.

  I’ve made mistakes before and did so, sometimes they flash one quick blink of high beams to acknowledge.

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  • eldoom@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I thought two blinks was thank you? Are you telling me I’ve been going around apologizing to people for letting me in?

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    • bitwolf@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Its contextual, and cab be both :)

      I use it for thank you as well. But OP asked about apologies

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• FrChazzz@lemmus.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Here in Hawai’i it is likely that we will give a sheepish shaka as the driver passes. Might get a tense shaka in response. I am in no way kidding about this.

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• Gullible@sh.itjust.works ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  If I have some free time, I’ll follow them to their destination and knock on their window before they manage to slip away, and then apologize. Many seem like they’re in a hurry, despite just arriving, so I’ll just shout out my apology as I knock on their window. Depending on how bad I felt, I might try to repeat the ritual next week, seeing whether I can find them on the road.

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• captainlezbian@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I wave with all my fingers up except my thumb, index, ring, and pinky

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• fizzle@quokk.au ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I usually wave at them as though I think they’re a friend of mine just saying hello.

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• snooggums@piefed.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I don’t, because being polite while driving is being unpredictable and that makes things more dangerous.

  Instead I do what I want others to do which is just do a better job of paying attention and driving consistently. Making mistakes happen, just refocus and avoid making more.

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  • Ryanmiller70@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This was me when I got off work today. I was trying to pass someone in front of me on the highway and signaled to move into the left lane. Did my usual couple seconds, saw nobody in my mirrors, and proceeded to move. Ended up cutting someone off that was in my blind spot. They honked and tried to run me off the road in response. I just kept driving like normal cause what happened happened. Dude followed me all the way back to my exit, so I decided instead of going home I’d drive through town. He eventually gave up and turned around to get back on the highway.

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• Rhoeri@piefed.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Lean into it and just flick them off. Unless you’re in America, because there, that shit will let you killed.

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