# Do you do a "Thank you wave" when someone lets you merge in traffic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075 "2010-09-17T13:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/1 "2010-09-17T13:17:12Z")
I was taught that when someone lets you go in front of them while driving in slow-moving heavy traffic, you should wave to say thank you. On my recent trip to the eastern US, I did not see any waving. Do you wave as a sign of gratitude? ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/2 "2010-09-17T13:18:16Z")
Always - regardless of where I am and whether or not they wave back (some do). Its a simple acknowledgment of their kindness. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/3 "2010-09-17T13:39:20Z")
I do too, but not a lot of people do. It’s a blow to their pride or some such. Even when I clearly let them in, like slow down, or even flash my lights, they just park their ass in front of me without so much as a howdy-ho. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/4 "2010-09-17T13:39:27Z")
All the time. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/5 "2010-09-17T13:47:58Z")
Around here it’s common courtesy and usually contagious, especially in rush hour situations. The flip side (people deliberately shooting the gap to take up the slot you could have gotten into while traffic was at a standstill) is also quite common. That makes the exception – the one(s) who let you in line – all the more wave-worthy. The worst thing that can happen, though, is for the “good guy (or gal)” to miss the next light because of the one(s) he/she let in in front of him/her. That’s a downer. Still, it’s worth a wave. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/6 "2010-09-17T13:53:43Z")
On the few times I do drive, yup. I’ll flash my headlights to let folks passing me know that there’s a cop up ahead too. ---
**Author:** ![ThePylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@ThePylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePylon)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/7 "2010-09-17T13:59:25Z")
If it is an obvious merge spot and traffic is “zippering”, I tend not to. If I am obviously putting the person out by merging, I will wave. I “allow” anyone in heavy traffic in ahead of me, and never expect any sort of gratitude or acknowledgement - I figger that’s what you do in traffic. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/8 "2010-09-17T14:01:40Z")
Yes, all the time. I also do the thank you wave when someone stops at a pedestrian crossing/driveway and lets me walk across. I love the thank you wave. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/9 "2010-09-17T14:03:17Z")
Always. And when I get a wave from someone I’ve helped it makes me ridiculously happy. It’s just a gentle reminded that we’re all in this together, just trying to get by. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/10 "2010-09-17T14:03:53Z")
I guess I’m the only no vote so far. If I have to get in front of someone, I signal, wait for an opening and move in. I don’t think anything special has happened that needs a wave. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/11 "2010-09-17T14:04:40Z")
Yes. I also do the sarcastic “thanks for nothing, _asshole_!” wave when someone deliberately prevents me from merging. (A double thumbs-up or blown kiss also works.) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/12 "2010-09-17T14:07:06Z")
Yes, always. And I know from past threads that this is likely flamebait, but I’ll go ahead and say that it kind of irks me a little bit when I let someone in and they don’t give me the wave. Like, what, it would kill you to acknowledge that I went slightly out of my way to let you merge in, instead of being an asshole and cutting you off? Sheez. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/13 "2010-09-17T14:11:46Z")
Nearly all the time. It’s quick and easy and makes the person letting me go know I appreciate the effort (so he’ll do it again for someone else). ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/14 "2010-09-17T16:01:36Z")
I given them a jaunty salute, and really appreciate the expression when I’m on the other end. Small expressions of civility between strangers like this help me preserve my hope in humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/15 "2010-09-17T16:03:27Z")
Two finger snap salute. I’m with the others; I love that shit. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/16 "2010-09-17T16:06:44Z")
Yes, I do. And it makes me bummed when the other person doesn’t and happy if they do. There is something about that moment of anonymous connection that adds value to my day. I think I’m too wrapped up in it though because when I wave I actively worry that they can’t see my wave thru my tinted windows and I’ve made them grumpy. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/17 "2010-09-17T16:07:32Z")
Eastern US here and I do it and see it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/18 "2010-09-17T16:20:36Z")
No thank you wave for merging, but I do wave to people when they pull over to let me pass on mountain roads. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/19 "2010-09-17T16:27:55Z")
I wave and if possible make eye contact and exaggeratedly mouth “Thank you!”. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075/20 "2010-09-17T16:46:00Z")
Sometimes I wave, sometimes I don’t, it depends on the situation. For instance, when there’s a long line of stopped traffic, people will often block an intersection rather than leave space for cross traffic to get through. I usually try to do so, and I wave when people are considerate enough to let me through in those situations. Similarly, if it’s clear someone is making a bit of space to let me merge, they get a wave. However, if they’re just relenting because there’s no much choice (eg, merge lane ending, construction closing a lane, etc.), then they don’t get one. Sadly, it doesn’t seem terribly common in this area anymore. When I make room to let people merge in front of me or let cross traffic through, I probably notice a way about a third of the time or less. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-do-a-thank-you-wave-when-someone-lets-you-merge-in-traffic/554075.md?page=2)