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Driving etiquette is alive and well - in California!

My wife and I were vacationing in Sonoma and Napa Valley last week. That entailed renting a car in San Francisco and driving the hour or so north. I was pleasantly surprised by the courtesy of the native drivers in both the city and country side.

I've come to accept as normal, the traffic-battling mindset of Detroit area drivers: aggressive & competitive. In that regard, the Motor City compares with most every other city, state, or country in which I've ever driven. And last summer I spent three weeks in driving hell: Italy. Don't get me wrong. I'd go back to that splendid country in a heartbeat - I'll just never drive a car there again. Italian drivers all seem to have been born with a Mario Andretti gene or something; it's everyone for themselves on their roads (just ask the pope).

Everywhere else, tailgating is my pet peeve with the usual suspects including young drivers; late drivers; delivery truck drivers; and multi-tasking drivers who insist on grooming, dining, and/or conversing on cell phones while operating massive vehicles (CEOs or soccer moms in Hummers) inches from my back bumper. Meanwhile, the so-called "Michigan left turn" often consists of multiple U-turn lanes across the median. In this regard there are only two types of people: Those in the outside lane who courteously hold back to leave a clear view of oncoming traffic for any other car and driver watching and waiting for a safe entry point - and those who don't!

In California, all drivers in all situations seemed to be working together for the common good and safety of all. And, above all, there was no tailgating. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was driving a marked car: A silver Toyota means tourist (i.e. rental) which, in Napa Valley translates to "wine taster." Granted, my vacation was brief and not that wide ranging. For all I know, L.A. to San Diego is eight lanes of anarchy with all commuters packing heat; they've had their share of road-rage incidents. But I hope that there is the same overriding sense of peace, love, and understanding between motorists on those freeways as there is up north. Sure, San Franciscans got a tad honkish on their horns on occasions, but those were decidedly civil occurrences. And of course in California traffic matters, pedestrians rule all. It took a near miss or two for me to remember that.

No, I've complained too often about inconsiderate drivers for me not to say something positive when I have the chance. So, perhaps it's legislation, or enforcement, or just a mystical aura, but in my 40 years on the road, I've never experienced the sense of teamwork among motorists as I did in California. I commend Californians for their monumental achievement in common courtesy. The Golden State practices the Golden Rule.

Learn more about this author, Gary Peterson.
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