As summer arrives and the beautiful weather encourages travel, outdoor activities, and tourism, another familiar seasonal sight appears almost everywhere — road construction and building projects.

While construction zones may sometimes feel inconvenient or slow our schedules, they are an essential part of improving our communities and infrastructure.

Summer driving etiquette is more important than ever as roads become busier with vacation traffic, cyclists, pedestrians, and construction zones during the warmer months. Staying patient, alert, and courteous behind the wheel helps reduce accidents, ease congestion, and keep everyone safer on the road.

Remember the Human Beings Behind the Signs

• Slow down respectfully in construction zones.
• Follow posted directions carefully.
• Avoid aggressive lane changes or speeding.
• Remain patient during delays or detours.
• Show appreciation for those improving our roads and public spaces.

Extra Vigilance Saves Lives

Summer roads become busier with families travelling, tourists unfamiliar with local streets, young drivers out of school, motorcyclists, pedestrians, road repair, and cyclists enjoying the warmer weather. Defensive driving is not simply a driving skill — it is an act of responsibility toward others.

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Driving etiquette varies significantly worldwide with about two-thirds of the world driving on the right and one-third on the left. Key differences include strict headlight laws (Sweden), strict and no-shirtless driving rules (Thailand), and specific, varying honking etiquette, such as it being seen as rude in Hawai’i but customary for passing in Egypt.

Our team member here at Elizabeth Etiquette – Paul Mycroft who provides email marketing for us – wrote this article for a local magazine about how courtesy has disappeared from his local Vancouver Island community.

“As an immigrant to Canada in 2008, I have always marvelled at how polite Canadians are. They are known around the world for their courteous nature and etiquette, something I witnessed on my arrival in Ladysmith with my young family. Coming originally from England, I was taught from day one that Mirror-Signal-Manoeuvre was how you drove a vehicle, to always acknowledge when someone lets you in with a raised hand off the wheel, and you are then acknowledged when you do something kind for other drivers. It seems that this small act of recognition has disappeared from Ladysmith’s roads.

“I let drivers reverse out of a parking spot on First Avenue or go through a gap into moving traffic but get no wave of thanks, I witness drivers making a turn into a side road after braking but with no turn signal, and don’t get me started on Trans-Canada Highway driving techniques.

“Good etiquette is the bedrock of how Ladysmith’s community functions and thrives, so let’s see if we can get some simple manners back onto our roads. You never know, you might become a better driver.”

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