Making the roads a nicer place

And only 11 of the 35 drivers we allowed to merge waved thanks in appreciation

The most common faux pas we witnessed were stubborn drivers refusing to allow others to change lanes. This included one particularly nasty incident of road rage on Kings Way, after a Honda driver was blocked by a Holden driver, only to share a few heated words and rude gestures through the safety of a passenger side window.

And only 11 of the 35 drivers we allowed to merge waved thanks in appreciation - the dying gesture used to be a mainstay in regional towns but apparently there's no time for politeness during peak hour.

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But according to the latest Victorian road safety legislation, motorists are under no compulsion to be polite - the Road Safety Road Rules 2009 148 (1) states "a driver who is moving from one marked lane (whether or not the lane is ending) to another marked lane must give way to any vehicle travelling in the same direction as the driver in the marked lane to which the driver is moving".

The Victorian president of the Australian Driver Trainers Association, Stan Gates, said poor driver manners was one of his "pet hates". "A smile doesn't cost you a thing," Mr Gates said.

Possibly the most dangerous trend that emerged during our investigation were dozens of incidents of drivers getting themselves stuck across intersections and blocking traffic and pedestrians.

In a pleasant surprise, school zones during peak times of 2.30pm to 4.30pm recorded the highest number of courteous drivers, particularly around school areas in Richmond and St Kilda.

Drivers picking up schoolchildren were more likely to give way or wave thanks to other motorists, at least twice as frequently as was seen in other areas of the city. But despite the daily experiences of road users, VicRoads maintains 'there is no evidence to suggest that there has been a decline in road manners in Victoria".

A spokesman from the organisation told the Sunday Herald Sun: "VicRoads encourages everyone who is using the road to show mutual respect, regardless of their mode of transport ... we all need to share the road and treat others with courtesy." So, even when a trip through the CBD is driving you mad, the best course is to communicate your intentions and share the road with other drivers. And remember to smile and wave - it doesn't cost you a thing.

1 THANK-YOU WAVE 

What it is: You acknowledge another driver in appreciation of something they have done to help you.
What the expert says: "Always give a little wave or a nod of the head to say thanks to the driver for letting you into the flow of traffic."

2 SCHOOL DROP-OFF 

What it is: Parents should wait patiently and avoid double parking to drop off or collect their children.
What the expert says: "Parents should set an example to young children regarding manners and shouldn't double park around schools and endanger other young children in the area by being impatient."

3 CHANGING LANES 

What it is: You make your intentions clear by signalling before changing lanes and always make sure there is adequate room when moving over.
What the expert says: "When changing lanes you should check your mirrors, put your signal on, do a head check and always make sure there's a broken line."

4 PARKING 

What it is: You should always leave enough room for other cars to park and pull out with ease.
What the expert says: "You should leave a metre clearance in the front and back of surrounding parked cars and should leave room for other cars to move around you safely if necessary."

5 MERGING

What it is: You should be cautious of other road users needing to merge and think ahead when you're aware of an approaching merging lane.
What the expert says: "If there is no lines the car merging has right of way, and if there's a broken line, the car on the main road in which you're merging has the right of way."

6 QUEUING OVER KEEP-CLEARS OR INTERSECTIONS 

What it is: You should slow down in heavy traffic and pay attention to whether there will be room for your vehicle over the intersection or keep-clear zone.
What the expert says: "You should never enter an intersection or roundabout if there's no room."

7 USING THE ROUNDABOUT

What it is: You should approach the roundabout slowly and wait patiently for anyone already in the roundabout.
What the expert says: "You should always approach a roundabout by slowing down, making it easy for you to stop for traffic to your right or already in the roundabout."

8 U-TURNS ON A BUSY STREET

What it is: You should be mindful of the disruption you will cause to the flow of traffic and consider whether your location is a suitable place to perform a U-turn.
What the expert says: "You should understand the nature of the street you're in and only perform the U-turn when it is safe to do so."

9 MOTORCYCLES 

What it is: Motorcyclists need to be aware of drivers' blind spots and be cautious of their movements when coming up beside them on the inside lane.
What the expert says: "Motorcyclists should make sure that when they're passing between vehicles to be cautious of other vehicles moving lanes and travel at a reasonable speed."

10 FIGHTING FOR A CAR PARK

What it is: The person to first approach the car park and indicate should be able to park in the available spot.
What the expert says: "It's just etiquette - if someone has their signal on before you they are entitled to that car space." 

INSTRUCTOR STAN'S TOP TIPS

Here are tips from the man who trains the trainers - Stan Gates, Bass Coast Driving School chief instructor and Victorian president of the Australian Driver Trainers Association.

HAVE patience with other drivers when they make mistakes - you make mistakes too.
DON'T tailgate - it doesn't achieve anything other than making you more annoyed.
YOU don't own the road, so learn to share the space with other road users. 
AVOID overreaction. If someone pulls out in front of you, don't stress out - just let it go.
REMEMBER - to hold a driver's licence is a privilege, not a birthright.