A light-hearted post from a traffic controller has sparked a broader conversation about everyday road etiquette, after she revealed the one small habit that can leave drivers on her “bad side”.
The New Zealand-based worker took to Reddit to share her frustration with motorists who fail to acknowledge her while she is on duty.
“You should know as a lollipop lady I take it personally if you don’t wave back. And I silently judge you as a grumpy bugger. I also like treats,” she wrote.
She went on to describe what she has named a “wave etiquette”, adding a humorous twist to the discussion.
“Also you must have at least three fingers off the wheel for it to count. You one finger people aren’t even trying,” she said.
The post went viral, with hundreds of users weighing in on whether a simple wave is an unspoken rule of the road.
“What kind of monster doesn’t wave back?” one user wrote
Another added: “I always wave! Who doesn’t wave, gtfo.”
Others said they make a point of acknowledging traffic controllers, even if they are less friendly in other situations.
“I don’t even wave to my neighbours, but I wave to every road side worker like they’re my long lost friend,” one person said.
However some motorists admitted that they often hesitate mid-wave, as they are unsure if they will get a wave in return.
“I’m sometimes a little nervous to commit because it seems you’ve got about a 50/50 change of getting a wave or a vacant/judgemental stare,” one user said.
The traffic controller suggested there may be a simple explanation for this.
“I will say that we can’t always see in the windscreen so I don’t always see people waving,” she said.
“That’s why on really sunny days I just wave at everyone to be safe,” she added.
The discussion also turned to whether friendliness is expected as part of the role, with one user asking if waving and smiling are required.
“One of my friends recently claimed that you guys have waving/smiling at us in your contracts, or are at least trained to do it as best practice, and that your smiles and waves aren’t necessarily genuine but are mandated by your job. Is this true, or are they just pulling my leg?” the user asked.
The traffic controller responded: “Not mandatory! Mine are all genuine because I have nothing else to do all day. They do tell us on induction to be friendly though.”
Another commenter asked about pay, to which she replied: “It’s good hours…”
In Australia, more than 16,000 traffic controllers help manage road and pedestrian safety across construction zones, accidents and major disruptions.
While pay varies, school crossing supervisors typically earn between $25 and $35 an hour, while those working on major construction sites can earn significantly more through overtime, penalties and site allowances.
Image: Shutterstock
