Emily Post’s 1940s Motoring Manners

“A courteous lady will not ‘scold’ others with a horn any more than she would act like a ‘fishwife’ at a party... An honorable man would no more cheat a red light or stop sign than he would cheat at games or sports.”

Tips on Touring

I enjoyed Emily Post’s book on “Motor Manners” so much, that I dropped around to see her the other day and came away with these etiquette tips. 

For men: “The horn should never be used to announce arrival or to call someone to the car. A gentleman will not tune the radio or light the cigarette of a lady beside him as it distracts his attention from the road. An honorable man would no more cheat a red light or stop sign than he would cheat at games or sports.”

For women: “Shorts are permissible attire when driving, with a skirt to be whisked on when propriety demands. A courteous lady will not ‘scold’ others with a horn any more than she would act like a ‘fishwife’ at a party. Heavily veiled hats or obtrusive scarves obstruct vision, are as out of place in motoring as boots in a ballroom.” 

For everyone: ‘‘Obeyance of traffic rules is the best definition of motoring courtesy. Bad manners on the road all too often result in murder. The motorist’s continual application of the Golden Rule will make the use of streets and highways safer and more enjoyable.” – 

By Carol Lane, Women’s Travel Authority, 1949

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia  

Etiquette and Polite Drivers

While gallantry is expected of all gentlemen, on the highway women drivers lose the identity of their sex and simply become “another driver.” Courteous drivers show full consideration for the safety and convenience of all “other drivers.” In fact, split second decisions do not allow sufficient time to make a distinction nor does safety justify it.

Gentlemen Of The Highway 

A gentleman of the highway can be anyone. The kind of vehicle a person drives is not important, whether new or old, high priced or low priced, commercial or private. How a person drives is the important factor. Emily Post's Motor Manners, the blue-booklet of traffic etiquette published by the National Highway Users Conference, Inc., states that while gallantry is expected of all gentlemen, on the highway women drivers lose the identity of their sex and simply become “another driver.” Courteous drivers show full consideration for the safety and convenience of all “other drivers.” In fact, split second decisions do not allow sufficient time to make a distinction nor does safety justify it. Only a pseudo-gentleman will make a show of chivalry to women drivers and then tangle bumpers in a bluffing match with a man driver. 

The realm of gentlemen of the highway also includes the pedestrian. Responsible drivers realize that since they control the power to inflict injury, special precautions must be taken by them to avoid a casualty. Drivers with experience know that non-driving pedestrians do not realize how difficult it is to spot a pedestrian, to stop a car immediately or to dodge suddenly in traffic. In addition, not all pedestrians a driver encounters can command the full capacity of their faculties. Considerate drivers know that the person on foot may be, for example, bewildered, sick, crippled, deaf, blind or intoxicated. 

Experienced drivers know that children cannot always be held responsible for their actions. Lack of consideration for children in the street can result in manslaughter. All careful and polite motorists keep on the lookout for pre-school age youngsters who may dart into the street. Mannerly drivers will always slow down and proceed with caution in school zones. Every civil motorist will co-operate with school boy patrolmen as they go about their serious business of protecting their schoolmates. It should shame many grown-ups that school children frequently are their peers in pedestrian courtesy and manners. - Santa Cruz Sentinel, 1951

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia