CLUB PUSHES DRIVER COURTESY CAMPAIGN MAY HEAD OFF 'ROAD RUDENESS'.

Byline: Daily News

LANCASTER - Does ``road rage'' affect your daily commute? Probably not nearly as much as ``road rudeness,'' according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Research has consistently shown that aggressive driving is far more prevalent than violent road-rage encounters, the Auto Club says. Forty percent of the respondents in one survey admitted to driving aggressively when they are late or in a hurry, and 72 percent believed that aggressive driving has grown worse in recent years.

To address this widespread problem and improve driver etiquette, the Auto Club has developed a courteous driver campaign that includes a tongue-in-cheek television commercial comparing rude driving to ``shopping cart rage.''

The Auto Club also has tips on courteous driving available free to members and nonmembers in the Lancaster Auto Club office, 1234 Commerce Center Drive.

``When we're enclosed in our vehicles, we're removed from the direct human contact that normally promotes courteous behavior in public settings,'' said David Crandall, the Auto Club's Lancaster district office manager.

``If motorists could see themselves acting in public in the same way they drive their cars - tailgating, yelling and making angry gestures - they would understand the rudeness of their driving behavior.''

Almost every driver is guilty of road rudeness at one time or another, according to Arline Dillman, the Auto Club's traffic safety manager. While rudeness in itself might not be dangerous, it can lead to more dangerous driving situations and increased stress for all drivers, she said.

``The wonderful attribute of courtesy and polite behavior is that it really is contagious,'' Dillman said. ``If you smile at another driver and let him change lanes in front of you, he'll probably wave to thank you and be more likely to act courteously to other drivers too. Just like a chain reaction can cause a collision, it can also work in the opposite way and create a more friendly driving atmosphere.''

Dillman advised motorists to ask themselves the following questions to help improve their driving etiquette.

--Typically, how closely do I follow other drivers? Do I allow the recommended three-second following distance, and additional distance in bad weather?

--Do I yield to other drivers, even when I think they're rude? How do I react when another driver follows me too closely or signals that he wants to move into my lane?

--Do I let other drivers know my intention to change lanes by using my turn signal?

--Do I let myself get distracted with other activities while I drive?

--Do I weave in and out of traffic, or do I realize that lane speeds usually ``even out'' and that it's more courteous and less stressful to remain in one lane?

--Do I honor the ``every other car'' rule when two lanes are merging into one?

--Do I move to the slower lanes if traffic is traveling faster than I am?

--Do I signal an apology if I inadvertently make a mistake while driving, such as cutting someone off accidentally?