Australia, what's happened to the 'thank you' wave?

Ah, Australia. We ride kangaroos to school, we throw shrimps on barbies, our cheer is known across the world – and a quick hand wave from behind the wheel is understood: "Cheers for letting me through, mate!"

Well, it was. Lately, it seems our beloved "thank you" wave has been forgotten by a large proportion of our drivers, and I’m not having it.

For those not across it, the "thank you" or courtesy wave is that quick flick of the wrist, a casual hand raise, or even a single-finger salute (the polite kind!) to acknowledge another driver's thoughtfulness.

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It's a way of saying, "I see you, and I appreciate you for not ramming me off the road”.

But where has this iconic gesture gone? I reckon modern life might be to blame. The fast-paced hustle and bustle, the stress and frustration. That, or Australians have simply become arseholes meanies over the years.

Increased distraction isn't helping either, of course. Between sipping oat cappuccinos, checking Instagram feeds and navigating bumper-to-bumper traffic, who can remember to wave – if a gesture was even noticed at all?

However, the ramifications of this MIA wave are no laughing matter.

According to insurance provider Budget Direct, aggressive driving behaviours are on the rise, with 83% of Aussies surveyed claiming to have been on the receiving end of road rage. And while we can't blame it all on the missing wave – who knows what behaviour led to the rage – it's hard not to see a connection.

The roads are starting to feel like an episode of Survivor or Alone – without our friendly wave, our highways are becoming a battleground and we're left feeling alone against the world.

Neglecting to wave can make a bad day worse, and a good day spoiled.

You just never know how someone is feeling, or what they're dealing with. Are you at your best on a bad day?

Hell, I’ve begun waving rather aggressively myself to those who don’t thank me for letting them in – it's the least I can do to better society.

Remember when one good wave would set off a chain reaction? Like a contagious yawn in a Monday morning meeting, but more fun.

Without this ripple of road respect, it's every motorist for themselves, and the highways feel more "Fast and Furious" than "Friendly and Courteous."

Time for a wave revolution!

Driving instructors could add it to their lessons, right between "how to parallel park without having a meltdown" and "using indicators: they're not just for show."

People can start calling out their friends and family for not waving. I sometimes wave on behalf of the driver when I see this lack of respect.

In the end, it's up to us to bring the wave back from its unscheduled sabbatical.

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This little flick of the wrist can make a world of difference. Let's ensure our roads don't turn into a wave-less wasteland. There are much harder things to do in life than pass on some simple gratitude. After all, in a world where we're more connected by screens than by humanity, a simple wave can be a game-changer.

Hands up if you're with me! Or at least one hand, maybe just the (index) finger?

Let's be unwavering in our resolve to wave.