What is Jeep Ducking? A new GA trend encourages a little kindness in an unexpected way

Rubber duckies have made their way out of the bathtub and onto the roadways. Jeep owners across Georgia have joined in on the trend of “duck, duck, Jeep” but the rest of us may need a little crash course.

Local Jeep owner, Tad Smith, enjoys the trend, admitting, “Just knowing that there are people in this world that only want to see me have a good day and want nothing in return? Is a great feeling.”

What’s with all the little yellow ducks and why Jeeps?

The credit for the cheerful little act of kindness goes to Allison Parliament when she endeavored on a road trip from Alabama to Canada in her Jeep Wrangler. When Parliament chanced to leave a note on another Wrangler reading, “nice Jeep” another Jeep owner saw the gesture and encouraged Parliament to share the encounter on social media.

This little nudge of kindness sparked the game of “Jeep Ducking” or “Duck, Duck, Jeep” that has evolved into a phenomenon of goodwill and community among Jeep enthusiasts.

Smith’s experiences with the duck game are similar to the original exchange between Parliament and the other Jeep owner. He recalls, “Although I don’t ever get to actually meet the anonymous person who left the duck, chances are we crossed paths moments before I noticed the duck. They never identify themselves.”

What are the rules?

There’s not many hard-and-fast rules that govern the game, but there are a few guidelines :

• Be nice — the whole trend is meant as a friendly gesture to compliment another person’s vehicle and it’s meant to make them smile.

• Leave a note — preferably with a cute little duck pun like “Jeep on ducking,” “Keep calm and duck on!” or “Duck yeah!” It’s also polite to include a compliment on the Jeep.

• Place the duck where the other driver can see it — common places are the hood, side mirrors, or door handles.

What kind of ducks can you use?

There are no restrictions on the type of rubber ducks that can be used, but as the game becomes more widespread, the duck selection becomes more varied.

Many game-players like to get creative with their ducks, using themed or seasonal ducks. In fact, some Jeep-drivers ride around with a stash of ducks in their Jeep , just waiting for the opportunity to spread some duck-love.

Although not all Jeep owners are as enthusiastic about the “ducking” game, anything that encourages kindness and empathy can’t be bad.

Smith said it’s not just the feeling you get, either, but it often encourages him to “pay it forward in some way.”

Have you been “ducked?” Tell us about it in the comments or send me some pics and find me on Instagram .

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