Chapter 43: ROAD RAGE
If you have not yet witnessed, been a victim or been the perpetrator of an act of road rage you must be either a liar or not on the road very often.
Is road rage then on the increase in Australia?
If you think about it, I reckon you probably have even been responsible for an act of road rage, although I trust not of the extremely violent nature.
When that particular type of car, driven by that particular type of driver in that particular manner cuts you off, does something foolish or dangerous in front of you, your annoyance can easily manifest into aggression, retaliation, some form of gesture, abuse or even retribution.
Consider for a moment you are driving along in particularly heavy traffic at 100 km/h minding your own business when suddenly this car comes weaving through the flow and decides to cut in front filling what previously was a safe following distance.
How would you respond?
The majority of drivers would stay exactly where they were tailgating the fool in front all the time thinking how they are teaching them a lesson. Others who through experience realize this does not achieve the desired effect might add a flash of the high beam, a blast of the horn, a gesture from the window or a combination of all of the above.
In the extreme some might start driving aggressively; pass the other driver and cut them off or some equally irresponsible action.
The point is that these are emotional responses when a more logical solution exists; hangback and establish another safe following distance.
Yes; by dropping back eventually another driver will cut in front but consider the other alternative.
An emotional response focuses your attention on the vehicle in front and not the road ahead.
The concentration of the driver in front must too be affected, since this is your objective to make them pay for and learn from their error.
If for some reason the traffic ahead slows quickly neither you nor your friend in front will have a chance to react and unfortunately if a crash does occur YOU are the responsible party.
A very embarrassing and costly way to teach someone else to drive safely.
But real road rage is aggressive driving to intimidate or seek revenge on another driver for their actions.
A major catalyst for conflict on the road is impatience and frustration borne from a lack of understanding of how traffic is designed to function.
Too often a driver becomes a victim of road rage for causing another driver to lose time. It is ironic though that stationary at the next set of traffic lights, any argument ends up be based on a few car lengths of bitumen.
As traffic volumes increase and travel speeds reduce due to congestion; incidents of road rage are sure to multiply.
Don't drive like a dummy Road Rage Categories:
Signals:
Hand signs, horn, lights, verbal abuse, gestures, display of weapon
Manoeuvres:
Tailgating, speeding, cutting and weaving, rapid lane changes, blocking or impeding other traffic, revenge manoeuvres, stalking, following, attempted overtaking, brake tests
Attacks:
Throwing objects, vehicle to vehicle contact, person to vehicle contact, person to person contact.
Road Rage Triggers:
External influences:
Attitudes brought to the car (ie. Work, personal, family, health, financial)
Other drivers:
The other driver was reckless…too happy…made a comment…attempted a stunt…made a mistake…endangered others
Time:
Running late, feel time was wasted by others
Status:
My time is more important/valuable
Habitual:
Repeating the same actions over & over expecting a different outcome.
Ritualistic:
Others expect you to drive in a certain way
(Written by Joel Neilsen, Managing Director, Safe Drive Training)
