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Road Rage
Unfortunately, more and
more drivers have started acting out their anger when
they get behind the wheel. After they've been cut off,
tailgated, or slowed down by a vehicle in front of them,
these angry drivers can commit acts of violence,
including assault and murder. When the AAA Foundation
for Traffic Safety studied more than 10,000 incidents of
violent aggressive driving committed between 1990 and
1996, it found that at least 218 people were killed and
another 12,610 injured when drivers got angry.
Although many drivers
involved in these incidents are men between the ages of
18 and 26, anyone can become aggressive if they let
their anger take precedence over safe driving. The AAA
Foundation study found that men, women, and people of
all ages can drive aggressively if they are in the wrong
mood or circumstances. What's more, when drivers
explained why they became violent the reasons are often
trivial.
How can you avoid being
the victim of an aggressive driver? While there are no
sure techniques, three basic guiding principles can
help:
Don't
Offend
When surveys ask
drivers what angers them most, the results are
remarkably consistent. A few specific behaviors seem
unusually likely to enrage other drivers. You can
protect yourself by avoiding them:
Cutting off
When you merge, make sure you have plenty of room.
Use your turn signal to show your intentions before
making a move. If you make a mistake and accidentally
cut someone off, try to apologize to the other driver
with an appropriate gesture. If someone cuts you off,
slow down and give them room to merge into your lane.
Driving slowly in
the left lane
If you are in the left lane and someone wants to
pass, move over and let them by. You may be "in the
right" because you are traveling at the speed limit, but
you may also be putting yourself in danger by making
drivers behind you angry. In Texas the law requires you
to travel in the right lane and use the far left lane
only for passing. Besides, it's simple courtesy to move
over and let other drivers by.
Tailgating
Drivers get angry when they are followed too
closely. Allow at least a two-second space between your
car and the car ahead. (When you see the car pass a
fixed point, you should be able to count at least
"one-thousand, two-thousand" before you pass that
point.) If you think another car is driving too slowly
and you are unable to pass, pull back and allow more
space, not less. That way if the car does something
unexpected you will have time to get out of the way. You
should be able to see the headlights of the car behind
you in your rear-view mirror. If you feel you are being
followed too closely, signal and pull over to allow the
other driver to go by.
Gestures
Almost nothing makes another driver angrier than an
obscene gesture. Keep your hands on the wheel. Avoid
making any gestures that might anger another driver,
even "harmless" expressions of irritation like shaking
your head. Be a cautious and courteous driver. Signal
every time you merge or change lanes, and whenever you
turn. Use your horn rarely, if ever. If you and another
driver see a parking space at the same time, let that
person have it. And if another driver seems eager to get
in front of you, say "Be my guest." When you respond
this way, after a while "be my guest" becomes your
automatic response and you won't be as offended by other
drivers' rudeness.
Don't
Engage
One angry driver can't
start a fight unless another driver is willing to join
in. You can protect yourself against aggressive drivers
by refusing to become angry at them. A person who is
angry can do things they may later regret and that
includes you. If you're tempted to retaliate against
another driver, think about what kind of a crash your
angry actions could cause. Then cool down and continue
your trip.
Steer clear
Give angry drivers lots of room. A driver you may
have offended can "snap" and become truly dangerous. If
the other driver tries to pick a fight, put as much
distance as possible between your vehicle and the other
car, and then get away as quickly as possible. Do not
under any circumstances pull off to the side of the road
and try to settle things "man to man."
Avoid eye contact
If another driver is acting angry with you, don't
make eye contact. Looking or staring at another driver
can turn an impersonal encounter between two vehicles
into a personal duel. And once things get personal, the
situation can get out of hand fast.
Get help
If you believe the other driver is following you or
is trying to start a fight, get help. If you have a
cellular phone, use it to call the police. Otherwise,
drive to a place where there are people around, such as
a police station, convenience store, shopping center, or
even a hospital. Use your horn to get someone's
attention. This will usually discourage an aggressor. Do
not get out of your car. Do not go home.
Adjust Your Attitude
The most important
actions you can take to avoid aggressive driving take
place inside your head. By changing your approach to
driving, you can make every trip more pleasant. Try
these ideas for a pleasant change:
Forget winning
For too many motorists, driving becomes a contest.
Are you one of those drivers who allows the shortest
possible time for a trip and then races the clock? If
something happens to slow you down do you get angry? The
solution: Allow more time for your trip. You'll be
amazed at how much more relaxed you feel when you have a
few extra minutes. So instead of trying to "make good
time," try to "make time good." Listen to soothing music
or a book on tape. Practice relaxation techniques, such
as deep breathing. You'll arrive much calmer, fresher,
and in a less stressed-out frame of mind.
Put yourself in the
other driver's shoes
Instead of judging the other driver, try to imagine
why he or she is driving that way. Someone speeding and
constantly changing lanes may be a volunteer fireman, or
a physician rushing to a hospital. Someone who jerks
from one lane to another may have a bee in the car, or a
crying baby. Whatever their reason, it has nothing to do
with you. Stay cool and don't take other drivers'
actions personally.
If you think you
have a problem, ask for help
Courses in anger management have been shown to
reduce heart attacks. These same techniques can also
help angry drivers. Drivers who successfully "reinvent"
their approach to the road report dramatic changes in
attitude and behavior. Look for anger management courses
in your area. Self-help books on stress reduction and
anger management can also be helpful. Violent aggressive
driving is clearly on the rise. But you can avoid
becoming a victim by using the tips in this article. In
the process you may find that driving has become a
completely new and more enjoyable experience.
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