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The new menace?
Road rage is not new. It was first recognised in the USA in the 1980s. In the 1990s it became noticeable in the UK and is, unfortunately, now becoming more common.
Sooner or later you will be faced with drivers who cut in front of you, slow you up, overtake on the left, swear at you whether or not you have made a mistake, and who indulge in other anti-social behaviour.
One definition of road rage is ‘unchecked behaviour designed to cause harm to another road user’; often, however, the person committing the road rage is acting totally out of character. Some drivers describe the ‘red mist’ which clouds their judgement. They get so angry they only concentrate on getting even with another driver. Sadly, drivers can all too easily be killed or injured when at the wheel in this state.
There are a few things that you might like to consider when thinking about road rage.
The ‘rager’ is someone you don’t know and are never likely to meet again (unless it’s in court or in hospital).
Their actions are not a personal attack on you but rather an inability to cope with their own emotions.
As a driver it is not your job to enforce the rules or to teach other people a lesson.
Many people are rude and thoughtless, and it’s a comforting thought that they will only enter your life for a few seconds or minutes. They have to live with themselves for ever.
Take control
If you are ever in a situation where you are angry with another driver, take a deep breath and ask yourself this simple question: ‘What do I really want?’ When asking yourself the question, your expectation must be for something that is within your own control.
For example, answering: ‘I want to win the Lottery so that I don’t have to drive to work’ or ‘I want the other guy to be a good driver instead of an idiot’ will simply frustrate you further. How about: ‘I want to be relaxed and safe’? When you have answered the question, ‘What do I really want?’, think about what you are doing to prevent yourself from getting it.
If you want to be relaxed you might have to ease off the power and let the other driver pull away; after all, do you really think he cares about your feelings and concerns? You might need to pull up, get out of the car and jump up and down swearing. If this is what it takes, do it. But make sure you do it on your own!
Avoiding anger on the road needs self-control and patience. Road rage is often just as bad for the ‘rager’ as for the victim. On the next and final page of this course, there is a list of simple suggestions to help relieve stress when driving, which should help to ensure that you never ‘lose it’ behind the wheel.
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