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Are you Jekyll or Hyde? A guide to road rage
Did you know that there is no specific offence of “road rage”; it is just an adopted term for basically poor manners and sub-standard driving but it can also encompass other road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
The extent of road rage varies from shouting and hand gesturing to deliberate or antagonistic manoeuvring towards other road users. Although rare it can also include physical assault or even murder.
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions you may be suffering from this antisocial affliction:
Do you flash your lights or tailgate other drivers in the fast lane who are not going as fast as you would like?
The traffic lights have changed to green and you are still waiting to move because the person in front is either unable to move their vehicle or just not moving fast enough. Do you use your hooter?
Are you a better driver than any one else on the road?
Someone is tailgating your car; do you give them a finger gesture?
The Controlling Demon!
If you are someone who is tired of the idiots that you see on the road and have given in to the frustration that you feel, have you considered the extra problems that you are potentially creating for your self?
Giving in to road rage will get you into lots of trouble either with the police or it is very likely that you will meet someone who is far more aggressive than you and the ensuing battle might have terrible consequences.
So apart from selling your vehicle and taking up yoga what can you do to control yourself?
Don't see an aggressive driver's behaviour as a personal assault. Bad or dangerous drivers aren't targeting you personally; they're unleashing their frustration or bad mood on the rest of the world at random.
Refuse to allow your mood to be dictated too by the acts of an unpleasant and discourteous stranger. Save your emotional energy for people and activities that deserve it.
Work on being able to just "let go" of angry feelings in traffic with the goal of maintaining inner peace and serenity. After all, your mood and the quality of your day are more important than a brief moment of revenge.
Trivial incidents will usually spark off a road rage situation, just try to remember that we are all human and on some occasions will make a genuine mistake. We should excuse others, as we would wish to be excused, had we done the same thing and not protest and make the situation worse.
What you can do if you become a Victim?
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust - a registered charity providing advice and training on personal safety - offer the following tips for anyone unfortunate enough to get caught up in a road rage incident:
Try and stay calm and don't react angrily or with violent gestures. This may be difficult, but for your own safety and the safety of those travelling with you it is important that you try to diffuse the situation. Most importantly, don't leave your vehicle, and keep the doors locked and windows up. If the aggressive driver is behind you, try to keep a reasonable distance between you and the vehicle in front, so that you can move into that space and away from the aggressive driver if necessary. Make a note of the registration number, model and colour of the other vehicle. A description of the driver might also prove useful, so try and remember what they look like, especially anything distinctive about their appearance. Staying calm and obtaining any witnesses names and addresses and telephone numbers will certainly help your complaint if you report it to the police. Get away from the car as soon as possible without speeding or driving recklessly. If this isn't possible, pull over somewhere where there are other people around, and remember to stay in your vehicle. And immediately after any incident, pull over to use your mobile or a phone box to inform the police.
What will happen at the Police Station?
When you visit your local Police station to report the incident you will be asked to explain what has happened and any reason as to why you think it occurred.
If the circumstances of the incident amount to an offence in law, then you may be asked to make a statement so that the police can take appropriate action.
Did you know that there is no specific offence of “road rage”; it is just an adopted term for basically poor manners and sub-standard driving but it can also encompass other road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
The extent of road rage varies from shouting and hand gesturing to deliberate or antagonistic manoeuvring towards other road users. Although rare it can also include physical assault or even murder.
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions you may be suffering from this antisocial affliction:
Do you flash your lights or tailgate other drivers in the fast lane who are not going as fast as you would like?
The traffic lights have changed to green and you are still waiting to move because the person in front is either unable to move their vehicle or just not moving fast enough. Do you use your hooter?
Are you a better driver than any one else on the road?
Someone is tailgating your car; do you give them a finger gesture?
The Controlling Demon!
If you are someone who is tired of the idiots that you see on the road and have given in to the frustration that you feel, have you considered the extra problems that you are potentially creating for your self?
Giving in to road rage will get you into lots of trouble either with the police or it is very likely that you will meet someone who is far more aggressive than you and the ensuing battle might have terrible consequences.
So apart from selling your vehicle and taking up yoga what can you do to control yourself?
Don't see an aggressive driver's behaviour as a personal assault. Bad or dangerous drivers aren't targeting you personally; they're unleashing their frustration or bad mood on the rest of the world at random.
Refuse to allow your mood to be dictated too by the acts of an unpleasant and discourteous stranger. Save your emotional energy for people and activities that deserve it.
Work on being able to just "let go" of angry feelings in traffic with the goal of maintaining inner peace and serenity. After all, your mood and the quality of your day are more important than a brief moment of revenge.
Trivial incidents will usually spark off a road rage situation, just try to remember that we are all human and on some occasions will make a genuine mistake. We should excuse others, as we would wish to be excused, had we done the same thing and not protest and make the situation worse.
What you can do if you become a Victim?
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust - a registered charity providing advice and training on personal safety - offer the following tips for anyone unfortunate enough to get caught up in a road rage incident:
Try and stay calm and don't react angrily or with violent gestures. This may be difficult, but for your own safety and the safety of those travelling with you it is important that you try to diffuse the situation. Most importantly, don't leave your vehicle, and keep the doors locked and windows up. If the aggressive driver is behind you, try to keep a reasonable distance between you and the vehicle in front, so that you can move into that space and away from the aggressive driver if necessary. Make a note of the registration number, model and colour of the other vehicle. A description of the driver might also prove useful, so try and remember what they look like, especially anything distinctive about their appearance. Staying calm and obtaining any witnesses names and addresses and telephone numbers will certainly help your complaint if you report it to the police. Get away from the car as soon as possible without speeding or driving recklessly. If this isn't possible, pull over somewhere where there are other people around, and remember to stay in your vehicle. And immediately after any incident, pull over to use your mobile or a phone box to inform the police.
What will happen at the Police Station?
When you visit your local Police station to report the incident you will be asked to explain what has happened and any reason as to why you think it occurred.
If the circumstances of the incident amount to an offence in law, then you may be asked to make a statement so that the police can take appropriate action.
Source: exchangeandmart.co.uk
