If you have ever found yourself engaging in any or some of the following behaviours you are likely to be experiencing Road Rage and thus at risk of being arrested and perhaps charged with assault – or even worse!
The following are common manifestations – in varying degrees – of road rage:
- Generally aggressive driving, including sudden acceleration, braking, and tailgating
- Cutting others off in a lane, or deliberately preventing someone from merging
- Chasing other motorists
- Flashing lights and/or hooting excessively
- Yelling or exhibiting disruptive behaviour at roadside taxi buses
- Driving at high speeds in the median of a highway to terrify drivers in both lanes
- Rude gestures (such as “the finger”)
- Shouting verbal abuse or threats
And even more serious:
- Intentionally causing a collision between vehicles
- Hitting other vehicles
- Assaulting other motorists, their passengers, cyclists, or pedestrians
- Exiting the car to attempt to start a confrontation, including striking other vehicles with an object
- Threatening to use or using a firearm or other deadly weapon
The South African Automobile Association defines road rage “ … as an incident in which an angry or impatient motorist or passenger intentionally injures or kills another motorist, passenger or pedestrian, or attempts or threatens to injure another motorist passenger or pedestrian” .
Road rage is a growing problem on South African highways, and learning how to deal with road rage can help you avoid the regrettable – and often dangerous – nightmare that frequently follows an aggressive road rage incident.
Currently, there are no definitive statistics that deal with road rage directly as it is not yet classified as a crime, but anecdotal evidence suggests that the incidence of road rage is on the increase in South Africa and crimes committed as a result of road rage are becoming increasingly violent.
A number of studies have found that individuals with road rage were predominantly young (33 years of age on average) and male (96.6%).
Road rage is more often than not a result of stress and pent-up aggression arising from factors beyond the road situation itself and as a result, minor incidents such as being cut off or being thrown a zap sign, have the potential to escalate rapidly into a situation that lacks all sense of proportion and can end in violence.
Reasons for Aggressive Driving
- Increased traffic congestion on roads;
- A general decline in courtesy and civility;
- More youths today with vehicles, but not possessing the maturity to drive them responsibly and with caution especially during tense situations.
- Conflicts from other areas of our lives that ride with us in the car: family issues, marital problems, resentments from the job, difficulties with authority and feeling controlled by others.
- A sense of ‘territory’ that leads us to presume that we own the space around us and our vehicle. When another vehicle invades that space in a way we dislike, we have an increase and unfounded tendency today to ‘strike back’.
- A sense that as vehicles have become safer to drive, we are immune from danger in them even at high speeds.
- Vehicles are often seen as ‘extensions’ of ourselves and the ease of operation gives us the false sense that we control all aspects of the vehicle, including mechanical functioning of the car.
How to Avoid Conflict on the Road
There are solutions to these problems AND most of them come from within each of us.
Here are some helpful tips to remember:
- Often another driver’s aggressive driving makes one feel compelled to retaliate. However, it is best to leave punishment to the traffic police. Call the police to report any instances of aggressive driving when you arrive at your destination but then become involved no further.
- Do not compete on the road: Driving is not a contest. Let others who are racing pass you.
Let aggressive drivers have their accidents elsewhere!
- If another driver does something to anger you, talk to your passengers about it rather than use your vehicle as a weapon to retaliate.
- If you get angry easily and feel you do not have the best frame of mind while driving, consider postponing the trip until you feel better, have a friend drive, call a taxi or use Uber/Bolt.
- Give an aggressive driver the benefit of the doubt: It is possible or likely he or she made a mistake from fatigue or failing to pay attention and did not intentionally set out to cause a problem for you.
- Try to keep your cool in traffic. Be patient and courteous to other drivers, and correct your unsafe driving habits that are likely to endanger, infuriate, or antagonize other motorists.
Back Off from Aggressive Drivers:
Realize that you cannot control another driver’s behaviour, but you can control your own.
When another driver cuts you off, how you react will determine what happens next. If you are able to back off, take a deep breath and remain calm so as to defuse a potentially violent situation.
You might need to vent about the driver tailgating you all the way from town or the overly cautious motorist who consistently drove under the speed limit.
Venting your frustration is normal and healthy, but vent appropriately.
Talk to a friend or family member about the driving experience – telling the story can relieve your stress. Some driving clubs or online discussions offer members a chance to vent their frustration.
Know Your Own Driving Style
What if you are THE aggressive driver?
Analyze your driving style and whether you are susceptible to road rage; then consider changing your own driving habits.
Aggressive drivers routinely:
- Tailgate
- Use their horn
- Flash their headlights
- Change lanes quickly and often
- Gesture to other drivers
- Talk on their cell phone
Changing your driving habits is not easy. You’ll need to practice and study safer driving habits. Consider signing up for a driver’s education course or better yet, personalized training.
Of course, the opposite is the ‘instigator’―the driver who infuriates other drivers by driving under the speed limit, skipping turn signals, slowing down early for exits, accelerating unevenly, and hogging lanes.
Remember, you are sharing the road with other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
It is only fair for you to recognize that people are going to work, school, or important appointments – and driving under the speed limit is inconsiderate. You can pull over and let others pass by.
Uncertain situations can escalate unpredictably, and the best advice is to avoid confrontations altogether. If you tend to provoke other drivers or are on the aggressive side of road rage, put some effort into learning new driving habits.
This overview is based articles written by the ‘Defensive Driving Staff Writers’ associated with SafeMotorist.com
For further information please contact:
Professor Christopher R. Stones (Clinical Psychologist and Behavioural Management Specialist)
Phone: 011-801-5616 (Upstairs Reception)
Alternatively send a booking request on: www.nhcltd.com
NHC Health Centre
Cnr Christiaan de Wet Road & Dolfyn Street
(opposite Eagle Canyon Auto)
Honeydew