Road Rage
by Tom Buchanan

We have all probably experienced road discomfort, road fear or even road anger. Many drivers have also experienced road rage. Just what is road rage? What causes It? How can it be prevented?

Road rage is an extension of road anger. Sometimes a driver in another vehicle will do something dumb that makes you mad. Lets try this scenario say a small compact car approaches you from behind on the interstate. You are doing the speed limit in the right lane and they pass you on the left. So far so good. Then suddenly, without warning, the compact car that just barely passed you cuts in front of you without using its turn signal and exits the freeway at the next exit which is only a few hundred yards down the freeway.

Now here's where the difference between road discomfort, fear, anger and rage come into play. If you have discomfort you simply lightly touch your brake and surmise that the driver probably didn't realize that his exit was that close. If this gives you a touch of road fear, you more than likely brake a little harder and realize how much you have to be aware of other people's driving and drive defensively. If someone cutting in front of you like this makes you extremely angry you probably shake your fist or wave a bird at the driver while subjecting your passengers to some choice vulgarity aimed at the driver of the other car.

But what about when the incident invokes road rage? This is where all logic leaves the mind and all you can focus on is making that idiot pay for cutting in front of you. You immediately follow the compact car as it exits the free way. You follow close behind like some animal during the mating season. The other driver gets upset and flips you off which enrages you even more. Finally the car pulls into a parking lot where you are going to get your chance at revenge. The car comes to a stop next to a row of shiny Harley Davidsons in front of a seedy looking bar called The Iron Horse. The driver's door opens and out of the compact car climbs a huge giant of a man wearing solid leather clothes. Suddenly you have a choice. Continue with the rage inside your head or sensibly realize that you have just driven ten miles out of your way and cut your losses.

Only you can prevent road rage. It starts with some simple commonsense rules of the road. Here are couple rules that seem to initiate road rage.

1. Please use your turn signals. I know it is asking a lot, but most drivers don't really care where you are going, but we would like to know when.
2. Fool us and act like you are going to stop at stop signs and red lights. Slow down before you get there don't fly up to the stop and slam on your brakes. Stop in front of the stop sign and then creep ahead. This will also save wear and tear on your vehicle.
3. Don't follow so close behind the car in front of you. It is hard enough to pay attention to driving your own vehicle without wondering if the fool riding your bumper is going to be able to stop too. The rule of thumb is one car length for every tens miles an hour of speed. Let me explain to those of you who don't seem to grasp this simple concept. If you are driving seventy miles per hour and you cannot fit seven cars between you and the car in front of you back off until you can. Simple. By following any closer you will probably arrive at your destination seven one hundredths of a second sooner. This type of measurement is usually only necessary in track and field events of Olympic magnitude. Besides, you'll be able to avoid that proverbial muffler or dead skunk in the road when it appears out of nowhere from underneath the car in front of you.
4. Leave home sooner. If you would have left home just a minute sooner, you would be way ahead of that car in front of you.
5. Plan for emergencies. Because you will need both hands free in an emergency,.decide what you are going to with that cup of coffee, or that fast food burger or that cell phone held to your ear with one of those hands. Some of today's modern vehicles could give you the impression with all of their whistles and bells that you are in your living room playing a video game. This is not the case.
6. Make driving your car the most important thing you do when you are behind the wheel. Remember that you are at the controls of a machine that weighs thousands of pounds. More people are killed by automobiles than guns each year. Please treat your vehicle like it is a loaded weapon; it has the potential to do more damage!
7. Use whatever common sense and courtesy you can muster up.

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