Demons On The Road!

Tailgating, Passing on the Right or Left as the case may be, Cutting Drivers Off, Weaving in and out of Traffic (threading the needle), Slamming brakes on tailgaters ("brake job"), Putting high beams on drivers who just cut you off, Giving other drivers obscene gestures, not allowing drivers to merge or taking liberties merging after driver has already yielded to one or more cars, running red lights, passing slow drivers and giving them "a shave" by cutting sharply in front of them, blocking and boxing in drivers who want to pass, and lack of courtesy generally.

The "rage" stems from many of the behaviors that are noticed as response to what may be fairly characterized as justified grievances. Road Rage results from bad driving, aggression and frustration. It occurs when one driver reacts angrily to another driver. These angry drivers may lash out by cutting you off, breaking quickly, tailgating, throwing objects, yelling profanities, or in some cases following you in an attempt to commit a violent act against you or your car.

Road rages are caused when drivers tend to cut in front of other cars too sharply or suddenly without giving a safe distance to maneuver, when changing lanes or merging with the moving traffic on lanes. If no proper signaling is done and if changing lane or merging is done without sufficient space or without caution drivers tend to get enraged.

In motoring it is not enough if one driver drives safe. It is very necessary that each and every driver is in conformity with a particular traffic pattern and motion of the vehicles that form part of that traffic flow. An error by one driver may force all other drivers to lose control leading to accidents. It is the fear of unnecessarily getting involved in an accident or subjecting their cars to damages, for no fault of theirs, that make drivers often lose their patience and composure. It makes them yell or abuse the erring drivers, which results in a road rage.

One should not drive slowly in the fast lane. It is necessary to drive a car at the same pace as other cars that are moving in front in lane. The speed should confirm to the environment and conditions prevalent in a particular spot or road. By driving slowly in the fast lane, other motorists will have only one lane to pass. And passing on the left or right as applicable to different driving practices in different countries, can be dangerous.

This causes others to tailgate a particular vehicle which could lead to road rage yet again. Necessary space is required for all drivers, both old and young, be they professional drivers or just amateurs. Just as nobody likes invasion of one’s personal space, the same applies on roads too. Cars and trucks need their own space as expected by their drivers. When drivers are deprived of a comfort level with respect to space and pace, they get agitated and it triggers off road rage.

Making obscene gestures like flipping the bird will drive others driver to a fit of rage and rashness in driving. Provocations lead to road rage resulting ultimately in accidents. It is essential that drivers should ignore insults and bad drivers. Else it will end up fuelling and refueling road feuds.

Using horn indiscriminately and continuously will leave other drivers cheesed off! Also honking at someone because they are doing something you do not agree with is not only a mistake it is aggressive behavior. Drivers must use horn only to alert drivers or in an emergency to avoid accidents.

There is no point in contesting or competing with angry drivers or racing motorists. The angry and aggressive motorist should be given plenty of space and allowed to pass. One should not crowd a dog that is angry and upset. Responding to the make intimidators will make no sense. It will only cause accidents.