Don’t become a Victim of Road Rage
His name was Claude and he was our hired driver for a tour of the Black Forest outside of Strasbourg, France. On the way home in a blinding rain storm, someone cut him off on the Autobahn. Honking his horn wildly, Claude raced up on the guy’s bumper, then darted around in front of him and slammed on his brakes causing the other driver to swerve wildly. I was sure we were all going to be killed. When the moment had eased, we quietly asked Claude to exit the highway and let us off. And, that is the secret to avoid being a victim of road rage – escape from the situation.
It can happen in a big city or on a rural highway – someone does something to anger another driver and the other driver decides to retaliate. No matter how good we are at driving, we all occasionally make mistakes or someone ahead of us does and we’re forced to stop or change lanes suddenly. The person behind us may not have even seen the precipitating incident but suddenly we are to blame. We can become victims of road rage in two ways: 1. by allowing our own emotions and poor judgment to make us a perpetrator; 2. by being on the receiving end of others’ rage. Here are some tips to avoid both.
1. Be a safe, courteous, sober driver. The rules of the road are meant to protect us. That’s why we need to heed speed limits, lane changing restrictions, and right of ways. We need to allow a safe distance between us and the next car. We need to travel at the speed of the flow of traffic. Going too fast or too slow causes a risk and can incur the wrath of others. We need to manage anger (get counseling if necessary) and always be aware that every minute of driving is a life and death situation and that our actions affect others.
2. Escape from potentially dangerous situations. If there’s a honking, shouting, gesturing match going on around us, it’s time to exit the highway. Don’t make eye contact with the offending driver. If you’ve ever watched two dogs deciding if they’re going to get in a fight, the minute they look at each other, it’s too late to stop. The same is true with some humans. A look is a challenge and you’re in for it. If there is a honking driver behind you, pull over and let him pass. If he yells at you as he goes by, ignore it. If he continues to stay close to you, try to exit the highway and go a different route. If it’s really a dangerous situation, call 911 for help.
3. Do not get out of your car. Suppose you have to stop suddenly and someone rear-ends you. As you’re gathering your wits, you see an angry driver stalking up to your side of the car. Normally, in an accident, both parties get out of the car and exchange insurance information after making sure no one has been injured. But, if someone is angry with you, stay where you are. The news is full of stories of people who have been injured or killed by others acting irrationally. Whether it’s due to our stressful times, our drug culture, or an increasing number of people with poor social skills, it doesn’t matter. It’s not your job to risk being a victim. Stay put with your doors locked and your windows rolled up and call for help.
The automobile is a wonderful invention that allows us freedom to move between home, job, and friends. It’s a shame that we have to worry about the wrath of other motorists. Driving is an act of community. Our safety depends upon everyone following the rules and safeguarding each other, but when some individuals take their hands off the wheel to turn them into fists, then our primary concern must be self-preservation. Don’t drive in a way to endanger others and keep yourselves safe from those who do.
