Revisiting road rage: mindfulness matters

In a June column, I wrote of a personal encounter with an aggressive driver, and detailed how quickly the incident escalated to road rage. After that, I received numerous reader reports of equally harrowing escapades, and questions asking how to report their encounters. I answered some of those queries individually at the time, but since the incidence of road rage is rising here and nationally, I wish to revisit the subject.

In barely more than a three-month period, the material available for researching the subject has increased profoundly. The two main sources I’ll refer to here, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Washington State Patrol, devote major attention to the aggressive driving and road rage topics at this time.

The information at these Web sites is voluminous, and since not everyone has access to a computer, or will have the time to look, I’ll paraphrase and summarize what I’ve found there.

For information from the WSP, go to www.wsp.wa.gov and follow the links to “Driver and Vehicle,” and then “Aggressive Driving/Road Rage.” There is plenty of text there, including a Mission Statement from Chief John R. Batiste: “The WSP has directed its resources to the core traffic law enforcement activities (Driving Under the Influence, Aggressive Driving, Seat Belt Compliance, and Speeding) to maximize the intended results of saving lives, reducing injury, and protecting property.”

And his further goal: “The reduction in incidents of aggressive driving/road rage is critical to the mission of the WSP. The preventable individual driving behaviors and decisions made by aggressive drivers can lead to loss of life and life-threatening injuries to our friends, family, and children. Our goal is to change these behaviors and outcomes through enforcement, education, and assistance.” Finally he states: “I encourage the citizens of Washington State to review the safety tips on this Web page and adopt them into their everyday driving practices.” The Chief’s passion is apparent.

Other links at the WSP Web site are “report aggressive driving online,” or www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/roadrage.htm, for reporting multiple sightings, and “Campaign Safe & Sober-Get The Word Out,” or www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/outreach/safesobr/16qp/wordout.html, where you can take a test to determine if you are prone to aggressive driving.

Symptoms of Potential Trouble

•Mentally condemning or thought of violence toward other drivers.

•Verbally expressing condemnation of other drivers to passengers in your vehicle.

•Not obeying traffic safety rules, because you don’t agree with them.

Engaging in aggressive and risky driving:

•Following too close

•Speeding

•Weaving in and out of traffic

•Speeding up to beat light

•Cutting between vehicles to change lanes

•Using the horn excessively

•Flashing headlights excessively

•Braking to get others to back off your bumper

•Passing traffic and then slowing to teach the other driver a lesson

These aggressive driving practices are the seeds of road rage, which NHTSA defines as: “An assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle on the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle caused by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

If you are the victim or witness of a single act of road rage, the State Patrol asks that you call 911, and supply the following information: location of the vehicle, direction it is going, the road, vehicle type and color, if weapons are involved, and a description of the rage.

Tips to Avoid Encounters

•Allow plenty of time for your trip, improve comfort in vehicle, and understand that you cannot control the traffic, only your reaction to it. Personal frustration, anger, and impatience may be the most dangerous “drugs” on the highway.

•Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not. Avoid all contact (including eye) if possible. If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and move out of the way. Never underestimate the other driver’s capacity for mayhem.

•Don’t make aggressive hand gestures to other drivers when they offend you.

•Control your anger; remember it takes two to start a fight.

If You Become a Victim

•Get help. Call 911 on your cell phone, or go to a public telephone. Don’t pull to the side of the road.

•Forget about winning. No one wins in a crash.

•Try to put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. In other words, try to figure out why they might be driving that way—maybe there is a legitimate reason, like an emergency or illness.

Society is moving at a faster pace than ever — competition and pressures are acute. The NHTSA’s opinion is that an increased value of time is making us more aggressive than ever, and that driving may be perceived as wasted hours, especially during work commutes. Whatever the reasons, attitudes and behavior of aggression and rage are a threat to all who share the roadway. Let’s do our part to curtail it!