Road rage and inconsiderate drivers
Cindy Petersen
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Web Exclusive
I often wondered why people who are normally mild-mannered can get behind the wheel of a car and in a matter of minutes be turned into vicious, road-raging maniacs? The sweetest person can suddenly become mean and spiteful and spew cuss words a mother would cringe at. The entrance ramps to the interstate become a free-for-all and suddenly people act as if they are entered in a Nascar race. They smile as they pass you at 80 mph, indicating that they have no remorse for their actions. They don't even bat an eye as their actions cause you to slam on your brakes putting yourself and others at risk for a collision.
It isn't just young drivers who are treating the road as if it were their own. I see older drivers who think it's their right to weave in and out of traffic and make up their own rules as they wish. Never mind that everyone is trying to get home after a long day or that an accident ahead has caused traffic to slow down to a trickle. Many become impatient and begin looking for a way around it all. Impatient people make it more difficult for others as they cut in and out of line, hoping to inch up the lines a few lengths. Tempers rise, patience wears thin and a vicious cycle begins.
Finding myself in such a situation, I have to admit that I succumb to the road-rage frenzy when someone narrowly misses my bumper. The words begin pouring from my mouth and my middle finger pops up. My adult daughter calmly tells me to relax; that we're not in that big of a hurry. I glance at the serene look on her face and realize that she's right. I was no better than the road rage lunatics that I despised. I couldn't believe how easily I let myself slip into that mode.
So what did it take to bring me back to where I can pull my claws in and erase the lines that were etched in my forehead? I took a few breaths and remembered that I am not the only one on the highway and remember patience and tolerance are virtuous. I glance over and see the jokester who passed me at 80 mph and now finds himself pleading his case to a cop and try not to laugh. Just another good reason to maintain good driving skills.
It isn't just young drivers who are treating the road as if it were their own. I see older drivers who think it's their right to weave in and out of traffic and make up their own rules as they wish. Never mind that everyone is trying to get home after a long day or that an accident ahead has caused traffic to slow down to a trickle. Many become impatient and begin looking for a way around it all. Impatient people make it more difficult for others as they cut in and out of line, hoping to inch up the lines a few lengths. Tempers rise, patience wears thin and a vicious cycle begins.
Finding myself in such a situation, I have to admit that I succumb to the road-rage frenzy when someone narrowly misses my bumper. The words begin pouring from my mouth and my middle finger pops up. My adult daughter calmly tells me to relax; that we're not in that big of a hurry. I glance at the serene look on her face and realize that she's right. I was no better than the road rage lunatics that I despised. I couldn't believe how easily I let myself slip into that mode.
So what did it take to bring me back to where I can pull my claws in and erase the lines that were etched in my forehead? I took a few breaths and remembered that I am not the only one on the highway and remember patience and tolerance are virtuous. I glance over and see the jokester who passed me at 80 mph and now finds himself pleading his case to a cop and try not to laugh. Just another good reason to maintain good driving skills.
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