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Teen Health: Road Rage
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Road Rage
by: Amy Otis, RN
Dealing With Road Rage
Road
rage n. Violent behavior exhibited by drivers in traffic,
often as a manifestation of stress.
One in
10 drivers failed a DMV-style road test. This means that there
are about 20 million "licensed" drivers on roadways
in the U.S. that may be unfit and lack basic driving skills
and knowledge to operate a vehicle.
In fact,
results of a study from GMAC Insurance shows that if tested
today, one in ten drivers would fail a state driver's exam.
The study also showed that Americans have dangerous driving
habits. You've seen them: talking on the phone while negotiating
a turn, eating and or smoking while driving, etc.
According
to a regional survey conducted by Drs. Arnold P. Nerenberg
and R. Jerry Adams, over half of drivers in the United States
suffer from road rage. The average number of incidents
per “road rager” is 27. This means that most
of us will encounter “road ragers” many times in
our lives. Between you and me ladies, I think it's a testosterone-related
problem.
Road rage
can lead to injuries or even death. The U.S. Highway
Safety Office has testified to Congress that tens of thousands
of accidents each year can be linked directly to aggressive
driving, including road rage, and is now a leading cause of
death for young people.
A road
rager can become upset because you accidentally cut in front
of him or her, or other reasons that were not intentional.
A key factor in reversing the process is an apology. Over
85 percent of "road ragers" said that they would
drop the matter if the other "careless" driver simply
apologized. Instead, "road ragers" claim,
the "careless" driver seems to be unconcerned about
what they just did and, therefore, needs to be taught a lesson.
Road rage
can lead to injuries or even death. The U.S. Highway
Safety Office has testified to Congress that tens of thousands
of accidents each year can be linked directly to aggressive
driving, including road rage, and is now a leading cause of
death for young people.
A "road
rager" can become upset because you accidentally cut
in front of him or her, or other reasons that were not intentional.
A key factor in reversing the process is an apology.
Over 85 percent of road ragers said that they would
drop the matter if the other "careless" driver simply
apologized. Instead, "road ragers" claim, the "careless"
driver seems to be unconcerned about what they just did and,
therefore, needs to be taught a lesson.
Think
about it. You may have encountered this person who is driving
while on the phone, smoking, and flipping you the "bird",or,
the finger, because they didn't like your driving. Do not
antagonize this person. He or she may have had a really bad
day and are just looking for someone to take it out on. Mix
that equation with booze and it's a recipe for disaster. Let
them pass you and be on their way. I always feel relieved
when they are gone.
Why
Not Start a Road Rage Prevention Campaign?
Schools
should start road rage prevention campaigns. For example:
Develop a road rage prevention curriculum for inclusion in
Driver's Education, Health classes, Psychology, Sociology,
or other classes, (if you don't already have one). Of course
schools are already overwhelmed with responsibility and curriculum
requirements. Maybe you could do it as a "public service"
credit, It would be a good start to safer roads.
If you
live in a densely populated area (like I do), you are very
familiar with this problem.
Good luck
out there and stay safe.
See Bullying for more and Anger
Management.
Cool
Nurse - Health Information for Today's Teen
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