Major Concerns about Road Behavior - Essay Example

ROAD BEHAVIOR: A MAJOR CONCERN Road Behavior: A Major Concern [The of the appears here] [The of the appears here] The road is not safe anymore. With more cars running up and down the national roads and superhighways, driving is fast becoming another big issue. Motorists and drivers are not taking any chances with regards to road incidents. Everybody is always looking at the side mirrors as a precaution. Life is too precious to be wasted. Situations, however, have changed. Although, accidents and car crashes are a common occurrence on any highway, there is one situation that needs an immediate attention. "According to a study conducted by the Maryland-based Mizell and Company, which analyzed 10,037 police reports and newspaper stories about traffic incidents that led to violence, found 23 percent of aggressive drivers used their vehicle as a weapon. The study also concluded that reports of violent traffic incidents have increased about 7 percent every year since 1990" (www.alligator.org/edit/issues/97-fall/971117/a01rage.htm). Traffic can spell a day. Rush hour is becoming a major factor that can turn the next minute or the next hour into a blissful run or a nightmarish situation. The government is taking all driving issues very seriously. Safety measures are being improved and implemented. Errant and abusive drivers are being sought and penalized. However, citizens and agencies alike are not doing enough to make the highway a safer place for all people. "A call to NHTSA elicited that the two-thirds figure above probably had its origins in a statement made in July by NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez to a House of Representatives Subcommittee on Surface transportation. What Dr. Martinez actually said was, "We estimate that about one-third of these crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities can be attributed to behavior associated with aggressive driving""(http://www.drivers.com/article/168). Over the past years, the number of deaths in road mishaps is a stable figure on the national statistics. People are working hard to address the situation. They find ways to counter the occurrence of heavy traffic. They increase personnel visibility at all points to be responsive to accidents. Motorists are educated about defensive driving and road safety. But with all the precautionary measures being applied to ensure a blissful pace on the highway, plans and methods to instill good values among drivers are nil. There is a big difference between situations involving accidents to a road spat between two ill-tempered motorists. Accidents are not planned. Preventive actions to avoid such situations come by way through the imposition of proper directives and regulations. "In contrast to the more popular crime control approach, a nontraditional application of crime prevention through environmental design, which focuses on traffic facilitation, is offered to address violent and aggressive drivers" (http://eab.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/5/621). A confrontation between individuals is another thing. Although, there are punitive laws against the uncontrolled behavior of people, what becomes questionable is the effectivity of such actions to prevent them from engaging again into violent confrontations on the road in the future. "The media couldn't talk enough about the awful carnage. Even a piece by the columnist William Safire, on the death of Princess Diana, was titled ROAD RAGE IN PARIS" (http://www.fumento.com/atlantic.html). It has clamored for the need for preventive measures on the road. People are encouraged to drive safely. They are told to watch the road, slow down, and to give way at intersections. But what if the situations are entirely different from what a regular motorist usually faces daily How do you react to a yell of an overtaking driver How about a driver who keeps on honking his horn even if the situation doesn't apply What must be done if a motorist suddenly gives the finger How do people react to these situations Although, these cases are a common sight, counter reactions remain in conflict, not necessarily between two motorists, but within the individual himself or herself. The person is usually lost in thought about what to do with rude and impolite behavior. Values may have been instilled into an individual's character but it is difficult to manifest these things in unfamiliar or out of the blue situations. Most people react over things that may sound or interpreted as hostile or threatening to them. "Dr. John A. Larson, author of Steering Clear of Highway Madness, groups aggressive drivers into five categories: the Speeders, passive aggressors, narcissists, vigilantes, and the competitors" (http://www.lakeland.usf.edu/counseling_center/road_rage.html). On impulse, the individual resorts to a defensive stance for personal protection. Most often, violent reactions erupt. This is where the real and actual problem arises. It is never easy to walk away from a confrontation since an individual's pride is being taken into account. Emotions flare up, and in most instances, someone is hurt or killed Technology has innovated a thousand times. People are instrumental with these changes. But sadly, an individual's attitude still clings to the old notions and traditional beliefs. A person goes on with his ways even though it has been considered detrimental to the rest of the members of his group. Selfishness is taking its toll. An individual sees himself as too high or too brilliant or a cut above his friends and colleagues. This type of attitude becomes innate because that person never made an effort to amend his ways. The person goes anywhere, and the same attitude is carried around. "When we get behind a car, some demon takes over and we become discourteous, illegal drivers that cause a lot of problems," says Terry Gainer, director of the Illinois State Police (http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/26/road.ignorance/). It is significant to point out that numerous people are on the road every single day. It also means that different personalities and attitudes are driving down the freeway day in and day out. Any mixing up in the national highway will mean chaos. The dangerous thing about incidents is when people's lives turn upside down. Decades ago, verbal and violent tussles between individuals while driving is something uncommon and unlikely. Reports and statistics point out that an increase in the number of cars over the years led to the outrageous behavior along the highway. Traffic congestion is the primary result of vehicle accumulation on the road. The wayward actions of some drivers often lead into collisions and vehicular accidents. While the entire system is thinking about methods to save lives, people are neglecting the root cause behind all these cases. The objective for most agencies concerned is to make the superhighways safe for motorists. Nobody is teaching the drivers about what to do. Anywhere, persons are concerned about situations. They don't think much about what got people into those situations in the first place. "Says Allen Robinson of the American Driver and Traffic Safety Association, "If people are not aware of what they should do, how do we blame them for what they don't do properly"" (http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/26/road.ignorance/). Road safety is a worldwide problem. Adjustments have already been made. But what allows lives to be lost is the aggressive behavior which is disturbing numerous drivers and motorists. There is a question hanging everyday. It arouses an inquiry about character, about handling the daily grind and being in charge. The road is one place where a person's handling skill is tested. "Redford Williams, M.D., at Duke University, points to a hostile personality type as an indicator of someone who is more likely to get angry quicker" (http://www.lakeland.usf.edu/counseling_center/road_rage.html). Consider a typical day. A chubby guy drives his SUV down the freeway. It is thirty past seven. The sun is smiling. Then suddenly, a sedan overtakes at the curb, and cutting in front of the SUV in the process. The guy hits the break, and his blood pressure shot up to two hundred. Just as his other foot released the brakes, the other one stepped on the gas and the SUV gave chase. Both cars are going at each other head to head. The speedometer accelerates from fifty to ninety to a hundred. A truck from the opposite side crosses on the next intersection, and the SUV rams into it killing the chubby guy instantly. A beautiful day ends in a tragedy. Consider that same situation with the chubby guy's reaction. The sedan cuts in front of the SUV. The SUV returns the favor. The sedan blocks the van, and both cars stopped. The two drivers hurled expletives against one another, and soon another driver has stopped to break up the fight. The situation is an everyday occurrence. And the behavior is just, well, human. Both drivers failed to grasp the dangers involved with their behavior on the road. They never think about the consequences of their actions. Instead of sorting their next actions, they became reactive and their tempers went ballistic. "This isn't about road rage," says Brook Chipman, a spokesman for the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau in Massachusetts. "It's about road respect" (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-05-04-cutoff-usat_x.htm). ""Road Rage" is a term that is believed to have originated in the United States" (http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfmbutton=agdrtext#road%20rage). The word has been used often in cases related to road engagements. Accidents, fights, confrontations and other unacceptable display of public behavior are associated with road rage since then. It is hard to fully comprehend what sets off a rage while an individual is driving. But it is not that difficult to uncover the motives leading to its explosive action. People use motivation to achieve goals. However, while pursuing dreams, frustrations can never be far behind. A person builds enough confidence to deal with the daily rigors. An individual believes that he must be on top of things to enable him to catch a grip on his objectives. But the process leading to those goals is always a long and tedious one. Civilization cannot be what it is today if it is not ignited and motivated by a man's ego. The ability to dominate is a primary factor in a person's achievements. Everyone wants to dominate that stepping on somebody else's toes is a common act. This is where flares pop out. It starts at home, and will be carried elsewhere, especially on the road. Arnold Nerenberg, a clinical psychologist in Whittier, California, invokes evolution. "This competitiveness on the road is similar to what you see in all social mammals," he told one reporter. "There is this 'I will not let you get ahead of me" (http://www.fumento.com/atlantic.html). Drivers are confident individuals. Danger lurks down the superhighways, along the dusty roads and around the curb. With a strong personality, motorists assert their hands to control what they believe are their privilege to maneuver the open lanes. An individual on the wheel sees himself as powerful. This confidence is sometimes carried to the extreme. He proclaims himself as king. As kings, any person wants to dominate and gets rid of things blocking the path. The vehicle is just another instrument of dominance. With numerous motorists running along the expressway, dominance comes in big and small packages. The tone to be a star on the track instigates people to overtake, cut through and get ahead at the other people's expenses. Confidence can put individuals on the edge. This attitude will bypass ethics and respect on the road leading to incident occurrence. "People think it's bad behavior and that you just need an attitude adjustment, but what they don't know ... is that there's a biology and cognitive science to this," said Dr. Emil Coccaro, chairman of psychiatry at the University of Chicago's medical school (http://www.startribune.com/484/story/474364.html) Another key factor leading drivers to hit the maximum mark on the speedometer is their emotional release. Frustrations at work and disappointments at home often tighten the senses of people. Handling failure is a manageable but difficult process. A driver is carrying a lot of this excess baggage within his system. With a lot of time on the road, that person will pour his negative feelings on anybody that crosses his way. Actually, frustrated individuals are blinded by the barriers and frustrations in their lives that they don't hold themselves responsible for the consequences of their actions. "Recently the New York Times conducted a poll in the Washington, D.C., area that concluded about 42 percent of Americans think aggressive driving poses more of a threat than drunk drivers" (www.alligator.org/edit/issues/97-fall/971117/a01rage.htm). Drunk driving is an example of pouring out those frustrations out. It's also a careless act. People don't usually see what's coming. In most cases, deaths happen after a collision or a confrontation. It is too late when realization hits the persons concerned about the painful repercussions of their actions. They hurt people without thinking because they are so consumed by the hurt that they feel. They totally forget that people like them are maimed on the other side of the fence "It is news to a lot of people even who are specialists in mental health services that such a large proportion of the population has these clinically significant anger attacks," Ronald Kessler, a health care policy professor at Harvard Medical School said (http://www.startribune.com/484/story/474364.html). Road rage is a psychological problem. Once emotions take over, especially the painful ones, it overwhelms people, and clouds their thinking and judgment. Drivers put the pedals on the floor and push their way over other people's cars without looking forward to the consequences of their own doing. Incidents involving aggressive driving always end up in tragedies. Road rage is fast becoming a social problem. It reflects the insecurities of individuals in their lives. People with unstable emotions pour it out on their behaviors. The management and control of road rage goes beyond the precautionary measures associated with the safety regulations on the road. Numerous people have succumbed to the growing problem. But the biggest casualty on the receiving end of the raging behavior is the families of the victims. These persons live with the pain of an incident which leaves a significant part of their lives suffering. Death and watching a loved one in pain is a bitter pill to swallow. It is difficult to accept that because of another person's unacceptable behavior, someone close died or will suffer for live. "David Willis, president of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, says the results of road rage are a serious problem that don't seem to be getting any better" (www.alligator.org/edit/issues/97-fall/971117/a01rage.htm). Victims and their families are lobbying for more restrictive and harsher punishments to enforce against those people involved in the outrageous behavior on the road. They want stiffer laws to penalize the individuals concerned. However, it is significant to note that, no matter what penalties are implemented, it is still everybody's responsibility to form or reshape an individual's character. Persons must be taught about things that matter. It is the inner self that needs changing. Controlling the reins on road rage will not settle this psychological problem. The individual himself is the problem. To improve people's behaviors means improving his way of life and making them better persons. That is the biggest difference that social concerns like road rage really need. Everything starts from being a truly human being. BIBLIOGRAPHY Burns, R. G. & Katovich, M. A.. Environment and Behavior Vol. 35 No. 5, 2003. Retrieved August 8, 2007 from http://eab.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/5/621 Fumento, M.. ROAD RAGE AGAINST REALITY. Atlantic Monthly, Aug. 1998. Retrieved August 8, 2007 from http://www.fumento.com.atlantic.html Howlett, D.. Legislators Target Road Rudeness. USA Today. May 4, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2007 from http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-05-04-cutoff-usat_x.htm Hughes, B.. Should We Worry About Road Rage April 2000. Retrieved August 9, 2007 from Http://speakout.com/activism/issue_briefs/1262b-1.html Joint, M., MSc, BSc & MCIT. What is Road Rage March 1995 Retrieved August 8, 2007 from http://www.aaafoundation.org/resources/index.cfmbutton=agdrtext#road%20rage Koch, K.. Experts Say Ignorance Contributes to Road Rage. US News. Aug. 26, 1997 Retrieved August 9, 2007 from http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/26/road.ignorance/ Tanner, L.. Explosive Disorder: You may know it as Road Rage. Associated Press. June 6, 2006. 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