ARE YOU A VICTIM OF ROAD RAGE ?

THE ASIAN AGE (Jun 2003)

By Skimmy Gupta

A fortnight ago,Arun Chavan ,a 34 year old auto rickshaw driver was clubbed to death by two other fellow auto drivers near his residence.Arun ,a resident of Malad had just casually overtaken his auto ahead of other two vehicles.On 19th may evening these 3 autos were stuck up in atraffic jam .Arun just drove past his auto ahead of the other two autos in front of him.This enraged the auto drivers Vijay Sawant and Pravin Panchal to such an extent that they forcibly pulled Arun out of auto.they then repeatedly brutally beat him to death with iron rods and bamboo sticks.Arun the sole bread earner to his family of wife and 3 daughters was an innocent victim of apparently ‘Road Rage’ which is engulfing the traffic congested streets of the city of Mumbai.

Amongst the mammoth problems like garbage,slums,traffic congestion,pollution etc .Mumbai confronts today,Road Rage is fast growing all over the streets of city of Mumbai. And no one is immune to it in some way or other.It is simply an incident in which one driver does something that sets off another one and makes him angry.or in other words Raod Rage can be defines as ‘the habit of aggressive driving as a permanent style of behaving behind the wheel’.And in todays day and age wherein Mumbaites are stressed out ,it sometimes acts an an outlet for frustation.Anyone who spends any time at all on the road will continue to experience some or other form of Road Rage.Road Rage is simply someone else’s behaviour causing us to mutter something under our breath and sometimes get a little louder.But often people due to excess stress levels .they are actually venturing out of their cars and physically assault other drivers.

Poulomi Nilawar,hypnotherapist and psychologist says "Driving a vehicle is a complex habit which involves emotions ,thoughts and actions.the way we drive is the result of our cultural norms and attitudes.Driving style is a socio-moral issue and reflects the moral development of the individual.Supportive and compassionate driving is smart,calm,pleasant and safe .Whereas aggressive and competitive driving can be stressful,dangerous,depressing and often injurious to one’s mental health.Driving skills need to change over the lifetime of a driver due to new conditions and requirements ,so there needs to be lifelong driver-self-improvement training activities.Self-esteem and self –confidence of a driver can be increased through self improvement exercises.Also children learn aggressive ,competitive ,individualistic styles and norms of driving from their parents,other adults and dramatized portrayals of driving behavior in the media."


BASIC DRIVING TIPS TO PREVENT ROAD RAGE

· First and foremost ,be courteous.Think of what you might say or do to

other driver.We can act in strange ways that we could never think of ,when we

are actually in eye-to-eye contact with other driver.

· Signal your intentions.Do not change lanes and other traffic rules without

signaling to others.The others sharing the road have right to know what you

are going to do.

· Do not get too close to car ahead of you to avoid collision in emergency break.

· Tone your headlights and make sure they are not blinding someone.

· Drinking and driving is highly dangerous..A drunk driver is unable to

make accurate judgements and thus ensure safety.

· Relax before you get behind the wheel of your vehicle.Tell yourself you will

be patient,focused,not angry for your well beings and of others.

· It takes two to make a fight.Do not respond & engage yourself.Don’t up the

ante and swallow your pride.

· If enraged by on road conversation ,count to 10.Act as if you are not affected.

Give yourself pep talk.

· Refrain from aggravating things.In case you fall in a hostile exchange,know how

to back out,reverse,back pedal

· Come out swinging positive .Apologise.


ACTS OF DECLARATION OF ROAD RAGE WAR

· Honking unnecessarily and continuously at someone

· Giving an offensive hand gesture

· Yelling or swearing at someone

· Revving your engine to indicate displeasure

· Shining and blinking your headlights in retaliation

· Deliberate overtaking and cutting someone in a rash manner

· Blocking a lane ,preventing tailgater to move ahead.

· Braking suddenly to punish tailgater

· Tailgating :Follow a car closely and intentionally


Mukul Joshi ,a psychologist ,lecturer at Mithibai College and counselor with Jamnabai Narsee School ,Juhu and Don Bosco School ,Matunga commenting on the growing road rage problem in the city feels "Raod rage is a tendency of easily getting provoked in relation with the feeling of competitiveness .But it can be changed and solved if we just change our tendency and realise our responsiblilities and value of our precious life.You should always follow ‘I control the vehicle and that the vehicle does not control me.’.The civic sense ,road sense should be encouraged in children right from early childhood .We Indians often have the habit of blaming upon police,traffic and other authorities in case of a mishap.Tnis is sheer stupidity as we were driving the vehicle and not the police.To avoid such accidents one must always obey the speed limits and follow the traffic rules.Also our mass media both print and electronic always potrays a wrong road sense which ahs caught upon the young pysche.One thing is for sure if a person cares for his life,he cannot be careless about others.An individual should definitely learn to cool down if an argument breaks out on the road ,which in turn can be very provocative and lead to dangerous results."

Poulomi suggests three basic steps what a driver must be aware of before he takes to the streets with his vehicle.She says "There are basic three steps a driver must understand and apply to prevent any kind of road rage.Step 1 is ‘A’ for Acknowledge –i.e as a driver I must acknowledge that I exhibit aggressive behaviors ,either overtly or internally ,or both.To make this first big step means that you are confessing to your bad driving behaviours and that you are giving up the reputation you have with yourself as being a good driver.he second step is a ‘W’ for Witnessing one;s behaviours behind the wheel .Notice what you are thinking and try to keep your behaviour in check.Step 3 is a ‘M’ for modify your behaviour one at a time.Each behaviour you witness yourself as bad,must be re-educated and changed slowly."

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