Perhaps they cut you off. Or they’re sitting at a green light, doing their makeup or daydreaming or anything but reacting to the universal symbol for go. For some reason, these people have absolutely no idea how important it is that you get where you are going. They have not offered you the basic courtesy of consideration, so you, always the bigger person, offer them the basic courtesy of letting them know how rude they are acting.
It sounds like a good system to me. Some people just do not understand the basic rules of the road, and the skilled drivers simply seek to inform them. Some may call it roadway mentorship, or perhaps constructive commuter criticism, or even tough left-lane love.
But no. We live in a fast-paced, short-attention-span world, and the media-friendly sensational sound bite for this naturally occurring phenomenon is Road Rage.
Now that just puts an unnecessarily sinister edge on an action that I believe is really community service. Tuesday, AutoVantage released a study titled In the Driver’s Seat Road Rage Survey. And while I do not question their methodology, I have a bit of an issue with their analysis. They say, in order, the least courteous cities are Miami, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Boston and the most courteous are Minneapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta. But they assume road rage is inversely related to courteousness. This, I cannot accept.
How else will bad drivers ever learn? Besides, our cars come equipped with tools to help teach others how to drive.
Sensitive break lights: We’ve all been tailgated at some point.
Following another car too closely is not just annoying but dangerous too. You need a certain amount of stopping distance between cars to avoid a collision, and that distance increases with speed. If someone is right on your ass and you need to stop abruptly, to prevent a collision or avoid hitting a person, or if that address you’re looking for comes up quicker than expected, they could hit you. Getting rear-ended is terrible, but for the most part, the fault lies with the person doing the rear-ending.
So by occasionally break-checking that tailgater, you can teach that driver the potential danger he or she is putting the two of you in without actually having the accident. The terror they feel when they see your break lights begin to glow is minuscule compared to what may happen if you actually came to a stop. Simply ease on the break petal so the break lights go on, and watch that nasty tailgater fall back a little.
A functioning horn: The survey found that only 40 percent of drivers are currently using this teaching tool while driving. Horns provide an array of noises that can be used for both positive and negative reinforcement.
By continuously pushing on, or “laying on,” the horn, one can effectively communicate that there is something not being done that needs to be done immediately. The offending driver will realize that they must figure out what to do and do it immediately if they want that noise to stop. This method is highly useful at green lights and a lifesaver at the coveted green turn arrow.
But sometimes we have no control over what others do. Consider, for example, getting cut off. After a person swoops into your lane, dangerously close, it is customary to notify them of their mistake. Quickly but firmly hit the horn, but don’t let your hand linger there for too long. Once you know you have the other driver’s attention, reposition your hands to further state your point. This could be placing to the side, palms up, midlevel between ears and shoulders in the universally accepted WTF? position. But hey, get creative! There are plenty of hand gestures out there; pick the one that you feel gets the point across best.
One thing we should never forget to do is give props to our colleagues. There are some phenomenal drivers out there setting an example for everyone. These socially conscious role models deserve two quick honks and a thumbs up or a wave. But be quick, because they are most likely going faster than you. Keep an eye out for these motorized heroes:
The motorcycle rider selflessly giving up a full lane that he does not need and driving down the medians between the lanes instead.
The SUV driver who uses his girth and V8 engine capability to clear the center lane of the freeway.
The high-speed maneuvering expert who provides real time examples of successful passing, weaving and slide turning.
The multitasker, who flies down city streets, steering expertly with her elbow as she discusses worldly matters on her cell phone and applies a full face of makeup as she caffeinates.
So next time you go to describe someone as a Road Rager, think about what a hurtful, derogatory term it really is. How can we in good conscience label some of our greatest citizens so inappropriately?
A lesson in ‘left-lane tough love’
Daily Emerald
May 16, 2006
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