NEWSLETTER I JUNE 2014
Road Rage
Road Rage is a catchy phrase, one that attracts
media interest and fuels conversation. The term is
used to describe any act of driver aggression
including actual or attempted assault on other
drivers. Drivers caught up in this phenomenon are
seen as experiencing near primal rage – reflexive,
powerful, and passionate. Another term commonly
used in media reports is “aggressive driving”. A
long list of behaviours are associated with this term,
including tailgating, unsafe lane changes, speeding,
excessive honking, rude hand gestures, and verbal
abuse.
According to media reports and the AAA Foundation
for Traffic Safety, incidents of road rage and
aggressive driving have increased dramatically in
the past decade. Most drivers experience some
degree of anger and frustration while driving, yet
only a few respond with aggression or road rage.
The key may be the difference in their attitudes,
beliefs, personalities, coping strategies, and
personal stress levels. Other factors, including
temperature, noise and traffic congestion, may
contribute to aggressive driving.
“Members of the Road Rage Club”
Research suggests that young males between 18 and
30 are most likely to experience road rage.
According to psychologists, people from this age
group tend to see themselves as invincible and
omnipotent and are, therefore, more likely to
participate in high-risk behaviours. However, they
are not the only members of the road-rage club.
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Evidence suggests that women of all ages and older
men also can, and do, succumb to anger while driving.
Behaviours associated with road rage:
 tailgating
 unsafe lane changes
 speeding
 excessive honking
 rude hand gestures
 verbal abuse
NEWSLETTER I JUNE 2014
Tips on How to Cope
The following are some tips for dealing with aggressive
drivers:
1. Stay clear of angry drivers. They can be
unpredictable. Avoid eye contact as some people
see it as a threat, intimidation tactic, or invitation
to a standoff.
2. If you are being tailgated, don’t slam on the
brakes. Signal, pull over, and let the tailgater pass
you.
3. If you make a mistake or accidentally cut someone
off apologize with an appropriate gesture.
4. Don’t make rude gestures. This insults other
drivers who may respond in kind or escalate the
situation.
5. Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. The other
driver may have reason for his/her driving
behaviours. Don’t take the driving behaviour
personally or turn into an aggressive driver by
retaliating.
6. Get help if you feel threatened. If another driver is
following you or trying to start a fight, do not get
out of your vehicle. Call the police or go to a safe,
populated area. Use your horn to draw attention to
yourself.
Tips on How to Stay Calm
The following tips may help you to stay calm and
prevent frustration leading to aggressive driving:
1. Know where you are going, how to get there
and how long you will need. If you are running
late remember that getting there late and alive
is better than not at all.
2. Be aware of your emotional state before you
get into the car. Take a few moments to settle
into your task of driving safely to your next
destination. Don’t drive while you are upset.
3. If you do get upset while driving, try to talk
yourself out of it, make decisions or plans to
solve the problem, or resign yourself to the fact
that you will not change much while driving.
Get focused for safety.
“Work With Us”
Physical and mental health are closely linked. Work
With Us is a new program built on a unique
partnership between The Arthritis Society and Mood
Disorders Society of Canada. Offered free to
workplaces across Canada, these lunch and learn
sessions are typically scheduled over the lunch hour
(or any time that suits your schedule) and cover
practical tips and exercises that will get your team
up and moving.
Studies have shown that exercise, nutrition and sleep
are pillars of good physical and mental wellbeing.
Work With Us covers all of these areas and tells you
where you can connect online with others in this
community, as well as health experts. We cover each
of these specific areas:
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Understand the signs and symptoms of
depression and arthritis;
Realize the unique health impacts in
workplaces across Canada;
Be introduced to self-management tips and
tools;
Learn from someone who has experienced
depression first hand and how they found a
path to their recovery;
Know where to access free resources
available to support yourself or others who
have been affected; and
Understand the pillars of an inclusive work
environment.
If you would like to sign up for a presentation
delivered by a trained presenter, please call or email
Jennifer Lee, Program Manager at: 647-629-3720 or
[email protected]
We’re also training champions to deliver these
sessions across Canada and you can sign up here:
http://workwithus.ca/volunteer-training/
Please
visit us at: www.workwithus.ca or follow
@WorkWithUsCA.
For further assistance please contact fseap at 1-877-433-0701.
We offer confidential individual, group, and family counselling to all ages. During business hours counselling is provided inperson. Qualified counsellors can also be reached for phone counselling at the above number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
REMINDER: Should you need to cancel or rebook your appointment, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice.
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