Safety News
In this issue:
Road Rage
Drivers of the Month
Road Rage
One of the major factors in safe driving is simple courtesy—
giving other motorists space, maintaining safe speeds, and
keeping your cool. But no matter how safely you do your job
as a professional driver, there will be inconsiderate, aggressive
drivers out there on the road. Understanding how to deal with
“road ragers” when you encounter them can help keep you safe.
You’ve likely seen it over and over again on the road. A driver
passes on the right, weaves in and out of traffic, and/or makes
inappropriate hand or facial gestures. A driver “lays” on the
horn for no apparent reason, tailgates, or takes very unsafe
risks. All these behaviors are symptoms of what appears to
be an epidemic in our country – a condition described as “road
rage” – another term for a condition is aggressive driving.
How long has this been going on?
Road rage is really nothing new, but it seems to be getting
worse every year. In 1996, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
released data that showed the number of violent incidents
between drivers on the highway has risen each year, and was
up 51% since 1990. The number of violent incidents actually
reported by law enforcement personnel is likely just the tip
of a very large iceberg. Officials acknowledge that for every
aggressive driving incident that results in a police report or press
coverage, there are literally thousands more which don’t “make
the news” – what a scary thought.
What exactly is aggressive driving?
The Department of Transportation defines “aggressive driving” as
“driving behavior that endangers or is likely to endanger people
or property.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) says aggressive drivers are more likely to:
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Volume 5, Issue 7
July, 2007
Speed, tailgate, fail to yield, weave in and out, pass on the
right, make improper/unsafe lane changes, run stop signs
and red lights, make inappropriate hand/facial gestures,
scream, honk, flash their lights,
Climb into the anonymity of a vehicle and then take out
their frustrations on other drivers,
Allow high frustration levels to diminish concern for other
motorists,
Be impaired by alcohol/drugs and drive without seat belts.
Who are aggressive drivers?
The majority of drivers involved in road rage incidents are males
between the ages of 18 and 26. But in one study there were
hundreds of cases where the “rager” was between 26 and 50.
Even more surprising, in a study conducted by a college student
in a recent year, the most common drivers involved in road rage
incidents were what might be termed “soccer moms” – women
with juvenile passengers driving station wagons or minivans.
When you come right down to it, there’s no typical aggressive
driver. While many are young males with histories of criminal
activity and violence, not to mention drug and alcohol problems,
there are also aggressive drivers among successful, welleducated people. While most are men, one study showed that at
least 4% were women.
What causes road rage?
Incidents that lead to aggressive driving behavior often are very
trivial in nature, not something you’d think would cause the
explosions characterizing road rage. Reasons given for episodes
of road rage include arguments over a parking space, cutting
off another driver or not allowing a driver to pass, minor traffic
incidents, obscene gestures, loud music, horn misuse, driving
too slow, tailgating, not using a turn signal, etc.
However, violent traffic disputes are seldom the result of a single
incident. Rather, they are the cumulative result of a long series
of stressors in a driver’s life. The traffic incident that turns
violent is often the “last straw.”
Statistics on road rage incidents – In one study, more than
10,000 cases of road rage/aggressive driving were examined.
More than 300 of the cases were related to domestic violence of
some kind. In another 200 cases, drivers intentionally used the
vehicle to attach law enforcement personnel, and in an additional
20 or more cases, drivers intentionally directed vehicles into
crowds. In the examples, nearly 50 officers and almost 40
other drivers/passengers were killed. Nearly all these incidents
involved in some criminal activity.
NHTSA’s three factors
NHTSA has identified three factors that are linked to aggressive
driving: lack of responsible driving behavior, a reduced level of
traffic enforcement, and increased congestion and travel in urban
areas. Let’s look more closely at them:
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Lack of responsible driving behavior – On the road, focus
is often on individual rights and freedom – a “me first”
philosophy – not on responsibility to others with whom
the road is shared. Driving should be cooperative, not
competitive;
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TLC Safety News
Reduce levels of enforcement – The perceived risk of being
apprehended for a violation is directly related to the level
of enforcement. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions have cut
back on enforcement because of budget constraints;
Make travel/congestion, especially in urban areas – Since
1987, the number of miles driving in the United States has
increased at least 35%, while the miles of available roads
have increased only 1%. Drivers find themselves responding
to the frustration of driving in high-density traffic areas by
driving/acting aggressively.
Defensive driving negative?
Defensive driving negative? That doesn’t sound right, does it?
But if you stop to think about it, you can see some logic to the
idea that the defensive driving approach is based on sort of an
“adversarial” approach to driving. Be prepared for whatever that
other driver does – no matter what. It implies that you should
expect the worst from other drivers and be prepared to respond
to save yourself. It is not based on a cooperative and supportive
approach to driving where you work to acknowledge and allow for
the mistakes of other drivers, with no vindictiveness involved in
your response to solutions.
Do you have the symptoms?
The following list of “symptoms” goes from mild to increasingly
violent. Take a look and see if you exhibit any of them?
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Do you ever mentally condemn other drivers?
Do you every verbally complain about other drivers to a
passenger in your vehicle?
Have you ever kept someone from getting into your lane
because of frustration or anger?
Have you ever given another driver a dirty look to show
disapproval?
Have you ever sped past another vehicle, and revved your
engine as a sign of disapproval?
Have you ever prevented another driver from passing you
because you were angry?
Have you ever tailgated to urge a driver in front of you to
either go faster or get out of the way?
Have you ever fantasized doing physical violence to another
driver?
Have you ever honked loudly or yelled at somebody through
the window to express your approval?
Have you ever made a visible obscene gesture at another
driver?
Have you ever attempted to use your vehicle to retaliate by
making sudden, threatening movements with it?
Have you ever pursued another vehicle in a chase because of
some provocation or insult?
Have you gotten out of your vehicle and engaged in a verbal
dispute with another driver?
Have you ever carried a weapon in case you decide to use it
in some driving incident?
Have you ever deliberately bumped or rammed another
vehicle in anger?
Have you ever tried to run another vehicle off the road to
punish the driver?
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Volume 5, Issue 7
17. Have you ever gotten out of your vehicle and beaten or
battered someone after a traffic incident?
18. Have you ever tried to run someone down because their
actions angered you?
19. Have you ever shot another vehicle?
20. Have you ever killed anyone over a traffic incident?
21. You are probably shaking your head and saying “no way” to
most of these questions just above, especially the farther
down the list, but honest answers to the questions will
help you assess where you fit on the road rage potential
continuum. Think seriously about it!
Protection yourself from road rage
When you are on the road, never underestimate a driver’s
capacity for violence. Be patient and keep your cool in traffic.
The best way to avoid being the target of an aggressive driver
is to practice basic traffic courtesy yourself. Here are some
suggestions:
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Don’t make obscene gestures.
Use the horn sparingly (if at all).
Don’t block the passing lane.
Don’t switch lanes without signaling well in advance.
Avoid blocking the right-hand turn lane.
Don’t tailgate.
If you have to travel slowly, pull over and allow traffic to
pass on a two-lane road.
Avoid unnecessary use of high-beam headlights.
Avoid eye contact with an apparently aggressive driver.
Don’t let CB radios or cell phones distract you.
Don’t stop in the middle of the road to talk with a
pedestrian or other driver.
Assume any mistakes by other drivers are not done
intentionally.
Always be polite and courteous, even if the other driver
isn’t.
Avoid all conflict, if possible. If another driver does
“challenge” you, take a deep breath and get out of the way.
Be sure to keep your own stress level under control. Here are
some basic tips:
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Be certain to allow sufficient time for your trip.
Listen to soothing music on the way.
Be sure that you head out on the road well-rested.
Keep in mind that you can’t control traffic, but you can
control your reaction/response to it.
Check Company policy
Be sure you are aware of what your company’s specific policies
are concerning the subject of this Safety Newsletter. Some
companies have additional requirements specific to their
company drivers.
Eura Postell Jr. Barney Parker Jr. James Simon Brock Bowles John Harris Paul Rodkey Michael Cloyd David Kuchen
James O’Connel
Gary Latimer RDL Logistics
RDL Logisitics
Kevin Weisser
K & K Trucking
Langford Inc.
Ken Hummell Trucking Inc.
Lippold & Arnett Inc.
Lippold & Arnett Inc.
Lamont’s Trucking Co.
Lakes Livestock