Road rage & how to prevent it

A road rage incident recently hit the news. The Quezon City Police has filed murder charges against road rage shooting suspect Jason Ivler for the killing of Renato Ebarle Jr., a son of a Malacañang official, during a traffic problem last Nov. 18. After this, a man went to the Quezon City Police to report that he was allegedly nearly killed by Ivler the night before Ebarle’s death. It was also discovered that Ivler is “not a licensed/registered firearm holder of any kind of caliber.” Thus, the charge of illegal possession of a firearm had been added into the murder charge that the QC police filed against Ivler. Ivler had a prior road rage incident in 2004. He was allegedly involved in a traffic accident in 2004 that killed Resettlement Undersecretary Nestor Ponce.

A few weeks ago, news of an enraged driver poking a gun at a female TV broadcaster after a traffic altercation also caught my attention. Thank God this man did not pull the trigger. I am of the opinion that authorities must strictly require psychiatric clearance issued by qualified psychiatrists prior to granting permits to carry guns.

Road rage or the angry behavior by a driver is manifested in his or her gestures or verbal insults. The aggressive behavior of the driver can also be seen when the motorist drives in an unsafe manner, thereby threatening other motorists as well as pedestrians. Road rage can lead to verbal altercations, physical assaults and vehicle collisions, which may result in injuries and even deaths. Actually, some transportation experts have claimed that traffic congestion may be considered as a contributing factor to driver frustration subsequently leading to road rage. The term “road rage” originated in the US during the 1980s.

Signs of road rage in progress:

1. Aggressive driving, for example sudden acceleration, sudden braking and close tailgating.

2. Cutting others off.

3. Sounding the car’s horn and/or flashing lights excessively.

4. Driving at extremely high speed in the middle of the road to terrify the other car drivers.

5. Rude body gestures such as doing “the dirty finger.”

6. Shouting and using abusive language or threats.

7. Maliciously, deliberately and intentionally causing a collision between vehicles.

8. Going out of the car to start a confrontation, including striking someone else’s vehicle with an object.

9. Threatening to use or using a gun or other deadly weapon.

10. Throwing hard objects from a moving vehicle with the intention of damaging the other vehicle and harming the other driver.

11. Spitting at the other driver.

In the US, more than 300 reported cases of road rage yearly have ended with serious injuries or even fatalities. According to the six-year AAA Foundation study that examined police records nationally, there were 1,200 road rage incidents per year.

In fact, as early as 1997, therapists in the US were working to certify road rage as a medical condition. Road rage is already an official mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. According to an article published by the Associated Press in June 2006, “the behaviors typically associated with road rage are the result of intermittent explosive disorder.” This previously published conclusion was drawn from surveys of some 9,200 adults in the US between 2001 and 2003 and was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. There are still differing views on whether or not “road rage” is a mental issue.

Road rage is indeed a serious behavior. It may be viewed as a serious threat to public safety. “Road ragers” who are stopped by police are often charged only with relatively minor offenses such as careless or reckless driving. Those who have caused serious injury or death have been additionally charged with homicide through reckless imprudence.

A 2007 study of the largest US metropolitan areas concluded that “the cities with the least courteous drivers (most road rage) are Miami, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Boston. The cities with the most courteous drivers (least road rage) are Minneapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle and Atlanta. In 2009, New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul were rated as the top five “Road Rage Capitals” of the United States.

There are still no road rage statistics in the Philippines.

Tips to prevent road rage

Road rage is said to be different from Aggressive Driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), road rage “involves a criminal act of violence, whereas aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights.” 

It is a fact that driving in Metro Manila during the rush hours increases the risk of driver frustration. Subsequently, this may lead to aggressive driving and road rage. Can road rage be prevented? The answer is yes. If you have a tendency to be an irritable frustrated driver, perhaps you should take an honest look at your driving behavior and try to reduce your stress level behind the wheel by doing the following:

1. Get enough sleep. Drivers may get cranky if they lack sleep. Get at least six to eight hours of sleep.

2. Keep a diary of your schedule for each day so that you can plan ahead. Leave the house at least two hours before your appointment in order to lessen the risk of getting stressed out by the congested roads. Enough traveling time means a safer and more relaxed driving.

3. Keep in mind that your car is your mode of transportation. It is not a weapon to be used against anyone irritating you in the street.

4. If you want to listen to music while driving, listen to relaxing music. Loud and aggressive music may induce your aggressive drives.

5. If you start to feel stressed out while driving, roll down your window and breathe slowly and deeply. This will relax your nerves.

6. Don’t take it personally if another driver cuts you off. Assume an indifferent attitude. Keep in mind that you are not that driver’s specific target of his road discourtesy.

7. If you notice that you seem to be always prone to anger while driving, perhaps it is time for you to undergo a medical check-up. It may save your life and prevent a heart attack.

8. Be kind and courteous when on the road. Don’t be an irritant to other drivers. This will definitely ensure a hassle-free driving for you.

(E-mail me at nina.halilijao@gmail.com)