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Dr_Broadland
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Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 62
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# Posted: 19 Jul 2007 14:54
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Road rage is used to denote violent behavior by a driver while driving an automobile. It can result in accidents or assault on other drivers and objects. It is sometimes a result of chronic stress and sometime repeated highway incidents cause stress.
It manifests in such actions a speeding, unwarranted acceleration, cutting off others in lanes, tailgating, weaving in an out of traffic, unnecessary honking, abusive and/or rude behavior including threats to other drivers, and direct physical assault on others.
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Dr_Broadland
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Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 62
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2007 09:52
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Tips to avoid road conflicts
Even in smaller towns and cities traffic can seem unbearable, and it seems people are becoming less tolerant as time goes on. Drivers can become upset to the point where they may behave in a way not in keeping with their usual behaviour. The result can be pretty bad behaviour ranging from abusive reaction in the form of gestures or name-calling, reckless driving to acts of physical violence.
Here are some tips to avoid road conflicts:
· Plan your route in advance. Some of the most erratic and inconsiderate driving occurs when motorist are lost;
· Make a conscious decision not to let your problems affect your driving;
· Deal with stress by getting fresh air and breathing deeply and slowly or listening to relaxing music;
· Avoid long drives if you can. If you take a long trip, stop every few hours for a rest. Before and during a long drive, avoid heavy meals which tend to make a person lethargic;
· Drive in a courteous and considerate manner. Give way at busy intersections and where traffic lanes merge;
· Don't compete or retaliate. If someone's driving annoys you, don't try to "educate him or her". Leave traffic enforcement to the police.
· Avoid honking your horn unless absolutely necessary and, if you must, tap on it lightly;
· Say "sorry" if you make a mistake. An apology can reduce the risk of conflict;
· If you are being physically threatened, stay in your car and lock the doors. If you have a cell phone call the police. Use your horn and lights to attract attention;
· If you think you are being followed, do not drive home. Go to a police station or a busy public place;
· Don't carry a defensive weapon; it might provoke a potential assailant.
(Taken from Transport Canada, 2001)
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TajviRAC
Forums Member
Joined: 7 Apr 2008
Posts: 80
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# Posted: 13 Apr 2008 07:25
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well, that's a huge list.
but no wonder it's quite useful.
our attitude on road not only invites accidents but also making the road some dangerous place for someone who is just walking by even.
i passed some periods when going out was a terror for me after i had some mishaps.
cheers,
taj
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StressedOut
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Joined: 3 Apr 2008
Posts: 25
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# Posted: 16 Apr 2008 05:49
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Thank you for all those tips. I have never had road rage as driving relaxes me but my husband is different then me. I will share the tips with him
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TajviRAC
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Joined: 7 Apr 2008
Posts: 80
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# Posted: 24 Apr 2008 23:32
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We should try to circulate those tips among as many persons as we can.
Certainly we care for our near and dear ones, and we should do at least this much, along with a wish that they remain safe.
I hope that even people who all are strangers to me, should know these things , not only because that will keep them safe while driving, but also keep others safe who all are transiting. And among this last group one could be me !
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Dr_Broadland
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Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 62
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# Posted: 25 Apr 2008 11:59
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Stress is an increasing phenomenon in our society. Therefore, what we can hope to achieve is to reduce the speed at which more of these types of problems crop up.
I think in the medium term there is hope from a very different trend. If you look around you will find more and more people working from home. As we entered the 21st century, we entered information age. Electronic communications are now our mode of transport and the hub of activity is shifting from the intersection of major roads to the main hubs of fibre connections.
Less travel should and will reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Higher petrol prices will goad the governments to device alternative modes of transporting people to work apart from the obvious "work at home'. I am very hopeful that the net result will be much reduced road rage.
I myself am "retired", and could easily go and work outside but am doing work from home. I have a niece who has been working from home for the past 5-6 years and now looking after the second baby. Another member of family works as a web developer from home. My daughter was offered a job to work from home in the field of maintaining a database of complaints and responding. If I can see such dramatic changes within one family, I am sure this is a new direction in society.
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TajviRAC
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Joined: 7 Apr 2008
Posts: 80
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2008 11:08
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Well, working from home is an excellent solution to reduce the number of drivers on road and may be also the number of "racers". But the real "racers" would be still on road keeping the stress alive.
Maybe we need to solve it some other way.
Punishment and incentives could be some of them.
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Dr_Broadland
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Joined: 19 Jul 2007
Posts: 62
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# Posted: 30 Apr 2008 14:52
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Quoting: TajviRAC Well, working from home is an excellent solution to reduce the number of drivers on road and may be also the number of "racers". But the real "racers" would be still on road keeping the stress alive.
I think road rage and stress induced by "racers" are two different things. The later was always there even when the density of cars on the roads was only 10% of the current. On the other hand, road rage is a symptom of stress or panic attack manifesting in a spontaneous rage related actions which would not be perpetrated in normal circumstances.
Looking at it another way, stress is induced by "racer" which in turn causes road rage in some people who have been subjected to such behaviour. However, one cannot deny the fact that it is always in the heavy traffic areas that you see most incidences of "road rage". I don't think we have started doing serious research in an area of increasing stress related problem in our society. Without proper research it would be difficult to suggest remedies.
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