Road Rage: More Common than you Think



Has your organization implemented any initiative over the past five years to curb road rage?
Survey below demonstrates that 71% have not and 29% have addressed the matter.

                                                      

This past weekend I engaged a cab driver for a ride out of town. All was going smoothly until we encountered a line up of cars waiting on the highway for a construction crew to wave them by.

At the ten minute point the cab driver was becoming impatient and once the wait passed the 25 minute mark, it was decided that a call to the Department of Highways for information on the lengthy wait was in order.

He was informed that there was a road crew on the main highway that had encountered an unexpected delay in their task and it would be several hours until they could leave the site.  In the meantime there would be unscheduled delays.

It was obvious other drivers were disturbed and some with children permitted little ones to get out of the car and wander about.  This was quite disturbing to see as several cars left the line up and turned around placing them in the space where children were playing.  I expect they decided to leave the line in search for a detour via a rural highway.

 

Eventually the cars were able to proceed and this scene became my first view to what others have defined as the term of "road rage".  Drivers who were driving the speed limit became an obstacle to many from the line up and who very aggressively passed those attending to speed regulations.  It was a true picture as to what others had described. 

 

The level of agitation of drivers was explainable however the actions taken by many were out right to an accident waiting to happen.

 

An early and well displayed pre-warning sign to the delay would have prepared drivers to what they would encounter and given them the choice to be delayed or take another route.  Information is powerful and in this situation a tool to reduce risks of a multi-vehicle accident.

 

RCMP visibility would have also been a deterrent to those who have a tendency to act out when restricted by drivers obeying speed limitations.

 

The excessive speeds were evident for several miles and the level of risk remained extreme.  In my state of anxiety as a passenger I found a need to address the situation with the cab driver who reassured me that he would be keeping to the speed limit.

 

It is unfortunate that our seemingly need for speed and immediacy is now playing out at a level that the safety of others is of less a priority than ones wish to reach an intended destination.

 

Nightingale