Introduction
Road rage is defined as an angry or aggressive behavior of a vehicle driver. There are many road rage behaviors which include rude gestures, verbal insults, unsafe or life threatening driving. Road rage resulting in assaults, collisions and altercations usually lead to injuries and even death. These aspects of road rage clearly indicate that drivers only have the freedom of proper road use and no room for careless driving (Whitlock 211).
Depictions of road rage
This essay explains on common manifestations of road rage behaviors commonly associated with many road users. Generally, aggressive driving is the most common road rage behavior. Many times careless drivers are prone to sudden acceleration, breaking and close tailgating. For example, according to the road safety report of 2009, most of accidents arising from road rage behaviors are particularly due to aggressive driving (Whitlock 334).
Cutting others off in a lane is also a common tendency of cruel drivers who don’t mind of road safety measures. Aljazeera net has reported that about 20% of road accidents have been due to motorists preventing other colleagues from merging. Most of the motorists have adopted poor road use tendencies of chasing other road users for fan and satisfaction of self ego. This aspect of road change has also increased cases of road accidents (Larson 21).
Road rage behaviors have encompassed excessive use of flash lights or use of full lights without justifications. This has contributed to increased cases of road accidents and that is why the drivers should cautiously use flash lights (Larson 32).
Careless drivers have been using rude and cruel gestures such as the use of fingers to intimidate female drivers. This road rage behavior has resulted in temper change amongst the intimidated drivers making them drive emotionally and end up causing an accident.
In many cases drivers have tendencies of shouting verbal abuses or threats to other road users, and this may lead to the road accidents as well. For example I have witnessed cases where heavy truck drivers knock small vehicles by their trailers due to verbally shouted abuse.
Data provided by most traffic personnel indicate that driving at high speed in the median of highway to terrify drivers in both lanes has been one of the main road rage behavior, that has caused fatal accidents in the most of the developed countries. In addition, exiting the car in an attempt to start confrontation, such as striking other vehicles with an object, is yet another manifestation of road rage behavior (Larson 67).
Control of road rage
In the United States of America more than 300 cases of road rage annually end with serious injuries or even fatalities. For example, according to AAA foundation and police records only about 10 percent of road rage behaviors result in minor injuries. Angry drivers have depicted a common tendency of throwing projectiles to damage vehicles of other road users. This is because drivers with personal emotional issues may normally attempt to throw materials to overtaking motorists thus leading to outrage (Eberle, 56).
Hence, road rage has been one of the serious offences which have lead to endangering safety of the members of public. However, it may not always be possible to judge the intention especially by external observers. Due to increase of road problem, the United States has passed laws to ensure that there is public safety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, drivers should be warned that road rage behaviors can often get them into a lot of trouble and thus drivers should be advised not to take their own frustrations on other road users. In a similar understanding, vehicle owners should be notified that driving is not a contest where one should win, and it should be safe for the road users and other members of the society (Eberle 34).
Works Cited
Eberle, Paul. Terror on the Highway. Buffalo: Prometheus Publishers, 2006. Print.
Larson, Jake. Steering Clear of Highway Madness. Wilsonville: Book partners Publishers, 2007. Print.
Whitlock, Fredrick. Death on the Road: A Study in Social Violence, London: Tavistock Publishers, 1971, Print.