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NEWS &
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ARE WE A NATION
OF AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS? -
Philip P. Eapen |
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A fish cannot see water. If it
could, then it wouldn't be able to see any other
thing in water! In the same way, we Indians are
blind to the environment in which we are
immersed unless we go out of India for a season.
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Ask any Indian driver whether he or she
is an 'aggressive driver.' Most probably, you will get a
surprised look. “Aggressive driving? I am certainly not
an aggressive driver.” Ask this person to define
'aggressive driving.' Regardless of whether this is a
police officer or a driving school instructor, he or she
will draw a blank or give you a cooked-up answer. How
can such people teach others to drive safely or book
offenders?
What is 'aggressive driving?' We hear of bus drivers
getting booked for 'rash driving.' Yet, our perception
of what constitutes 'rash driving' is quite tame.
Otherwise, how could almost all the drivers of this
country get away with behaviour that would get punished
as 'aggressive driving' in civil societies around the
world?
Are you an 'aggressive' driver? What constitutes
aggressive driving? Is aggressive driving the sole
preserve of some anti-social elements? Can an otherwise
decent gentleman or lady get sucked into aggressive
driving while on the road?
Take this simple test: Mark "Yes" or "No" next to each
of these statements:
* I regularly exceed the speed limit (35 kmph in cities;
70 kmph on highways)
* I speed up to beat a traffic light that is about to
change to red or to get past a shutting railway gate.
* I regularly overtake through the wrong side.
* I frequently weave in and out of traffic, changing
lanes without due procedure, to get ahead.
* I treat every “red light” as the beginning of a race.
* I feel the need to set bad drivers straight or to
teach a lesson to drivers who challenge or “push” me.
* I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear
me or not.
* I gesture at other motorists and pedestrians.
* I tailgate (drive very close to the vehicle in front)
other drivers, especially those who sit in the speed
lane.
* I cut between vehicles to change lanes.
* I speed up when someone tries to pass/overtake me.
* I use the horn excessively.
* I flash my lights and honk my horn to let drivers know
when they annoy me.
* I flash headlights excessively at oncoming traffic.
* I pass another driver, and then slow down or prevent
them from getting ahead to teach them a lesson.
* I brake suddenly to get the driver who is following me
closely off my rear bumper.
* Other drivers often have to take defensive action to
protect their vehicle due to my actions - such as when I
overtake their vehicles or change lanes or start off
from rest.
* I drive on even when people are waiting on a zebra
crossing to cross the road.
* I do not know about 'right of way' nor do I care to
respect the 'right of way' of other vehicles.
If you marked “yes” to ANY of the above statements, you
are guilty of aggressive driving. I doubt whether there
is a single Indian driver who is free from aggressive
behaviour on road.
Interestingly, there may be very few drivers in India
who know what “right of way” means! Watch the traffic at
an intersection or a junction or a round-about anywhere
in India. You will know what I mean. At any intersection
or round-about, drivers who come from the right side of
your vehicle should be allowed to pass first. In other
words, the 'right of way' belongs to the
drivers/vehicles from the right side. Few Indians know
this. No wonder our traffic intersections are chaotic.
Visitors from abroad are terrified by the chaos on
Indian roads. Even non-resident Indians who visit
Consider these facts about 'aggressive driving'
* Aggressive driving is responsible for 2/3 of all auto
fatalities each year, four times greater than Driving
Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol in the US.
* Aggressive Driving is driving under the influence of
“impaired emotions” leading to high-risk, negative
decisions.
* People choose to drive aggressively.
* “Venting” anger through aggressive driving does not
reduce feelings of aggression. On the contrary, anger
builds on anger and can easily erupt into violence.
* Congested roadways and pent-up frustration lead to
aggressive driving.
* How you feel before you even start your vehicle has a
lot to do with how stressed you will become while
driving.
* Humans are territorial. When people feel that their
space has been invaded, the natural instinct is to
protect themselves. Some drivers carry this tendency too
far by trying to assert dominance by chasing another
driver. This behavior by a driver may have fatal
consequences.
(www.sheriff-okaloosa.org)
In India too, aggressive driving causes a large number
of deaths. And yet, our ignorance and callousness toward
this criminal behaviour is appalling. Our driving
schools are probably the worst in the world. These
schools just teach us how to operate a vehicle instead
of teaching students how to be a responsible, caring
citizen on the road. Combine it with corruption and
driving tests that are a mockery. The result is
shocking. We have millions of drivers who just know how
to operate a vehicle but do not know how to use a public
road in a civilized manner.
You may decide after reading this that you will not
henceforth be found guilty of aggressive driving. That
alone is not sufficient. For we are surrounded by a sea
of aggressive drivers who constantly tempt us to act
savagely. Here are a few guidelines to escape the vortex
of aggressive driving.
* Start early, drive slowly and stay cool headed in
traffic snarls.
* Listen to soothing music; avoid fast beats
* Permit others to overtake you
* Do not drive when you are deprived of sleep; just pull
over and sleep for a while without waiting to reach a
safe spot.
* Do not drive when you are hungry or thirsty
* Do not let your passengers' schedule and hurry to
affect your driving.
When faced with aggressive drivers, do the following:
* Report to the police
* Do not get drawn into a race; allow the aggressive
driver to pass
* Do not overtake an aggressive driver. He/she might
overtake you again and you may get drawn into a deadly
race.
* Avoid eye contact with the aggressive driver
* Do not park your car and come out to question the
aggressive driver. This can lead to criminal assault
(road rage)
* Do not return verbal abuse. Ignore hand or facial
gestures; do not return them. Even a good gesture may be
interpreted wrongly.
* Do not return a honk for a honk! |
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This page
is updated on May 24, 2010 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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