I found 5 main topics while searching through the USENET group on rec.autos driving. The subjects covered in these 5 reports were car phones, tailgating, road rage and hostility, slow cars in the fast lane and fast driving. Five major problems or minor every day occurrences? Read on to find out how drivers dealt with these topics.
I am sure you have noticed drivers in traffic with car phones on the road, in fact very likely that you are also the owner of a car phone. But is it safe to have one hand of the receiver of your phone, and can somebody possibility pay enough attention to the road while talking on the phone? C.R. Krieger believes this is an impossibility as he says people with car phones should "hang up and drive". As one driver said "Cellular phones... (are) a symbol of how inconsiderate people have become thinking that what they have to do or say on the phone is more important than the safety of the people around them." On the opposite side of the issue however are those who believe that car phones are perfectly safe. After all how long have drive throughs been around? How many people eat when they drive, smoke, talk, and groom themselves while they drive? These are the issues brought up by Mercer Rowe who believes it is safe for "drivers... to use cell phones without getting into an accident. Who is right? However, one interesting thought brought up in the cell phone debate was the proposal of allowing only hands-free phones. This is a good thought and the only suggestion accepted by both parties.
According to P.J. Hartman it's totally O.K. if you are blocking other drivers from getting into your lane especially if they speed up from behind you in a clear lane only to try to squeeze in front of you. Thus, tailgating is completely acceptable as long as you are using it to retaliate against "Mr and Ms smarty drivers." According to my professor Leon James their behavior is totally "unkind and anti-social". It is his belief that tailgating is never justifiable especially when it is being used in a vengeful and negative manner, which is only an example of uncontrolled anger. Is tailgating O.K. you decide.
An interesting report the author being my professor Leon James. Based on the concepts by John Larson. Basically urges people to think when driving pushing them to acknowledge their negative emotions while driving. Thus, reducing the expression of rage and hostility on the road. Vigilante driving is a serious problem on our road ways. This fact is plainly obvious when reading the coments from proponents of tailgating and my previous report on speeding.
Two very different points of view in this topic. One opinion comes from the frustrated fast driver tired of slow drivers blocking their way. Though a positive comment from Stuart Hall urgeing fast drivers to simply just wait to change lanes instead of tailgating and annoying the slow driver.
Fast driving must be a world wide addiction. Can we actually recover from the speeding craze? From the amount of people in support of speeding and banning the speed limit I do not think so. However, my professors idea of driving personality make-overs could very well be a cure. Making traffic psychology popular and available to everyone is the challenge.
There you have it five very different arguments, sadly most of the reactions to these arguments were negative to aspects of traffic psychology. Most people do not think of their driving as being a problem and are quick to blame other drivers for problems that happen on the world. Blame leads to anger and anger retaliation, the most unhealthy end of all. The answer to solving almost all of our highways is Traffic Psychology. The secret to traffic psychology is basic, fundamental and magical yet we all posses this gift... we have to learn to care. We need to learn to take responsibility for our emotions, thoughts and actions. If we could all do that we would not only have happy highways but a happy world. Imagine that! Our you willing to try?
Report 1: What is Traffic Psychology?
Report 2: What's the big deal about tailgating?
Report 3: The Three Domains of Traffic Psychology
Report4:What is a Driving Personality Makeover?