Psychology 409A – Monday, November 21, 2005
Outline #6

By: Tiffanie Jinbo
Zoom Zoom

Reference: James, Dr. Leon and Nahl, Dr. Diane. “Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering Clear of Highway Warfare.” Prometheus Books: New York. 2000. 236-252.

Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James

1. Police Presence

a. A police on the highway means traffic in the state of Texas. When a person sees a cop, no one wants to pass the cop even if they are going under the speed limit. Some of the most common attitudes of police is that they should not waste time on drivers when they could be fighting crime in the city, but what people don’t realize is that going over the speed limit is committing a crime.

b. I see this happen in Hawaii also. As soon as a cop is seen people slow down and all hope is gone of getting to an event on time. I remember a few years ago, I was driving down the Pali Highway to return home, when I realized that there was a cop following me. I kept at the speed limit to the bottom of the hill and the cop turned around and went back up.

c. What I always wondered was if the monthly quota is true about cops, and if they have to issue a certain number of tickets per month. Time is often too precious to waste on worrying about a police officer and I believe if they are allowed to disobey the law, why shouldn’t we be able to pass them. I have passed a cop in the past, but I always made sure they weren’t following close.

2. Electronic Traffic Surveillance

a. This includes the photo radar to decrease red light running fatalities. Also included was the photo radar that takes photos to decrease speeding. There have been many debates as to the credibility of these traffic surveillance.

b. These traffic surveillance created a big scare to the Hawaii’s public. I was not a victim of this van cams, but I know of victims and they were outraged. People began protesting their tickets and tickets were dismissed.

c. Although not a victim of electronic traffic surveillance, I was strongly against the idea. It seemed to have major flaws that needed to be worked out.

3. Speed Trap Registries Around the World

a. People around the world dedicate time into letting the public know of any speed traps.

b. It amazes me of the time people dedicate into creating this online public accessible accounts. It is informational and leave the up to date speed traps of the times and places.

a. Although I really don’t go out of my way to look where speed traps are located, it really shows the information age that we live in, with the ability to find any accessible knowledge. I have been fortunate to not be caught in times of speeding, but due to my increased knowledge of driving psychology I have adjusted my driving habits.

My Home Page: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/jinbo/home.htm

The G23 Class Home Page:  www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm

Related Web Links: 

1. http://www.apa.org/psycinfo/training/sample/roadrage.html - PsycInfo on Road Rage
2. http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/p-sl.html - Speed Limits
3. http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/trans/trafficoperations/speedlimit.asp - Traffic Operations