Psychology 409a, November 23, 2005
My Seventh Outline of Assigned
By Yu Takebayashi
Supportive Driving
James, Dr.
Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James
Concept 1:
Communication between drivers
A. Communication between drivers, or “motorist to
motorist communication”, are the ways drivers interact with each other while on
the road. Since some previous ways of
communication (waving at someone to let them know they can go) have been
partially blamed in accidents, the National Motorists Association proposed
seven “new” signals for drivers.
1. Apology: hold
two fingers in a V position, palm out
2. Slow down, danger ahead: turn your headlights on and off, activate
your brake lights or extend your left arm and motion downward
3. Lane courtesy (please yield left lane): turn the left directional light on and off, 4
to 6 blinks at a time
4. Pull over for problem: point in the direction of the problem, then
signal “thumbs down”
5. Light problem (check your lights): open and close your hand touching the thumb
and fingertips together
6. Need assistance:
make the sign of a T by crossing one hand above the other
7. I understand (Thank you): use the well-understood thumbs up or “ok”
B. This new system of signals could work but only if
everyone was aware of them. To do this,
we would need to teach this in driver’s ed class or make it a law to know these
signals. If everyone was not aware of
what these signals meant, if someone else did them it wouldn’t make any sense. Worst case scenario: it could be a gang sign and you might get
shot if they didn’t know.
C. I think having this type of set of signals wouldn’t
work too well. I don’t think people
would go out of their way to learn them, and some people wouldn’t even know
about them. The only way I can see it
working is if it was required by the law or driving test to know them.
Concept 2:
Training for Supportive Driving
A. “If you adopt and practice a supportive driving style
you’re protected from the road rage of other drivers because you’re committed
to putting up the least sail in their angry wind.” Having sympathy for other drivers and not
assuming that they are just trying to ruin your day, are two important things
in supportive driving.
B. The example in the book talks about how the driver
recognized that he was making assumptions and that it wasn’t the right thing to
do. Since he realized this, he is freed
from all the negative emotions that come along with the assumption he was about
to make. If everyone practiced this type
of attitude when driving, there would be a lot less cases of aggressive driving
and road rage.
C. I agree that thinking positively and not blaming
people can help tremendously when driving.
But as I have experienced myself, and I’m sure many others have, it is
very hard to keep your cool sometimes.
Like the book says, this is a process that you have to practice and even
Dr. James who has been practicing this for awhile still has trouble sometimes.
Concept 3:
Three Levels of
A. There are three levels of how people drive: oppositional driving, defensive driving, and
supportive driving (the type of driving we should strive for). Oppositional driving involves a culture of
disrespect on highways, the trigger theory of anger, and an aggressive and
hostile style. Defensive driving
involves treating all drivers the same way, maintaining a competitive attitude,
and remaining vulnerable to anger and opposition. Supportive driving involves a supportive
attitude toward other drivers, tolerance of pluralism, and feeling integrated
with the flow of traffic.
B. Understanding what level of driving you participate
in is the first step to becoming a better driver. It will probably take awhile to get to the
supportive driving level for most of us, but acknowledging is a big step to
getting there.
C. I personally think I’m at second level (defensive
driving). I’m not all that aggressive or
hostile, but I still do feel competitive and feel insulted sometimes when
people cut me off or pass me. Now I have
to work on the way I think and feel, to alter my bad habits of thinking in
those ways.
My Homepage:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/takebayashi/home.htm
Class Homepage:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm
Related Weblinks:
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/459f97/maryeliz/report2.html
how drivers communicate with eachother
http://www.healthylife.net/body/DrivHazArt.html
acquire a supportive driving attitude, don’t challenge aggressive drivers
http://www.arrivealive.co.za/roadrage.asp?mc=roadrage&nc=rrinterventions&title=rrinterventions
supportive driving is better than oppositional or overly defensive driving