My Eighth Outline

The Road Rage Spectrum

This is a presentation of Road Rage and Aggressive Driving

By: Dr. Leon James & Dr. Diane Nahl, Prometheus Books, 2000; Pgs. 97 Ð 108

By Kyle Santos

 

Instructions for this oral presentation are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/g22-oral.htm

 

 

  1. Introduction
    1. Automotive vigilante: the automotive bully
    2. Rushing Maniac: the need to speed
    3. Aggressive Competitor: risk-taking on the road

 

 

  1. The Automotive Vigilante
    1. The vigilante will use their car to intimidate other drivers.
    2. They will often deny responsibility and act as the victim to deny accountability.
    3. Retaliation is often looked at as a mission for the benefit of all other drivers.
    4. Vigilantes often see non-aggressive acts as encouragement for bad drivers.

 

 

  1. The Rushing Maniac
    1. Rushing mania is the need to be faster than others and/or the speed limit.
    2. Rushers need to always avoid slowing down.
    3. They consequently get angry at anyone who causes them to slow down.
    4. This ÔmaniaÕ brings about anxiousness, self-abuse and negative thoughts towards others.
    5. Running red lights and ignoring stops and yields are the most frequent causes of urban crashes.

                                                     i.     This need to always go faster is symptomatic of the rushing maniac.

 

 

  1. The Aggressive Competitor
    1. The competitor needs to always be ÔwinningÕ.

                                                     i.     Be the fastest car on the road.

                                                      ii.     Get a parking space before someone else.

    1. This is brought on very early in life. 

                                                     i.     Competition is deep-rooted in our culture; we are brought up to win in this society.

 

 

  1. Conclusion
    1. The above three driving styles alone seem very dangerous.  However, it is very possible, and probably common, that all three exist together.  ItÕs seems that they all may come from the same place: the need to be the best.  It would be silly, however, to think we could change the very fabric of our society in order to make the road a safer place to drive.  It is necessary to address the need for self-reflection in our driving.

 

Helpful Links:

http://www.drdriving.org/articles/book_toc.htm

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/research/speed.html

http://msn.menshealth.com/cda/quizleadin/0,2834,s5-5-0-0-1284,00.html

 

Homepage:

 

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/santos/home.htm