PSY 409A Driving Psychology,  March 19, 2006

Supportive Driving and Driver-to Driver Communication

By: Melanie Baldueza

 

Leon James and Diane Nahl (2000). Road Rage and Aggressive Driving: Steering

Clear of Highway Warfare. ( Amherst, N.Y.:Prometheus Books) Pages 167-180.

 

Instructions for this outline:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm 

 

I.                    Benefits of Supportive Driving

a.       Supportive driving is a cooperative style that emphasizes adjusting to a variety of divers on the road and not to engage in a road rage mentality. 

b.       Intolerance and stereotyping others make road rage exist with its law of retaliation, tolerance is the antidote

c.       Must recognize and accept there are different drivers and styles of driving

                                                               i.      Local drivers verses tourists

                                                             ii.      Large cars verses small cars

                                                            iii.      Young drivers with fast reflexes and sight verses older, slower, less capable

                                                           iv.      Skilled drivers verses inexperienced drivers

1.       All drivers cannot be treated the same

d.       Supportive drivers accommodate these different drivers by accepting their skills and adjusting their driving to each specific situation

                                                               i.      If you do not recognize the different drivers, this leads to feelings of resentment

e.       There are two methods to deal with highway pluralism and diversity

                                                               i.      Common approach is to oppose driver pluralism

1.       To denounce it, and to strive to ban diversity on the road

                                                             ii.      Democratic approach accommodates to the diversity of driver needs and purposes

f.        Emotional benefits add to mental advantages

                                                               i.      When someone is courteous while on the road, you feel happy and thankful that they are thinking of you and not only themselves

                                                             ii.      When someone is helpful, you can’t help but smile because you are thankful.

                                                            iii.      When someone thanks you by waving, we feel acknowledged and validated

g.       “Attitude of latitude”

                                                               i.      Must learn smarter choices and begin to practice tolerance and mutual support

                                                             ii.      Develop a new philosophy that creates a new feeling of orientation, which promotes new thinking, resulting in new actions

                                                            iii.      Cultivating an attitude of latitude toward other drivers:

1.       Helps contain road rage

2.       Reduces stress

3.       Boosts immune system

4.       Fosters community spirit

5.       Protects from emotional or physical injury

6.       Protects from financial liability

II.                 Driver-to-Driver Communication

a.       Drivers must constantly be aware of each other to avoid collisions

                                                               i.      Have to hit the brakes within a second of each other to prevent running out of space and hitting the car in front of them.

b.       Waving someone into a lane is very common, but it is not recommended

                                                               i.      Courts have assigned partial responsibility to the one who waved when an accident happens. 

c.       The formal car signaling system is still its early stages

                                                               i.      Pressure for expanding communication systems has increased because of aggressive driving.

d.       In the late 1980s, the National Motorists Association proposed 7 new motorists signals

                                                               i.      Apology

                                                             ii.      Slow Down, Danger Ahead

                                                            iii.      Lane Courtesy (Please Yield Left Lane)

                                                           iv.      Pull Over for Problem

                                                             v.      Light Problem (Check your Lights)

                                                           vi.      Need Assistance

                                                          vii.      I Understand (Thank You)

e.       Civility remains desirable objective

                                                               i.      Language is adopted to improve communication between all of the drivers

f.        In an environment filled with a lot of people

                                                               i.      Makes sense to teach drivers a universal motorists’ sign language to reduce ambiguity that can lead to injury or death.

 

Related Links:

 

1.  http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2002/01/TweakingTraffic.html - Tweaking Traffic with Technology

I chose this article because it talked about combining traffic with technology.  The traffic cameras are being used to inform drivers about what is happening on the road.  This then helps drivers because they are not surprised in what they face on the road.  They are prepared for the delay and they do not get as frustrated because they do not know what is going on.  It says we view driving as teamwork instead of a competition

 

2.  http://www.motorists.org/index.html - The National Motorists Association Website

I chose this website because it was mentioned in the chapter.  I thought it was very interesting in all the information that the website contained.  The website wants the drivers to be aware of their rights on the roads. 

 

3.  http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=8094016&contentId=6006946 – 7 Signals Every Driver Should Know

I chose this website because it reiterates what was said in the chapter.  It also gives us tips on driving safely.  It lists 23 tips for safe driving and other helps tips that may help our driving. 

 

My Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409as2006/baldueza/baldueza-home.htm

 

G24 Class Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/classhome-g24.htm